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.

Although 162 3rd Medium Bkomb Wing B-26s are briefed for attacks on three targets in France, only 25 from the 387th Medium Bomb Group overcome bad weather to drom 37 tons of bombs on the Beauvais/Tille Airdrome.

• XII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Viterbo Airdrome and the road between Salerno and Avellino.
• XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack the Ciampino and Pratica di Mare Airdromes.
• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack a marchalling yard at Pescara.
• 321st Medium Bomb Group B-25 gunships attack a lighthouse and small vessels near Capraia and at sea between Italy and Corsica.
• P-38s under temporary NATAF control strafe four satellite fields in the Foggia Airdrome complex and attack numerous roads, rail lines, and bridges with bombs and machine guns.
• A 14th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ju-52 during the morning strafing attack at Foggia.

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 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

• The US submarine Scamp (SS-277) attacks a Japanese convoy north of New Guinea sinking the army cargo ship Kansai Maru (8614t). Although damaged by depth charges from the convoy's escorts Scamp remains on patrol.
• The US submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship ;Yowa Maru (6435t) northwest of Okinawa.

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

Lt-Col Darby Near Salerno

British Patrol Enters Pugliano

Japanese Ship Aground in Kiska

US Troops Pass Bombing Devastation

Soldier Examines Shattered Searchlight

14th New Zealand Brigade Group

A Sherman Tank of 'A' Squadron