Chronology of World War II

November 1943

Sunday, November 21

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-24s attack Gasmata.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA

4 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack the airfield at Taiping-hu and mount anti-shipping strikes in the South China Sea. 4 B-25s and 12 14th Air Force P-40s attack Tzeli. 29 P-40s attack small craft on Tungting Lake. 12 P-40s attack 5 vessels and other targets in the Shihmen area. 8 P-40s attack river boats and Japanese Army ground troops near Tsowshih.

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Air Operations, Europe

USAAF
ITALY:

NATAF B-25s attack gun emplacements around Gaeta.
NATAF fighter-bombers attack several German Army strongpoints along the battle lines.
15th Air Force B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Chiusi, the harbor at Civitavecchia, and a bridge at Fano.

Air Operations, Gilberts

11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at Funafuti and Nonomea attack Nauru Island.
VD-3 PB4Ys escorted by 30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, photograph the island.
Fighting continues at Tarawa and Makin atolls. US carrier aircraft continue to provide continuous on-call support of the landing forces.
VF-2 and VF-6 F6Fs down 2 G4M 'Betty' bombers at sea at about 0610 hours.

Air Operations, Marshalls

Task Group 50.1 carrier aircraft attack the Mille Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack shipping targets.
3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack targets in the Finschhafen area.

Air Operations, Solomons

A small number of 42d Medium Bomb Group B-25s strafe Kieta while conducting antishipping patrols.
VF-17 F4Us down 6 A6M Zero strafers over Empress Augusta Bay at 0535 hours.
A 67th Fighter Squadron P-39 downs a Ki-61 'Tony' fighter over Cape Torokina at 0630 hours.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-538 is sunk by the British frigate Foley and the British sloop Crane during operations in support of Convoy SL-139/MKS-30.

U-538

Class	Type IXC/40
CO	Kapitänleutnant Johann Ebert Gossler
Location	Atlantic, SW of Ireland
Cause	Depth charge
Casualties	55
Survivors	None

Eastern Front

Having taken Zhitomir the Germans now extend their attacks toward Korosten.

Germany, Command

Kesselring is made the German Command-in-Chief in Italy. Rommel leaves his command. (see December 12).

Gilbert Islands

At dawn the Americans send in new waves of Marines to land on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll. Vice-Adm Spruance, commander of the operation, has heard reports from several unit commanders during the night. Some of them have suggested that the operation be called off and the forces re-embarked, but in view of the great strategic importance of the objective, Spruance is determined to proceed. The first group take heavy casualties from Japanese positions established the previous night but at about noon there is a significant change in the tide and the marines begin to flow ashore, both over the original beaches in the north and in the west of the island. Other American units land on Bairiki nearby.

American carrier-borne aircraft give effective support to the troops on the island, who are able to deploy field guns and shell the Japanese positions all day and to make a little progress. During the day small American units land on other islets in the Tarawa Atoll.

The American forces are firmly ashore on Butaritari Island, Makin and push forward, again with support from aircraft, artillery and naval guns. the 165th Inf launches an assault and seizes several fortified positions despite fierce Japanese resistance. Small units land on the islet of Kuma, carry out reconnaissance, and withdraw.