Chronology of World War II

October 1943

Air Operations, Asia

During the month 14th Air Force attacks Haiphong, Hainan, Kwanchow and Quangyen.


Air Operations, Pacific

There are many Allied attacks in all areas. Rabaul is perhaps the target most heavily hit, being raided 5 times. In all operations Allied pilots claim to have shot down 780 Japanese aircraft. This is an exaggeration but gives some idea of the extent of the attacks.


Air Operations, Europe

Bomber Command drops 13,000 tons of bombs in 9 large operations. Targets include Munich, Kassel and Frankfurt. Heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force drop 4,700 tons on targets including Emden, Bremen and Anklam. The USAAF raid on Schweinfurt is very significant (see October 14). USAAF medium bombers drop 850 tons on various French airfields. RAF medium and light forces are also active against railroads and airfields.

The last Wellington bombers are taken out of front-line service with RAF Bomber Command and are replaced by 4-engined heavy bombers.


Battle of the Atlantic

From early in the month the Allies are able to use bases in the Azores and thus cover an area of the Atlantic which their land-based aircraft have been unable to patrol previously. The efforts of the newly equipped U-boats continue, especially against convoys ONS-18 and ON-202 but have little success. The U-boat fleet is still large at 175 operational boats and 237 in training but a further 26 are lost during the month. In September and October 9 merchant ships have been lost in north Atlantic convoys and 25 U-boats have been sunk while attempting to attack.(Allied Ships Lost to U-boats this month)


Friday, October 1

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s strafe a motor launch near Gasmata.

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Air Operations, CBI

FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 21 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack port facilities, a warehouse, and a power plant at Haiphong, but they are attacked by as many as 65 fighters. 75th and 25th Fighter squadron P-40s and a 449th Fighter Squadron P-38 downs 4 A6M Zeros over Haiphong at 1520 hours. 1 75th Fighter Squadron P-40 is shot down with the loss of its pilot.
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Air Operations, Europe

Allied bombers drop 187 tons of bombs on Vienna.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 243 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos are sent to Hagen.
  • The raid is a complete success on a cloud-covered target. The Oboe skymarking is perfect a severe damage is caused.
    • 2 Lancasters are lost.
  • As the Hagen attack is ending, 12 Oboe Mosquitos are sent to bomb a steelworks at Witten, northwest of Hagen, as a training exercise. 8 Mosquitos bomb at Witten and 2, whose Oboe equipment failed, drop their bombs on the burning fires in Hagen. There are no losses.
US 12th AIR FORCE
AUSTRIA:

XII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Bf-109 factory at Wiener-Neustadt with 187 tons of bombs.

GERMANY:

XII Bomber Command B-17s prevented by bad weather from bombing their primary target at Augsburg, German, attack targets of opportunity during the return flight over Austria, Italy, Corsica, and Elba.

ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-26s attack communications targets at Arce, Capua, Grazzanise, and Mignano.
  • NATAF aircraft attack Benevento, a marshalling yard and bridge at Capua, and transportation targets from Isernia north to Avezzano.
  • A-36s from the 27th Fighter-Group down 2 Ju-52s over Italy, one at 0830 hours and the other at 1330 hours.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s and RAAF bombers attack Japanese Army positions in the Finschhafen area.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 24 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack a supply dump and bivouac near the Vila airfield on Kolombangara.
  • AirSols B-25s, SBDs, and P-38s attack the barge depot at Kakasa.
  • VMF-213 F4Us down 2 A6M Zeros over Vella Lavella at 1430 hours.
  • 2 18th Fighter Group P-40s down a Zero over Barakoma at 1440 hours.
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Eastern Front

During the first week of October the armies of the Central Front, Steppe Front and Southwest Front exert intensive pressure on the Army Groups Center and South along the great bend of the Dniepr, and succeed in crossing the river and establishing small bridgeheads near Kiev, Kremenchug and Dnepropetrovsk.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Manstein moves his headquarters from Kirovograd to the former Führer headquarters at Vinnitsa.

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Mediterranean

The US freighter Metapan (4736t), in Convoy UGS-15, is mined and sunk. The 50-man crew, 23-man Armed Guard and 1 passenger are rescued by the Fuel-oil barge Syncline (YO-63).

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New Guinea

The Australians resume their attacks on Finschhafen, inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese.

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Italy

During the morning the King's Dragoon Guards, of the British X Corps, 5th Army, enter Naples without opposition. The port was heavily damaged but repairs begin at once to put it back into operation. 8th Army begins to advance its main forces once again. For the moment only 2 divisions, 78th along the coast and 1st Canadian of XIII Corps inland across the mountains, are sent forward toward the line Vinchiaturo-Termoli. V Corps is kept back in reserve for the moment.

Owing to the success achieved by the delaying actions so far, Hitler orders Kesselring to hold a line south of Rome during the coming months rather than retire farther north.

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Pacific

  • The Japanese submarine I-20 is sunk by the US destroyer Eaton (DD-510) in the Solomon Islands area.
  • The US submarine Peto (SS-265) sinks the Japanese transport Tonei Maru (4930t) and the army cargo ship Kinkasan Maru (4980t) in the southern Carolines.
  • The US submarine Wahoo (Ss-238) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Masaki Maru (1238t) in the Sea of Japan.
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Solomons

Adm Halsey tells Gen MacArthur that he has decided to carry out a landing in Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. MacArthur assures him that he will get the maximum air support from the Southwest Pacific Area forces.

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United States, Politics

Harriman is appointed US Ambassador in Moscow.

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Images from October 1, 1943

Loading a Rocket Launcher


Loading a Rocket Launcher

Daimler Scout Car


Daimler Scout Car

Cheering Crowds in Naples


Cheering Crowds in Naples

Wreckage in Naples Harbor


Wreckage in Naples Harbor

The Allies Are Welcomed


The Allies Are Welcomed

Sherman Tank Carrying Troops


Sherman Tank Carrying Troops

Saturday, October 2

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • V Bomber Command B-25s attack barges near Gasmata and villages near Talasea.
  • 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack the Cape Hoskins airfield on New Britain and 1 B-24 attacks Cape Gloucester. A 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaisance plane over Cape Hoskins.
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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 5 14th Air Force P-40 fighter-bombers attack Yangtze River traffic near Chiuchiang.
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Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack targets on Amboina Island.

