Aegean

The Germans complete the occupation of the island of Leros and defeat the British attempt to seize the Dodecanese. Poor planning and enemy air superiority have led to the failure of the operation. Britain sustains more the 4,800 casualties, and loses 20 vessels and 115 aircraft. Germany has 12 merchant ships and 20 landing craft sunk, and suffers 4,000 casualties during the short campaign.

Air Operations, CBI

• P-38s with the 10th Air Force’s 459th Fighter Squadron down 3 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters at 1100 hours while escorting bombers against Meiktila.

• 11 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, 2 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, and 4 14th Air Force P-40s attack the Kowloon port area. 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s mount anti-shipping attacks off the China coast. 1 B-25 and 12 P-40s attack a Japanese Army cavalry column and other targets around Shihmen.
• A 74th Fighter Squadron P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter near Wuchow at 0945 hours.

• 6 14th Air Force P-40s strafe rail targets and barracks while on an armed reconnaissance mission.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Nanomea and Funafuti begin daily intensive anti-shipping searches to help cover the approach of the Gilberts invasion fleet.

Air Operations, Europe

B-17s and B-24s attack the Knaben molybdenum mines and the Norsk Hydro power station in Norway. B-17s also hit the heavy-water production facility at Vemork, Norway. 175 tons of bombs are dropped, but the results are disappointing leaving production untouched. In the end, though, the raid achieved a basic Allied goal. The Germans decide it would be impractical to continue production at the site, effectively blocking the GErman effort to build an atomic bomb.

• 21 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne, Gelsenkirchen and Krefeld and 8 OTU Wellingtons make leaflet flights to France. There are no losses.

• 130 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Knaben with 313 tons of bombs between 1138 and 1238 hours.
• 147 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Rjukan with more that 355 tons of bombs at 1145 hours.
• 29 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack Rjukan with 74 tons of bombs between 1204 and 1212 hours.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack the Athens/Eleusis Airdrome

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack the Sibenik Airdrome.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the Istres-le-Tube and Istres/Les Pates Airdromes.
• 15th Air Force B-26s attack the Salon-de-Provence Airdrome.

Air Operations, Gilberts

• VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Nanomea and Nukufetau mount individual attacks against the Makin and Tarawa atolls.
• VD-3 PB4Ys reconnoiter and photograph Tarawa Atoll.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Canton Island, Nanomea, and Nukufetau attack the Jaluit, Maloelap, and Wotje atolls. B-24s mount individual attacks against Kwajalein Atoll. Several B-24s are damaged in attacks by A6M Zeros.
• VD-3 PB4Ys and VII Bomber Command B-24s reconnoiter and photograph defenses and facilities in the Jaluit Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Finschhafen and nearby targets. V Fighter Command P-39 fighter-bombers attack barges between Madang and Saidor.
• 475th Fighter Group P-38s down 3 A6M Zeros over Wewak at 0950 hours, 1 Zero over Wewak at 1040 hours, and 1 Ki-61 'Tony' fighter over Finschhafen at 1040 hours. 2 P-38s are lost.

Air Operations, Pacific

Since November 13, US heavy bombers have been attacking the Gilbert and Marshal Islands every day dropping 173 tons of bombs on military installations.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 4 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 20 B-25s attack the airfield at Buka. More than 20 B-25s and more than 30 XIII Fighter Command P-39s and P-40s attack targets of opportunity along the Bougainville coast.
• During the night, more than 30 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Buka Airdrome. 8 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Bonis and Buka airfields on Bougainville at various times.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-208 is operating near Convoy HX-265 when she is spotted by Liberator 'M' of No 86 Squadron RAF. The first attack by the aircraft is through heavy flak and the depth charges overshoot the target. In the second attack the depth charges are close enough to sink the U-boat.

U-508

CBI

Adm Mountbatten activates his new command, SEAC, and takes over operational control from CinC India. Movement orders are issued to US forces who are to help operate the Bengal and Assam Railroad. Gen Stratemeyer's Headquarters, AAF, India-Burma Sector, virtually rejects Gen Chennault's proposals for 1944 for logistical reasons. Hump tonnage requested cannot be supplied. Since the TWILIGHT plan ofr B-29s to be brought to the CBI theater is approved, the priority of the 14th Air Force must be lowered.

Eastern Front

The Soviets continue to attack as advance guards reach Korosten north of Zhitomir, which is threatened by a German attack from the south. Although the Germans only have a very small force in this attack, by its widespread penetrations it gives the appearance of greater strength. In the central sector the Russians advance on Gomel.

Korosten falls to the 60th Army.

Italy

In the British 8th Army area, the V Corps is ordered to attack toward the general line Ortona-Lanciano on 20 November. Adverse weather conditions subsequently force Gen Montgomery to postpone the date. The small British forces of the British 78th Division on the north bank of the Sangro consolidate their gains.

In the US 5th Army's VI Corps area, the 36th Division moves forward to relieve the 3rd Division in the Mignano Gap.

Lebanon

Gen Georges Catroux arrives in Beirut with full powers to settle constitutional crisis. The French reinstate Pres Bishara el-Khoury and on November 22 recall Gen Jean Helleu.

New Guinea

The Australian 9th Div has brought up tanks to help in their attacks on the Japanese strongholds near Sattelberg north of Finschhafen. These attacks now begin.

Pacific

• The Japanese minelayer Ukishima is sunk by a submarine torpedo off the coast of Japane.
• The US submarine Corvina (SS-216) is sunk by Japanese submarine I-176 south of Truk.

Scenes from November 16, 1943

Wellingtons Waiting for the Signal to Depart

US Submarine Corvina

Burial At Sea

B17G En Route to Bomb Heavy Water Plant

Home Guard Soldiers

German Armored Vehicles in Rome