Air Operations, Bismarcks

3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack a supply dump and port facilities at Gasmata.

Air Operations, CBI

• 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s continue to down Japanese fighters over the southern Hump ferry route over Burma. The two-day ruse results in the downing of an estimated 18 Japanese fighters whose pilots apparently mistake the B-24s for C-87 transports. This effort all but ends the fighter threat along the southern Hump route, but it does not halt a campaign by the 10th Air Force to attack Japanese air bases in Burma from which the Hump ferry route can be reached. 1 C-46 is shot down on the Hump ferry route.

• After three weeks of bad weather, in which no significant missions are flown, 14th Air Force bombers and fighters are committed to help to counter Japanese Army ground offensives along the Salween River and around Tungting Lake. These operations will continue well into November.
• 6 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Tungling.

Air Operations, Europe

• 22 OTU Wellingtons make leaflet flights over France without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

Japanese bombers on their way to drop supplies to Japanese Army ground troops at Sattelberg are intercepted by V Fighter Command fighters. 35th Fighter Group P-39s and 49th Fighter Group P-38s down 6 Japanese bombers and 7 fighters in the Finschhafen area between 1735 and 1745 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 17 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the airfields at Kahili and Kara on Bougainville.
• In a preliminary move in support of the imminent invasion of Bougainville, a New Zealand Army brigade, covered and supported by AirSols fighters, lands at Stirling and Mono islands in the Treasury Islands. Stirling is undefended, and the small Japanese Army garrison at Mono is quickly routed from most of the island. Japanese Navy aircraft attack the invasion flotilla without success.
• 25 D3A 'Val' and the new D4Y 'Judy' dive bombers attacking the Treasuries invasion flotilla at 1530 damage 1 US destroyer with two direct hits, but 44th Fighter Squadron P-40s and 347th Fighter Group P-38s down 10 'Vals' and 'Judys' and 2 of 50 A6M Zero escorts between 1515 and 1555 hours.

Britain, Home Front

Miss Radclyffe Hall, notorious author of 'Well of Loneliness' published in 1928 dealing with lesbianism, dies at age 63.

Eastern Front

German Army Group A counterattacks in the Melitopol area to establish positions in front of Nikopol and Krivoy Rog and allow the German and Rumanian 17th Army to escape from the Crimea. The evacuation is to begin on Nov 1.

The XL Panzer Corps launches a fierce counterattack near Krivoi Rog. It strikes the 5th Guards Tank Army in an effort to prevent the capture of the town. A week of bitter fighting ensues, which succeeds in halting the Soviet drive.

The German 6th Army begins to recross the Dniepr at Nikopol. However, the XLIV Corps has the farthest to go, having to cross at Kherson to prevent the Soviets from crossing near the mouth of the river. The units of the XLIV are severely reduced, its 73rd Infantry Division have just 170 combat infantry and the 111th only 200. The 6th Army also only has 25 operational tanks and assault guns.

Italy

8th Army captures Montefalcone. Nearer the coast a night attack expands 78th Div's bridgehead across the Trigno but the main German defenses still hold out.

Japan, Politics

Emperor Hirohito acknowledges that the war in the Pacific is entering a crucial phase, with the Allies poised to reclaim much of the south Pacific from the Japanese. As early as 1942, Hirohito attempted to persuade the Japanese Government to negotiate a settlement with the Allies, correctly believing that Japan could not sustain a long-term campaign against the US.

Pacific

Gen Row's 8th Bde of the New Zealand 3rd Div lands on Stirling and Mono Islands of the Treasury Islands. The first is entirely undefended, the second is manned by a few Japanese who put up no resistance. The operation is supported by aircraft based in New Georgia. Treasury Island is subsequently used as a build-up point for the Bougainville invasion forces.

During the night the 2nd Parachute Battalion of the US Marines lands on Choiseul in the Solomons and during the next few days carries out a number of demonstrations with the idea of appearing far more numerous than they are. The Japanese are not deceived for more than a day or two; actually Radio Tokyo at first announces that 20,000 Americans have landed on Choiseul, but the surprise action very soon turns into a war of attrition.

In Operation BLISSFUL the 2nd Marine Parachute Bn is landed by sea at Voza on Choiseul. That is intended to be a diversion from the attack on Bougainville. After a series of sharp actions they are withdrawn from the operation.

Scenes from October 27, 1943

Two dead bodies on Falamai Beach off Blanche Harbor on Mono Island. (Credit: USN, 87th Seabees Date: October 27, 1943.)

Falamai Beach on Mono Island

LST-485 unloading crane and 10-wheel truck with water distillation unit at Falamai on Mono Island. (Credit: USN, 87th Seabees Date: October 27, 1943)

Unloading Equipment on Mono Island

Men of the 10th Royal Berkshire Regiment move up to the heights of Calvi-Risorta, 27 October 1943.

British Soldiers Moving Up Calvi-Risorta

Guns and vehicles of 48 Field Battery, 146 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery sink in mud during the advance to the Volturno.

Vehicles Stuck in Mud

Private J.A. Robb of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment looking through a shell hole in the foundation of a building, Colle d'Anchise, Italy, 27 October 1943.

Soldier in Colle d'Anchise, Italy