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Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 294 Lancasters of Nos. 1, 5 and 8 Groups are sent to Munich along with 2 American B-17s.
  • Visibility over the target is clear but the initial marking is scattered. Heavy bombing develops over the southern and southeastern districts of Munich, but later stages of the raid 'creeps back' up to 15 miles along the approach route. Most of this inaccurate bombing comes from No. 5 Group aircraft, who are again attempting their 'time-and-distance' bombing method independently of the Pathfinder marking. The No. 5 Group crews are unable to find Wurmsee, a lake which is to be the starting point for their run.
    • 8 Lancasters are lost.
Other Ops:
  • 8 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and Gelsenkirchen, 117 aircraft lay mines at various places from Lorient to Heligoland and there are 21 OTU sorties. 1 mine-laying Halifax is lost.
US 8th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:

Due to poor visibility, just 6 of 72 3rd Medium Bomb Wing B-26s attack the St.-Omer/Longuenesse Airdrome at 1715 hours.

GERMANY:
  • With 2 H2S-equpped 482nd Heavy Pathfinder Bomb Group B-17s guiding them, 339 1st and 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Emden through thick cloud cover with 953 tons of bombs between 1557 and 1603 hours.
    • 2 B-17s are lost; 34 damaged
  • A total of 227 VIII Fighter Command escort sorties are flown. 6 Luftwaffe are downed over the Netherlands and northern Germany between 1600 and 1635 hours by P-47s of the 4th, 56th, and 353rd Fighter Groups.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:

Bad weather limits air operations. Some XII Air Support Command aircraft are able to attack roads, bridges, and motor vehicles while conducting armed-recon missions.

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Air Operations, Solomons

42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and AirSols SBDs attack barges near Vila.

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Baltic Sea

German shipping in the area comes under increasing attack from Russian torpedo planes.

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Central Pacific

The US 27th Division, which was to have been getting ready for a landing on Nauru, is ordered to prepare plans for the capture of a new objective, suggested by Vice-Adm Spruance to Adm Nimitz --Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.

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Eastern Front

The great Russian Smolensk offensive grinds to a stop, midway between Smolensk and Vitebsk-Orsha.

CENTRAL SECTOR

The bitter, two-month long offensive around Smolensk finally dies down, having cost the Kalinin Front 28,000 killed and missing and the West Front 79,500 killed and missing and 253,600 wounded. The two fronts have also lost 863 tanks, 234 arty pieces and 303 aircraft.

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Germany, Preparations

German infantry divisions are reformed to include 10,708 men each including 2,000 Russian POWs who had volunteered for non-combat duty. There are known as 'Hiwis', short for Hilfswilliger.


Italy

In the US VI Corps sector, the 3rd Division on the left of the line makes for the Volturno River while the 34th and 45th Divisions move by separate routes toward Benevento, an important road junction. At the same time the advance units of 78th Division on the east coast cross the Biferno River. During the night Royal Marine Commandos, supported by tanks, make a surprise landing near Termoli and take the harbor and the town. The commander of the German garrision, Maj Rou, is captured in bed. The Germans send 16th Panzer Division from positions on the Volturno to meet this attack. The commandos succeed in joining up with 78th Division as the battle continues.

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New Guinea

The Australian 20th Brigade captures the village and harbor of Finschhafen after hard fighting and joins up with the 23rd Brigade, which has advanced in the meantime from Lae. However, the Japanese still hold two strongpoints overlooking the harbor.

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Pacific

US submarines begin mining the waters off the Celebes to cut traffic through the Makassar Straig.

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Images from October 2, 1943

Corp E.H. Pruner with an Anti-Tank Weapon and Submachine Gun


Corp E.H. Pruner with an Anti-Tank Weapon and Submachine Gun

German Tank West of Smolensk


German Tank West of Smolensk

Canadian Soldier Eating in Italy


Canadian Soldier Eating in Italy

Russian Anti-Aircraft Crew in Action


Russian Anti-Aircraft Crew in Action

Canadian Soliders in Italy


Canadian Soliders in Italy

Sunday, October 3

Aegean

In Operation EISBÄR (POLAR BEAR) the Germans land on Kos, which has been used as an RAF base. They complete the capture on October 4 and take 1,388 British and 3,145 Italians prisoner. The loss of this island, the only Allied air base in the Aegean, endangers the Allied hold on Leros and Samos.

German Vessel Under Attack


German Vessel Under Attack
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Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack barges along New Britain’s west coast.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 6 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a coastal freighter at sea.
  • 7 14th Air Force P-40s attack a large river vessel near Chiuchiang whle 4 P-38s attack docks at Chiuchiang.
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Air Operations, Corsica

14th Fighter Group P-38s engaged by Bf-109s over Bastia down 1 and damage 2 others.


Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 547 aircraft are sent to Kassel. Included in this total are 223 Halifaxes, 204 Lancasters, 113 Stirlings and 7 Mosquitos.
  • The H2S 'blind marker' aircraft overshoot the aiming point badly and the 'visual markers' cannot correct this because of ground haze. There may also have been German decoy markers present. The main bombing falls on the western suburbs and outlying towns and villages.
    • 14 Halifaxes, 6 Stirlings and 4 Lancasters are lost.
Other Ops:
  • 10 Mosquitos are sent on a diversionary raid to Hannover, 12 Oboe Mosquitos are sent to attack the Knapsack power station near Cologne, and 4 more on Mark II Oboe trial runs to Aachen. Also, 7 Stirlings lay mines in the Frisians and there are 7 OTU sorties.
    • There are no losses.
US 8th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:

63 3rd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack the Beauvais/Tille Airdrome about 1725 hours.

NETHERLANDS:

131 3rd Medium Bomb Wing B-26s attack the Amsterdam/Schipol, Haamstede, and Woensdrecht Airdromes.

US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s, B-26s, and P-38s attack numerous bridges throughout south-cental Italy.
  • XII Bomber Command fighter-bombers attack German Arm vehicles in the battle area.
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Air Operations, Mediterranean

XII Bomber Command P-38s attack Axis ships at sea between Italy and Corsica.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • XIII Fighter Command P-39s attack barges near Choiseul.
  • VMF-222 F4Us down 6 A6M Zeros over Vella Lavella at 0800 hours.
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China

There is a new Japanese drive on a broad front in central China.

