Air Operations, Europe

• 8 Mosquitos attack Cologne and Gelsenkirchen without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 40 V Bomber Command B-24s, escorted by 29 V Fighter Command P-38s, attack Wewak-area targets, especially fuel amd supply dumps, with 150 tons of bombs.
• B-24s and P-39s attack the road net around Bogadjim.
• 3d Light Bomb Group A-20s and RAAF bombers attack targets around Finschhafen and Lae.
• 35th and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 7 Japanese fighters over Wewak between 1145 and 1150 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 5 394th Heavy Bomb Squadron radar-equipped SB-24s attack a Japanese Navy convoy in the northern Solomons, causing the ships to retire.
• During the night, the Japanese Kolombangara garrison begins withdrawing from the island without a fight.

Italy

In the sector in which the US 5th Army is operating the British X Corps and US VI Corps are able to resume their attacks, one toward Naples, the other toward Avellino. The 23rd Arm Bde advances in the direction of Castellammare di Stabia, while US Rangers take Sala Consilina. Units of British X Corps emerge into the plain of Naples at Nocera and push on. Inland US VI Corps is advancing near Avellino and has taken Teora despite having to advance over difficult roads.

A Sherman tank crew from the Scots Greys chat to RAMC personnel travelling in a pony and trap, 12-13 September 1943. (© IWM NA 6833)

Tank Crew Chat with RAMC Personnel

The Naples rising has not subsided. Col Scholl, the German area commander, sends tanks in against the insurgents, but the rebels, at heavy cost to themselves, immobolize 8 of the tanks and set them on fire, so that they hold up the others behind them. Barricades are erected, and the struggle grows.

New Guinea

There are heavy Allied air attacks again on the Japanese airfields around Wewak.

A Valentine bridgelayer with scissors bridge at the AFV proving establishment at Chobham in Surrey, 28 September 1943

Valentine Bridgelayer with Scissors Bridge

Occupied France

Gen Legentilhomme is appointed Free French Commissioner for National Defense.

Solomons

During the night the Japanese begin to evacuate Kolombangara Island, where their bases have become useless as a result of the Americans' 'island-hopping' strategy.

Yugoslavia

The battle for Split continues; the Germans step up their attacks.