Aegean

British forces occupy Simi, Stampalia and Icaria. The Germans attack Antimachia airfield on Cos.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Nauru Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 4 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 7 23rd Fighter Group P-40s attack blast furnaces and rail lines at Shihhweiyao.

Air Operations, Europe

• 5 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and 49 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and off the Biscay ports.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Gilberts

• The opening moves of the Central Pacific Offensive continue with a coordinated attack against the Japanese Navy base at Betio Island in Tarawa Atoll by land-based and carrier-based aircraft.
• During the very early hours of September 18, 18 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at Funafuti and Canton Island attack Betio.
• Beginning with a pre-dawn attack by 83 Fleet Carrier Air Group 16 light bombers and F6Fs, carrier aircraft spend the day thoroughly bombing and strafing the Japanese Navy airfield and defenses at Betio. Also, 4 VF-16 F6Fs destroy 3 of 4 Japanese Navy flying boats moored at Makin Atoll and photograph Abemama Atoll. 40 carrier aircraft are damaged over Betio by antiaircraft fire, and 1 SBD photo-reconnaissance bomber is lost without a trace over Abemama.
• 6 VF-16, VF-23, and VF-24 F6F pilots team up to down 2 G4M 'Betty' bombers at sea between 1513 and 1542 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s and RAAF bombers attack Finschhafen. 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack an island near Lae.

Air Operations, Solomons

VMF-213 and VMF-214 F4Us down 10 D3A 'Val' dive bombers, 1 Ki-61 'Tony' fighter, and 2 A6M Zeros over Vella Lavella between 1130 and 1300 hours. 1 18th Fighter Group P-40 and a 70th Fighter Squadron P-39 pilot each down an A6M Zero near Baga Island between 1230 and 1240 hours.

Battle of the Atlantic

Operations against convoys by Wolf Packs resumes following re-equipment of U-boats with electronic monitoring, 8x20 mm AA guns and acoustic torpedoes.

Central Pacific

Tarawa, Makin and Abemama(Apamama?) in the Gilbert islands and Nauru Island, west of the Gilbert group, are all attacked by aircraft form the carriers Lexington, Princeton and Belleau Wood under Adm Pownall. Over 200 land- and carrier-based aircraft participate in the attack, causing severe damage to enemy installations.

Eastern Front

In the drive toward Kiev, Priluki, Lubny and Romodan are taken. Farther south there are gains all along the front, including the railway junction of Pavlograd south of Lozovaya, Krasnograd, Pologi and Nogaysk.

The Steppe and Voronezh Fronts capture Priluki, Lubny and Romodan all falling while Pavlograd and Krasnograd fall to the Southwest Front. The 6th Army also loses control of Nogaisk as it continues to withdraw.

Italy

The Americans enter Altavilla, while the US 45th Div of the VI Corps enters Persano without opposition. The 5th Army also captures Battipaglia. The Germans retreat from the Salerno bridgehead.

Pacific

There is a US carrier strike on Tarawa.

Solomons

The fighting continues on Arundel as the Americans deploy fresh forces at the base of the Stima peninsula. Gen Barrowclough, a New Zealander, takes command on Vella Lavella from Gen McClure. The New Zealand 14th Bde tries to cut off the retreating enemy, but the Japanese finally succeed in escaping and leaving the island.

Pics from September 18, 1943

Lieutenant Colonel William O. Darby with a Ranger major in Chiunzi Pass above Salerno, September 18, 1943.

Lt-Col Darby Near Salerno

A patrol of the 2/7th Queen's Regiment enters the village of Pugliano, 18-19 September 1943.

British Patrol Enters Pugliano

Japanese Ship Aground in Kiska Harbor, on September 18, 1943

This official US Navy photograph, taken after the occupation of Lae, affords a striking demonstration of the power and accuracy of Allied aerial bombardment. A long file of Allied troops passes shattered planes and installations testifying to the 'hell on earth' the enemy went through before they were vanquished.

US Troops Pass Bombing Devastation

One of the victorious Allied soldiers examines a shattered Japanese searchlight, blacked out forever by Allied bombs during the attack on the Japanese stronghold. The Japanese base had been well supplied, but the Allied attack caught the Japanese flat-footed.

Soldier Examines Shattered Searchlight

14th New Zealand Brigade Group Landing on Vella Lavella, 18 September 1943

A Sherman tank of 'A' Squadron of the Calgary Regiment during the advance from Villapiano to Potenza, Italy, on 18 September 1943.

A Sherman tank of 'A' Squadron