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Italy

In the VI Corps sector the 34th Division and the 133rd Infantry Regiment take Benevento and establish a bridgehead across the Calore River.

In the Termoli sector the Germans send reinforcements, the 16th Panzer Division which was operating on the Volturno, in an attempt to drive the British back across the Biferno River, and a fierce battle begins. During the night a brigade of the 78th Division lands in the sector in which the British have captured. Meanwhile the Canadian 1st Division, held up by the terrain, is about 12 miles from Vinchiaturo.

The 3rd Panzergrenadier Division takes the place of the 16th Panzer on the Volturno.

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Mediterranean

The British submarine Usurper is lost probably on a mine in the northern part of the Gulf of Genoa. She fails to arrive in Algiers on the 12th and is presumed lost with all 41 of her crew.

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Pacific

The US destroyer Henley (DD-391) is sunk by the Japanese submarine RO-108 in the eastern New Guinea area.

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Monday, October 4

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack villages, barges, and small craft in the Vitu Islands.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 17 Japanese bombers and 25 fighters attack the airfield at Kweilin. Although 14th Air Force fighters are unable to intercept, the Japanese bombs miss their targets.
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Air Operations, Europe

Frankfurt is bombed in round-the-clock attacks. Among the casualties are 529 dead.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 406 aircraft are sent to Frankfurt. In this total are 162 Lancasters, 170 Halifaxes, 70 Stirlings and 4 Mosquitos. 3 American B-17s join in the raid.
  • Clear weather and good Pathfinder marking produce the first serious blow on Frankfurt thus far in the war. There is extensive damage in the eastern part of the city and in the inland docks of the Main River. This is the last RAF night bombing raid in which American aircraft take part.
    • 5 Halifaxes, 3 Lancasters and 2 Stirlings are lost as well as 1 of the American B-17s.
  • 6 Lancasters carry out a diversionary raid on Ludwigshafen without lost but the marking and bombing are scattered.
Other Ops:
  • 12 Mosquitos are sent to the Knapsack power station, 1 Mosquito to Aachen, 5 Stirlings lay mines in the Gironde River and there are 8 OTU sorties. The Mosquito attacking Aachen carries out the first operational trial of the G-H blind bombing equipment, but the trial is not successful. There are no losses.
NORWAY:
  • 20 US Navy SBD dive-bombers and 10 TBF torpedo bombers from the USS Ranger attack merchant ships tied up in the harbor at Bodø in two waves beginning at 0830. Altogether, the Navy bombers claim the sinking of 5 merchant ships, totaling 23,000 tons, and damage at least 7 others.
    • 2 SBDs and 1 TBF are lost; 8 crewmen are lost
US 8th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:
  • 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack the St.-Dizier/Robinson Airdrome and a marshalling yard at Sarreguemines, both about 1140 hours.
  • 25 3rd Medium Bomb Wing B-26s dispatched against several Luftwaffe airfields in France are recalled due to bad weather.
GERMANY:
  • When mission leaders fly 100 miles off the projected course, only 15 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack the day's primary target, an aircraft industry factory at Wiesbaden, with 45 tons of bombs. The 77 B-17s that are off course reach Frankfurt-am-Main, where they join a planned attack by 37 1st Bomb Division B-17s against aircraft-industry targets and the city itself. 304 tons of bombs are dropped between 1100 and 1111 hours.
  • 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack marshalling yards at Saarbrucken and an aircraft-industry factory at Saarlaudern between 1133 and 1139 hours.
  • VIII Fighter Command mounts 223 P-47 escort sorties in support of the various bombing missions. 18 Luftwaffe fighters are downed along the bomber routes between 1030 and 1203 hours.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack bridges at Bolzano and marshalling yards at Pisa.
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack the Argos Airdrome, shipping at Bastia, a highway overpass at Mignano, and road defiles at Isernia and Terracina.
  • NATAF aircraft attack numerous road, rail, and vehicles targets in and around the battle area.
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Air Operations, Mediterranean

Combined with bombardments undertaken by the Royal Navy, 12th Air Force B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s begin a week-long offensive against German air bases in Greece, Crete, and the Dodecanese Islands.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 23 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.
  • 4 AirSols F4Us and 4 P-39s are credited with destroying 16 barges in a sweep along Choiseul’s west coast.
  • 1 VMF-214 F4U downs 3 A6M Zeros over Moila Point at 1330 hours. A XIII Fighter Command staff officer and 4 347th Fighter Group P-38s down 4 Zeros over Kahili between 1330 and 1340 hours.
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Arctic

In Operation LEADER German shipping off the Norwegian coast near Bodo is attacked by aircraft from the US carrier Ranger operating with the British Home Fleet. 4 freighters are sunk and 7 badly damaged at little cost. The battleships Duke of York and Anson are in support.

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Battle of the Atlantic

  • Planes (VC-9) from the US carrier Card (CVE-11) sink the 'U-tanker' U-460 and U-422 and damage U-264 near the Azores. A passing convoy escapes attack.
  • U-460

    ClassType XIV
    CO Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Schnoor
    Location Atlantic, N of the Azores
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 62
    Survivors None

    U-422

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Poeschel
    Location Atlantic, N of the Azores
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 49
    Survivors None
  • The German submarine U-336 is sunk by US naval land-based aircrafte (VB-128) in the North Atlantic area.
  • U-336

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Kapitänleutnant Hans Hunger
    Location N Atlantic, SW of Iceland
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 50
    Survivors None

    U-279

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Kapitänleutnant Otto Finke
    Location North Atlantic
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 48
    Survivors None
  • Ventura 'B' of VP-128 USN sights a U-boat on the surface which starts firing at the aircraft. The plane attacks through the flak and drops three depth charges along the starboard side under the stern, conning tower and bows. As the aircraft turned for a second attack U-279 could be seen settling in the water with smoke pouring from the conning tower. The crew abandons the submarine in four or five dinghies just before it sank.
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Britain, Command

Adm Sir Dudley Pound resigns his post as First Sea Lord because of ill health. So determined to be a capable, 'hands-on' leader, he had taken on too great a work load and his decision-making, such as that concerning Convoy PQ-17, suffered accordingly. He dies on October 21. His position is taken by Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham after Adm Sir Bruce Fraser has refused the job.

