Chronology of World War II

November 1943

Monday, November 29


Air Operations, Bismarcks

35 V Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack Cape Gloucester.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 6 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack targets at Amoy and Swatow, and along the nearby coast.
  • 24 14th Air Force P-40s air-drop ammunition and food to Chinese Army troops encircled at Changte and attack ground targets on the return flight.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 21 Mosquitos are sent to Bochum, Cologne and Düsseldorf and there are 9 OTU sorties.
US 8th AIR FORCE
GERMANY:
  • Although the cloud cover reaches as high as 29,000 feet in places, 137 VIII Bomber Command B-17s, of 360 dispatched, are able to attack the city of Bremen with 410 tons of bombs between 1430 and 1550 hours, and 17 B-17s attack various targets of opportunity.
  • 314 VIII Fighter Command p-47s and 38 P-38s escort and support the bombers, but heavy winds result in high fuel consumption that prevents deep penetrations. 14 Luftwaffe fighters are downed over Germany and the Netherlands between 1210 and 1504 hours.
    • 7 P-38s and 9 P-47s are lost with their pilots
US 9th AIR FORCE
BELGIUM:
  • 53 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack the Chievres Airdrome.
FRANCE:
  • 71 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack the Cambrai/Epinoy Airdrome.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Air Support Command B-25s attack road and rail bridges at Giulianova.
  • NATAF aircraft attack German Army strongpoints in and near the battle area.
YUGOSLAVIA:
  • XII Air Support Command B-25s attack Sarajevo.
US 15th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • 15th Air Force B-17s attack the Grossetto Airdrome.
  • 15th Air Force B-24s attack the Rome/Casale Airdrome.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Gilberts

A VF-18 F6F downs a G4M 'Betty' bomber at sea at 1245 hours.

[larrlarr | larrlarr]

Air Operations, New Guinea

6 V Bomber Command B-24s attack a barracks at Manokwari.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Solomons

  • 21 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Kieta.
  • 18 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and AirSols P-39s and SBDs attack targets on the Bougainville coast.
  • Construction work begins on the Piva Uncle airfield on Bougainville.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-86 is sunk by aircraft (VC-19) from the US escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) east of the Azores Islands.

U-86

ClassType VIIB
CO Kapitänleutnant Walter Schug
Location N Atlantic
Cause Air attack
Casualties 50
Survivors None
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Bougainville

The 1st Marine Parachute Battalion lands before dawn east of Cape Torokina at Koiari beach to attack a Japanese logistics base. Overrunning the site, they encounter heavy Japanese resistance. US destroyer Fullam (DD-474) supported by F4U Corsairs provides close supporting fire to allow the marines to be evaduated.

[rarr | rarrrarr2]

Eastern Front

There is fierce fighting in the Kiev Salient. SS Panzers are in action.

SOVIET COMMAND

The Stavka orders Vatutin to place the 1st Ukrainian Front on the defensive. To support the hard hit forces in the Berdichev and Korosten areas the 1st Guards Army begins to move into the line between the 38th and 60th Armies.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Italy

8th Army's battle on the Sangro continues with reasonable progress for the attacks. The British 4th Arm Bde, with effective air support, begins the attack on the hills north of the Sangro. Mozzogrogna is taken and Fossacesia also falls later in the day. The US VI Corps begins a limited operation on its right flank.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

New Britain

4 US destroyers bombard Japanese positions on the south coast, near Gasmata.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

New Guinea

The Australians pursue the enemy along the coast of the Huon peninsula capturing Gusika and Bonga, once an important Japanese supply base, in their advance from Finschafen. Sio farther north is shelled by Allied warships.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Occupied Yugoslavia

The National Partisan Assembly appoints Tito to the rank of Marshal.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Pacific

  • The US destroyer Perkins (DD-377) is sunk after a collision with the Australian troopship Duntroon in the eastern New Guinea area.
  • The US submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks the Surabaya-bound Japanese army cargo ship Suez Maru (4646t) off Kangean Island, north of Bali. Unknown to the submarine, Suez Maru has on board 546 British POWs. Minesweeper W-12 rescues survivors.
  • In an attack on a Japanese convoy northwest of the Marianas, the US submarine Pargo (SS-264) sinks the Japanese transport Manju Maru (5877t) and Snook (SS-279) sinks Shiganoura Maru (3512t).
[larr2larr | rarrrarr]

Images from November 29, 1943

Marine Paratroops on Bougainville


Marine Paratroops on Bougainville

New Zealand Gunners in Action


New Zealand Gunners in Action

New Zealand Gun Crew on the Move


New Zealand Gun Crew on the Move

Italian Civilian Searches Ruins of his Home


Italian Civilian Searches Ruins of his Home

B-17F "Virgin's Delight" Shot Down


B-17F

Amin al-Husayni Greeting Bosnian Volunteers


Amin al-Husayni Greeting Bosnian Volunteers

[November 28th - November 30th]