Chronology of World War II

November 1943

Wednesday, November 24


Air Operations, Bismarcks

More than 20 V Bomber Command B-24s attack Gasmata. This concludes a 5-day bombing offensive amounting to 133 B-24 sorties and 63 B-25 sorties.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 5 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 16 14th Air Force P-40s attack Hanshow while 2 B-25s attack Amoy.
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Air Operations, Europe

US bombers sink 4 ex-French warships at Toulon.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 6 Mosquitos bomb Berlin through a cloud cover and 9 OTU Wellingtons make leaflet flights to France.
    • 1 Mosquito is lost.
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Air Operations, Gilberts

  • A Japanese submarine sinks the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay off Makin Atoll at 0513 hours. 644r men are killed, including many airmen from VC-39 and Rear-Adm Henry M. Mullinnix, the Carrier Division 24 commander.
  • VF-16 F6Fs down 2 G4M 'Betty' bombers and 10 A6M Zeros near Makin Atoll at 1230 hours.
  • Work is begun to rehabilitate and improve the former Japanese Navy airfields on Betio and Butaritari islands, both of which will be needed to support the projected advance to the Marshall Islands.
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Air Operations, Marshalls

  • 20 VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Nanomea attack land targets and shipping in the Maloelap Atoll.
  • Task Group 50.1 carrier aircraft continue their attack on the Mille Atoll.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 30 V Bomber Command B-25s, B-26s, and A-20s attack Kalasa as 15 B-25s and A-20s attack Finschhafen.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 25 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Buka and Chabai.
  • 20 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville. 6 B-25s attack a possible radio station at Mutupina Point.
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Bougainville

In the Piva River sector the Marines drive off a Japanese attack. Work on the construction of a runway is almost finished, and an aircraft manages to make an emergency landing there.

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Eastern Front

The German attacks around Korosten now have increased strength and the Soviets are forced back.

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Germany, Home Front

Goebbels issues a proclamation to the citizens of Berlin: 'Our will to win is unshakable.' He exhorts Berliners to defy RAF 'terror attacks'.

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Gilbert Islands

The Japanese submarine I-175 torpedoes and sinks the American escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56) off Makin Atoll. The ship sinks in 23 minutes after being hit, taking the lives of 644 men, including Rear-Adm Henry A. Mullinix. The number of dead must be added to the price paid for the capture of Tarawa and Makin.

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Italy

The headquarters of the US 5th Army draws up the final plan of attack, the first phase of which is to be launched December 2. This phase is to consist of the capture of the Monte Camino-Monte la Difensa-Monte Maggioure sector, preceded on December 1 by the capture of Calabritto. The second and third phase comprise the taking of Monte Sammucro and an attack on the Liri valley.

The 8th Army crosses the lower Sangro River on a 8-km front.

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New Britain

During the night near Cape St George, 5 Japanese destroyers en route for Buka Island with reinforcements and materials are intercepted by 5 Allied destroyers. In the course of the battle the Japanese lose 3 destroyers; the Allies suffer no damage. This is the last of the night battles that have characterized the Solomons campaign.

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Solomons

The Japanese mount a small attack on the American positions on Bougainville which the Marines easily drive off.

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United States, Production

2 new modern aircraft carriers are commissioned in the US, the USS Wasp (CV-18) and the USS Hornet (CV-12), both named after US vessels sunk at earlier actions in the war. In 1943 alone, the US commissioned 9 new aircraft carriers; the Japanese, suffering severe industrial shortages, commissioned only 2, these being conversions from existing vessels.

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Scenes from November 24, 1943

A helmet brigade is formed by members of anti-aircraft crew to bail out more than 18 inches of water gathered in gun emplacement as a result of continuous rain. Italy, 24 November 1943.

Gun Crew Bailing Out Water


Gun Crew Bailing Out Water
Sattelberg, New Guinea, 24 November 1943, following the capture of the position by Australian troops from the 26th Brigade.

Sattelberg, New Guinea Captured by Australians


Sattelberg, New Guinea
US solidiers eating rations in the field in Italy on 24 November 1943

Eating in the Field


Eating in the Field
US soldier uses pick axe to remove the mud packed on the wheels of his truck in Italy on 24 November 1943.

Removing the Mud


Removing the Mud

[November 23rd - November 25th]