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Corsica

The liberation of the island is completed when French Partisans, Moroccan Goums, American OSS agents and Italian forces enter Bastia.

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Italy

Eisenhower and Alexander forecast that Allied troops will be able to enter Rome by the end of the month. So, having decided to transfer GHQ form Algiers to Naples, Eisenhower now decides to wait so that he can establish himself in Rome.

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Mediterranean

German bombers attack Convoy UGS-18 damaging the US freighter Hiram S. Maxim (7176t) with a near-miss about 12 miles northwest of Cape Tenes, Algeria. The ship is abandoned by all but a skeleton crew of 7 and 6 Armed Guard sailors and then towed to Algiers for repairs. The freighters Leslie M. Shaw and Harry Lane rescues the remainder of those on board.

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New Guniea

The Australian 7th Division and 21st Brigade advancing northwest up the Huon Peninsula manage to capture Dumpu as they extend their advance into the Ramu valley from the Markham Valley. Japanese forces are now confined along the northern coastline of the peninsula.

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Solomons

The Japanese complete the evacuation of Kolombangara. Despite the attention of American destroyers, 9,400 men of Gen Minoru Sasaki's garrison have been evacuated by Adm Matsuji Ijuin's ships. A number of small boats have been lost, along with about 1,000 men.

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Wake Island

Ths isolated Japanese outpost of Wake Island comes under a heavy naval and aerial bombardment from the large US Navy Task Force 14 commanded by Rear-Adm Alfred E. Montgomery. B-24 Liberator bombers drop more than 320 tons of bombs. Some 61 Japanese aircraft are destroyed, comprising 30 on the ground and 31 in aerial combat. US forces lose 13 aircraft.

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Images from October 4, 1943

B-17F 'RUTHLESS' 547th BS 384th BG


B-17F 'RUTHLESS' 547th BS 384th BG

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless


Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless

Home Fleet And US Ships In Norway Attack


Home Fleet And US Ships In Norway Attack

Recovery Training in Progress


Recovery Training in Progress

Tiger in the Mud


Tiger in the Mud

Tuesday, October 5

Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • Several 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 14th Air Force P-40s attack a foundry at Shihhweiyao.
  • During the morning, 10 23rd Fighter Group P-40s intercept approximately 50 A6M Zeros west of Kweilin and force the Japanese aircraft to withdraw. A 74th Fighter Squadron P-40 downs 1 Zero over Kweilin.
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Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack marshalling yards at Bologna.
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack several roads.
  • NATAF aircraft attack tactical targets in the battle area and several fuel dumps and railroad trains.
  • 27th Fighter-Bomber Group A-36s down 2 Ju-52s over Italy, one at 0850 hours and the other at 1115 hours.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

  • 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the road to Bogadjim.
  • V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Babo area and B-25s attack barges and Japanese-held villages in the Madang area.
  • A 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs a K-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane near Madang at 1845 hours.
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Battle of the Atlantic

U-389 is sunk by Liberator 'X' of No 120 Squadron while supporting Convoy ONS-19.

U-389

ClassType VIIC
CO Kapitänleutnant Siegfried 'Udo' Heilmann
Location N Atlantic, SW of Iceland
Cause Air attack
Casualties 50
Survivors None
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Britain, Home Front

Churchill announces the surrender of additional Italian ships at Malta.

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Central Pacific

Over the next two days Wake Island, the island that Adm Sadamichi Kajioka rechristened 'Island of Birds' when he officially took possession of it in the name of the Japanese Emperor on December 23, 1941, is shelled and bombed by ships and planes from Adm A. E. Montgomery's Task Force 14. There are 6 carriers, 7 cruisers and 25 destroyers in this force. The carrier aircraft fly 738 sorties. 26 aircraft are lost.

The Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, Nimitz, issues the directives for the coming offensive in the Central Pacific. Vice-Adm Spruance is to direct the landings on Makin, Tarawa and Abemama Islands in the Gilberts, protecting the landing forces by all available means and neutraling the Japanese bases on the Marshall Islands and Nauru during the operation, which is timed to start on the 19th, but later pushed back to the 20th.

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Corsica

Before the Italian Armistice was signed, about 15,000 Corsican patriots were secretly armed by the Allies. On September 8, when news of the Italian surrender was received, there was a general rising. Vichy officials were arrested in almost all towns and villages. There were clashes with Germans troops in the mountains near Sarterne and the enemy was forced to withdraw to Bastia and Boniface. Gen Giraud broadcasts a message to the German High Command in Corsica declaring that anyone wearing a white brassard on his arm embroidered with a Moor's head (part of the arms of Corsica) must be considered as a regular soldier of the French Army and not treated as an armed civilian if captured. By September 21 the western half of Corsica was in French hands. German bases on the island, including the important airfield at Bastia, were heavily bombed by the Allied air forces. The food shortage, already very serious, was further intensified when the Germans set fire to about 1,000 acres of crops and farmsteads. By October 5 the enemy was finally cleared from Corsica. The re-capture of Corsica was important not only because it might be used by the enemy as a U-boat base but it gave the Allies an important base for air and amphibious operations.

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Eastern Front

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Bitter fighting rages at Dnepropetrovsk as the 8th Guards Army, recently committed to the fighting from the Steppe Front reserve, forces a crossing of the Dniepr south of the town. Farther north, attacks by the 60th and 13th Armies make progress north of Kiev. These two units are also transferred to the Voronezh Front from the Central Front.

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Germany, Policy

Stuka units are redesignated Schlachtgeschwadern and restritcted to low-level night ground-attack duties over the Russian Front.

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Germany, Politics

Germany annexes Trieste, Istria and the South Tyrol.

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Italy

5th Army takes Aversa and Maddaloni. Forward units of X Corps reach the Volturno. On the Adriatic coast, where the XIII Corps of the British 8th Army is operating, fighting continues around the Biferno bridgehead near Termoli. In the battle around Termoli, 16th Panzer comes into action and for a time pushes the British back.

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Pacific

The US submarine Wahoo sinks the Japanese army transport Konron Maru (7908t) in Tsushima Straits. Only 72 people, of the 616 on board, are rescued because of heavy seas. This results in the cancellation of night ferry trips across Tsushima Straits.

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Images from October 5, 1943

Meierdrees Receives Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross


Meierdrees Receives Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross

US Naval Air Bomb Wake Island


US Naval Air Bomb Wake Island

US Navy Dauntless Over Wake Island


US Navy Dauntless Over Wake Island

Remains of German War Material on Corsica


Remains of German War Material on Corsica

Wednesday, October 6

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s sweep New Britain’s northern and western coasts.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • Early in the day, 27 Japanese bombers and 21 fighters based at Canton are intercepted on their way to the airfield at Suichwan Airdrome by 7 23rd Fighter Group P-40s and forced to retire without attacking. 76th Fighter Squadron P-40s down 2 A6M Zeros over Suichwan.
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Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:

XII Bomber Command P-38s strafe the Araxos Airdrome.

ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Mestre.
  • XII Bomber Command B-26s attack roads and highways.
  • NATAF aircraft attack numerous tactical targets in and around the battle area.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 24 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 14 XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville at low-level.
  • AirSols F4Us and 8 P-39s attack barges off western Choiseul.
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Atlantic

The US submarine Dorado (SS-248) departs New London, Connecticut, for the Panama Canal. She is never heard from again.

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Black Sea

3 Russian destroyers are sunk by Stukas. Stalin imposes strict curbs on subsequent operations by the Black Sea Fleet.

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Burma

The Allied Eastern Command receives a new C-in-C, Gen Sir William Slim, who alwo takes command of the newly formed 14th Army.

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Eastern Front

CENTRAL SECTOR

The 3rd and 4th Shock Armies of the Kalinin front launch new attacks against the junction of Army Groups Center and North. The main weight of the attack falls upon Luftwaffe field divisions of the II Luftwaffe Corps on the left wing of the 3rd Panzer Army. A rapid Soviet advance leads to the early capture of Nevel during the afternoon, severing communications between groups North and Center.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Fighting in the Lyutezh bridgehead rages unabated as the Soviets fend off constant counterattacks by the XIII and LIX Corps. The latter units have been brought down from the Central Sector to reinforce the weak left wing of Army Group South. Only once Soviet armored units are brought up is the bridgehead strengthened significantly.

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Italy

5th Army takes Caserta and reaches the south bank of the Volturno about 15 miles northwest of Naples while troops of the British 10th Division capture Capua. This brings another phase of the advance up the Italian peninsula to a successful conclusion. On the east coast the British gain the upper hand in the fighting around Termoli.

German troops systematically loot Rome's treasures using Herman Göring's 'shopping list'. Also thousands of former Italian soldiers are rounded up and taken to Germany as forced labor.

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New Britain

Small parties of US troops land secretly around Cape Gloucester to spy out the land.

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New Guinea

Elements of the Australian 7th Division take Dumpu unexpectedly easily. A landing strip for fighters is begun.

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Pacific

  • The US submarine Steelhead (SS-280) damages the Japanese fast fleet tanker Kazahaya (18,594t). The US submarine Tinosa (SS-283) later finishes off the Japanese ship 240 miles northwest of Truk.
  • The US submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Kanko Maru (1288t) off the coast of Korea.
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Solomons

The American 25th Division lands unopposed at Vila on Kolombangara. The whole island is occupied by the October 9th.

During the night two Japanese destroyers of the 'Tokyo Night Express' are sent to evacuate 600 men from Vella Lavella. Six more destroyers escorting them under the command of Rear-Adm Matsuji Ijuin are engaged by three American ships. In a torpedo action each side loses 1 destroyer, the Japanese destroyer Yugumo and the US destroyer Chevalier (DD-451) and both the other American vessels are damaged. Among the damaged US ships are the destroyer O'Bannon (DD-450) in a collision with the Chevalier and the Selfridge (DD-357) from an enemy destroyer torpedo.

The Japanese do succeed, however, in completing their mission. Excluding Vella Lavella, which is not yet completely occupied, the campaign has cost the Americans 1,094 dead and about 4,000 wounded; Japanese dead counted by the Americans, 2,483. The Allies now have 4 airfields, Munda, Barakoma, Segi and Ondonga, from which their aircraft can attack the next objective, Bougainville.

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Images from October 6, 1943

Japanese Destroyers off Bougainville


Japanese Destroyers off Bougainville

Heavily Damaged US Ships


Heavily Damaged US Ships

Damage to the O'Bannon


Damage to the <i>O'Bannon</i>

Canadian Sniper under German Mortar Fire


Canadian Sniper under German Mortar Fire

Thursday, October 7

Aegean

2 British cruisers Penelope and Sirius and 2 destroyers intercept a German troop convoy bound for Kos and sink 7 transports and 1 escort.

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Air Operations, Bismarcks

1 V Bomber Command B-24 attacks Umboi Island.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 4 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a freighter at sea south of Amoy.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 9 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 22 14th Air Force fighters attack a cement factory at Haiphong. A 16th Fighter Squadron P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over Haiphong at 1340 hours.
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Air Operations, Mediterranean

A 1st Fighter Group P-38 based at Gambut Airdrome, Libya, downs a Ju-88 near Leros, in the Dodecanese Islands, at 1600 hours.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • A VMF-214 F4U downs an A6M Zero near Baga Island at 0730 hours.
  • A 347th Fighter Group P-38 downs an A6M Zero near Vella Lavella at 0730 hours.
  • Various AirSols aircraft attack Japanese Navy barges tasked with evacuating Japanese ground troops from Kolombangara.
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Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 343 Lancasters are sent to Stuttgart.
  • The first aircraft equipped with ABC, night-fighter communications jamming equipment known by the crews as 'Airborne Cigar', operates on this raid. The German night-fighter controller is confused by the diversionary raid on Munich and only a few fighters reach Stuttgart at the end of the attack. The target is covered in cloud and the H2 Pathfinder marking develops in two areas.
    • 4 Lancasters are lost.
  • 16 Lancasters of No. 8 Group carry out a diversionary raid on Friedrichshafen and claim hits on the Zeppeling factory there. There are no losses.
Other Ops:
  • 10 Mosquitos are sent to Munich, 7 to Emden, 5 to Aachen, 79 aircraft lay mines from Brest to Heligoland and there are 14 OTU sorties.
    • 1 mine-laying Stirling is lost.
US 8th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:

4 B-17s from the independent 422nd Heavy Bomb Squadron undertak the first 8th Air Force night leaflet drop of the war when they disperse more than 240,000 leaflets over Paris between 2257 and 2307 hours.

US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:

Most 12th Air Force flight operations are canceled because of bad weather, but NATAF aircraft, including A-20s and B-25s, are able to attack towns and rail and road targets around Capua, Guglionesi, and Termoli.

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Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter Yorkmar, in Convoy SC-143, is torpedoed and sunk by U-645 about 300 miles northwest of Ireland. 11 of the 39-man crew and 2 of the 28-man Armed Guard are lost in the sinking. The Canadian corvette Kamloops and the British frigate Duckworth rescue the survivors.

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Italy

The American 5th Army enters Capua on the Volturno River and gets ready to attack the Volturno line. The date for the operation is set for the night of October 9, but will get postponed until the night of October 12. Meanwhile the troops strengthen their positions on the south bank of the river. The Germans withdraw from contact with the 78th Division around Termoli and pull back from the Trigno. Montgomery does not feel able to follow them closely at this stage.

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Eastern Front

In a new offensive in the central the Soviets take Nevel, a railway center north of Vitebsk. At the western end of the Kuban Peninsula Taman is captured. Along the Dniepr to the south of Kiev there is something of a lull as the Soviets bring up supplies and build bridges.

CENTRAL SECTOR

The IX Corps, hastily transferred from the 4th Army to the 3rd Panzer Army, launches a fierce counterattack, bringing both the 3rd and 4th Shock Armies to a standstill. Repeated Soviet counterattacks fail to push the salient any farther as the Germans stabilize their positions.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

There is heavy fighting at Taman as the last remnants of the German 17th Army evacuates the Kuban peninsula.

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Pacific

The US submarine S-44 is sunk by the Japanese escort destroyer Ishigaki north-northeast of Araito Island in the Kurile Islands area.

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Secret War

Niels Bohr flies to Scotland.

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Images from October 7, 1943

Damage in Böblinge


Damage in Böblinge

German Gunners with Anti-Tank Cannon


German Gunners with Anti-Tank Cannon

German Artillery Unit


German Artillery Unit

Another German Anti-Tank Cannon


Another German Anti-Tank Cannon

Friday, October 8

Air Operations, Bismarcks

1 V Bomber Command B-24 attacks the Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 3 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s on their way to India to pick up supplies attack a Japanese Army headquarters, barracks, and warehouses at Tengchung.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 9 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, escorted by 20 P-40s, attack the Gia Lam airfield at Hanoi.
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Air Operations, Europe

357 bombers of the American 8th Air Force carry out a massive raid on Bremen and Vegesack, but incur heavy losses.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 504 aircraft are sent to Hannover. Included in the total are 282 Lancasters, 188 Halifaxes, 26 Wellingtons and 8 Mosquitos.
  • The German controller guesses correctly that Hannover is the target and many night-fighters arrive before the attack is over. Conditions over Hannover are clear and the Pathfinders are finally able to mark the center of the city accurately. A concentrated bombing effort follows with a 'creepback' of only 2 miles, all within the built-up area. This is the last Bomber Command raid in which Wellingtons take part. The Wellingtons for this raid are provided by 300 (Polish) and 432 (Canadian) squadrons. They suffer no losses.
    • 14 Lancasters and 13 Halifaxes are lost.
  • 119 aircraft, including 95 Stirlings, 17 Halifaxes and 7 Lancasters of Nos. 3 and 8 Groups are sent to Bremen. This is a diversionary raid on a larger scale than ever before. The bombing is scattered but this is a subsidiary aim of the operations.
    • 3 Stirlings are lost.
Other Ops:
  • 10 Mosquitos are sent to Castrop-Rauxel, 7 to Berlin, 1 to Düren, 17 Stirlings lay mines in the Gironde River and off La Pallice, and there are 2 OTU Sorties.
    • There are no losses.
US 8th AIR FORCE
GERMANY:
  • 158 1st Bomb Division B-17s and 156 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack the city of Bremen, the Bremen shipyards, Bremen aircraft-industry targets, and various targets of opportunity at Vegesack, Meppen, Oldenberg, and Emden with 459 tons of bombs between 1505 and 1527 hours. The Allied radio countermeasure known as Carpet (employed to jam ground-based gun-laying radars) is used for the first time, but losses due to attacks by Luftwaffe fighters are considered heavy.
    • 27 B-17s are lost, 207 damaged; 3 crewmen killed, 271 missing
  • Providing escort for the B-17s are 274 P-47s from six VIII Fighter Command Groups, which account for 12 Luftwaffe fighters over the Netherlands and Germany between 1445 and 1545 hours.
  • 43 unescorted 2nd Heavy Bomb Division B-24s attack the Vegesack U-boat base with more than 85 tons of bombs at 1620 hours.
US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:
  • XII Bomber Command B-24s based in Libya attack the Athens/Dleusis, Athens/Tatoi, Heraklion (Crete), Kastelli/Padiada (Crete), and Rhodes/Maritsa Airdromes.
  • 48 321st Medium Bomb Group B-25s based in Italy attack the Athens/Eleusis Airdrome in the morning. The group claims many Luftwaffe bombers destroyed on the ground and numerous buildings set on fire.
    • 2 B-25s are lost, 26 damaged
ITALY:

NATAF aircraft attack a bridge at Minturno and a German army troop concentration and road junction at Termoli.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and XIII Fighter Command P-40s attack barges off western Choiseul. In all since October 6, AirSols aircraft have destroyed 25 Japanese Navy barges committed to evacuating Japanese Army ground troops from Kolombangara.
  • An 18th Fighter Group P-38 a G4M 'Betty' bomber near Guadalcanal at 1010 hours.
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Battle of the Atlantic

  • U-378 sinks the Polish destroyer Orkan, escorting Convoy SC-143, west of Ireland with the loss of 184 of her crew. 44 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Musketeer.
  • U-643 is in contact with convoy SC-143 when spotted on the surface by Liberator 'R' of No 86 Squadron and attacked with machine-gun fire. Another aircraft, 'Z' of the same squadron, attacks with four depth charges. Another attack by an aircraft, Liberator 'T' of No 120 Squadron, was also a depth-charge attack. Survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Orwell.
  • U-643

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Kapitänleutnant Hans Spiedel
    Location Atlantic, S of Iceland
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 30
    Survivors 21

    U-610

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Kapitänleutnant Baron Walter von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen
    Location Atlantic, SW of Rockall
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 51
    Survivors None

  • U-610 is also shadowing SC-143 when spotted by Sunderland 'J' of No 423 Squadron RCAF. The aircraft strafed the U-boat on first pass, then dropped four depth charges of which two exploded alongside the conning tower lifting the boat out of the water. Only wreckage and about 15 men in the water could be seen after the explosions subsided.
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Black Sea

240 German barges, Siebel Ferries and other craft used in the Kuban evacuation are safely withdrawn from the Kerch Straits to Sebastopol.

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Eastern Front

CENTRAL SECTOR

The Bryansk Front is disbanded as its units are handed over to the Central and West Fronts.

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Greece, Home Front

Pro- and anti-Communist guerillas begin a series of violent clashes in Greece, the beginning of a civil war in that country that will last for 6 years.

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Italy

8th Army takes Larino and Gugilonesi inland from the coast on either side of Biferno. 5th Army takes Caserta and has now come up to the Volturno line planning to attack on October 12.

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Japan, Politics

Tojo assumes personal responsibility for war production taking control of the ministries of commerce and industry.

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Pacific

  • The US submarine Guardfish (SS-217) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Kashu Maru (5460t) north of Manus Island.
  • The US submarine Gurnard (SS-254) sinks the Japanes army cargo ship Taian Maru (5655t) and transport Dainichi Maru (5813t) off the northern to of Luzon.
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Images from October 8, 1943

Bomb Run over Bremen


Bomb Run over Bremen

Cannon Damage after the Raid on Bremen


Cannon Damage after the Raid on Bremen

Crash landing of Maj John B. Kidd


Crash landing of Maj John B. Kidd

'JUST-A-SNAPPIN' Crash Landing


'JUST-A-SNAPPIN' Crash Landing

Saturday, October 9

Air Operations, Aleutians

12 Japanese Navy bombers based in the Kurile Islands attack Attu.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 4 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack shipping between Amoy and Quemoy Island.
  • 14th Air Force P-40 fighter-bombers attack a barracks and fuel dump at Mangshih.
  • 1 B-25 crashes into a hill and 1 P-40 is downed by ground fire.
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Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Makassar, Celebes.

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Air Operations, Europe

The 8th Air Force raids Gdynia.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 6 Mosquitos attack Berlin without a loss.
US 8th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:

2 B-17s from the 422nd Heavy Bomb Squadron drop more than 266,000 leaflets over Rennes between 0005 and 0111 hours.

GERMANY:
  • 106 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack an aircraft-industry factory at Anklam with about 185 tons of bombs about 1145 hours.
  • 23 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack the Danzig U-boat yards with 50 tons of bombs at 1305 hours.
  • 18 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack the Gdynia port area (secondary) with 36 tons of bombs.
  • A total of 109 1st and 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack the Gdynia port area with 272 tons of bombs between 1304 and 1324 hours.
  • 96 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Marienburg with 218 tons of bombs between 1253 and 1302 hours.
    • 18 B-17s from the Anklam force and 6 from the Gdynia force are lost
NETHERLANDS:

66 B-26s of the 3rd Medium Bomb Wing's 323rd and 387th Medium Bomb Groups attack the Woensdrecht Airdrome with 98 tons of bombs between 1516 and 1526 hours.

US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack airdromes at Athens, Larissa, and Salonika.
  • B-24s attack the Kastelli/Pediada Airdrome in Crete.
ITALY:
    NATAF aircraft attack a German Army headquarters at Palata, roads and railroads north of Napoles, gun emplacements near Capua, and road traffic around Montenero and Termoli.
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Argos Airdrome.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s and RAAF aircraft attack Japanese Army defenses at Finschhafen and Sattelberg.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and XIII Fighter Command P-40s attack barges and troops in western Choiseul.
  • Airsols F4Us and P-39s attack a radar station and gun emplacements on Poporang Island.
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Mediterranean

  • Stukas sink the British destroyer Panther with the loss of 36 of her crew and severely damage the cruiser Carlisle in the Scarpanto Strait.
  • The US destroyer Buck (DD-420) is sunk by a submarine torpedo in the Italian area.
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Pacific

  • The US submarine Rasher (SS-269) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Kogane Maru (3132t) 28 miles from Ambon.
  • The US submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks the Japanese cargo ship Kanko Maru (2995t) off Oga Peninsula.
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Eastern Front

The North Caucasus Front of Gen Ivan E. Petrov wipes out all remaining resistance by the Germans in the Taman peninsula, between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Petrov's forces complete the occupation of the Kuban, but most of 17th Army is to be sent to join the right of the German line to the south of Zaporozhye and will, in fact, be too late to move out of the Crimea when the front around Melitopol is broken in the next few days.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The long and bitter campaign in the Kuban ends as the 17th army withdraws to the Crimea. Hitler now detaches eight divisions from the 17th Army, distributing them to more needy sectors to the north. The fighting in the peninsula has cost the North Caucasus Front 13,900 killed and missing and 50,000 wounded.

The South Front unleashes a massive artillery barrage upon the 6th Army, followed by an infantry and armored attack. Gen Karl-Adolf Hollidt's forces put up fierce resistance, bringing the initial Soviet attack to a halt. However, with numbers on their side, the South Front repeat its attacks.

The German positions at Melitopol and the Nogaisk Steppe are the final defense line before the Dniepr River. If they fall, the subsequent retreat would leave the 17th Army isolated in the Crimea. Having just escaped from one pocket the 17th seems about to become hemmed into another.

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Images from October 9, 1943

B-17F over Marienburg, Germany


B-17F over Marienburg, Germany

Bombing of Marienburg, Germany


Bombing of Marienburg, Germany

9th FS P-38 Lightning Flightline


9th FS P-38 Lightning Flightline

Air Attack on Japanese Base on Bougainville


Air Attack on Japanese Base on Bougainville

Sunday, October 10

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 7 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s destroy a rail bridge at Meza.
CHINA
  • 8 14th Air Force P-40s attack an ammunition dump and match factory at Tengchung while 8 other P-40s attack a supply dump and targets of opportunity around Lungling.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 20 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, escorted by 18 P-40s, attack the Haiphong port area.
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Air Operations, East Indies

During the night, V Bomber Command B-25s attack Saumlakki.

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Air Operations, Europe

US 8th AIR FORCE
GERMANY:
  • 206 1st and 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack rail targets and canals in and around Munster with more than 700 tons of bombs between 1503 and 1518 hours.
    • 30 B-17s are lost, 105 damaged; 2 crewmen killed, 306 missing
  • A total of 216 P-47s from five VIII Fighter Command groups provide escort and support for the Munster mission. 20 Luftwaffe fighters are downed by the P-47s over the Netherlands and Germany betwen 1204 and 1550 hors.
NETHERLANDS:

30 1st Bomb Division B-17s of the 305th and 379th Heavy Bomb Groups go off course and finally attempt to bomb the Twente/Enshede Airdrome. Most of the bombs, however, land in the adjacent town and kill 155 civilians.

US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:

XII Bomber Command B-17s attack two airfields at Athens, and B-24s attack the airfields at Calato, Haraklion (Crete), and Maritsa.

ITALY:

NATAF aircraft attack numerous gun emplacements, a variety of road and rail targets, vehicles, and tactical targets throughout the US 5th Army battle area.

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Air Operations, Mediterranean

XII Bomber Command P-38s escorting heavy bombers to Greece attack the Antimachia Aircrome, in the Dodecanese Islands, and Axis ships at sea and in several Aegean harbors.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s and RAAF aircraft attack defensive positions at Sattelberg.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 5th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Kahili.
  • A Japanese Navy air strike against Allied shipping off Vella Lavella results in the sinking of 1 LST. 52 US servicmen are killed or missing.
  • A VMF-214 F4U downs an A6M Zero off southeastern Bougainville at 1135 hours.
  • 18th and 347th Fighter group P-38s down 5 A6M Zeros over Kahili between 1115 and 1145 hours.
  • 347th Fighter Group P-38s down 5 Zeros near Choiseul in a large engagement between 1600 and 1630 hours.
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Battle of the Atlantic

The Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal is mined by a German submarine.

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Italy

Troops from 5th Army enter Portelandalfo, north of Benevento.

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Eastern Front

The Soviets take Dobrush, just to the east of Gomel.

CENTRAL SECTOR

Fighting erupts up on the southern wing of Army Group Center as Rokossovsky's Central Front attacks the Germans around Gomel.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The Southwest Front attacks the Zaporozhe bridgehead in force, its 8th Guards, 3rd Guards and 12th Armies attackin the XL Panzer and XVII Corps. The 12th Army attacks from the north, 8th Guards in the center and 3rd Guards on the left. Fierce fighting erupts as the Germans defend with great vigor.

The Spanish Blue Division, which has fought on the Eastern Front since 1941, is recalled by the Spanish Government. Gen Franco began negotiations with Hitler to withdraw his fighting men from the conflict in the spring of this year due to increased Allied pressure, as well as his own realization that Germany will lose the war on the Eastern Front. However, 3,000 Spaniards will choose to remain on the Eastern Front to carry on fighting.

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Occupied Soviet Union

Hitler orders the transfer of all Russian volunteers serving in the Wehrmacht to western Europe.

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Pacific

  • The US submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Isuzugawa Maru (4212t) and merchant transport Teibi Maru (10,086t) off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina.
  • The US submarine Kingfish (Ss-234) lays mines off Cape Pepe, Makassar Strait, Celebes.
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Images from October 10, 1943

"M'lle Zig Zig"


US Soldier in Naples


US Soldier in Naples

German Soldiers in Flooded Trenches


German Soldiers in Flooded Trenches

Monday, October 11

Air Operations, Asia

The Japanese bomb Madras, India.

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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Myitkyina and Sadon.
CHINA
  • 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Tengchung.
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Air Operations, East Indies

During the night, V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Cape Chater airfield at Timor and Lautem.

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Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:

XII Bomber Command B-25s attack the Rhodes/Maritsa Airdrome.

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Air Operations, Mediterranean

XII Bomber Command P-38s attack ships in the harbor at Corfu.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

  • V Bomber Command B-24s attack Bira, Fak Fak, and Manokwari.
  • On a reconnaissance mission over the airfield at Boram, 4 348th Fighter Group P-47s encounter a Japanese bomber formation escorted by more than 30 fighters. The 4 P-47s down 9 of the Japanese fighters.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 22 AirSols TBFs and 30 SBDs attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville and vicinity. Marine Corps F4Us down 7 A6M Zeros in the Shortland Islands area around 0945 hours. 1 18th Fighter Group P-40 downs a two-seat airplane near Kahili at 0945 hours.
  • Japanese planes attack US shipping off Koli Point, Guadalcanal, torpedoing freighters George H. Himes (7176t) and John H. Couch (7176t). The tug Menominee (AT-73) beaches George H. Himes to save the ship's cargo. There are no casualties on this ship. 3 men perish on the John H. Couch on which her cargo of gasoline and diesel oil catches fire at the initial explosion. The ship is abandoned by her 42 crewmen, 25 Armed Guard sailors, 28 troop passengers and 99 stevedores.
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Eastern Front

The armies of the Bryansk Front under Gen Markian M. Popov tighten their hold around Gomel and manage to capture one of its suburbs, Novobelitsa.

CENTRAL SECTOR

The Central Front makes slow progress around Gomel, Novobelitsa falling after hard fighting.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

As Soviet troops enter Zaporozhe, bitter street fighting erupts in the town.

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Italy

Montgomery re-groups his forward troops. V Corps is deployed on the right flank while XIII Corps mans the central sector, but there will be a pause while the reorganization is completed.

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Pacific

The US submarine Wahoo (SS-238) is sunk by Japanese naval aircraft, submarine chasers CH-15 and CH-43 and minesweeper W-18 in La Perouse Strait.

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Images from October 11, 1943

B-24s To Bomb Kahili Airfield


B-24s To Bomb Kahili Airfield

View of Salerno Harbor


View of Salerno Harbor

Soviet Armored Forces


Soviet Armored Forces

Clearing Debris in Hannover


Clearing Debris in Hannover

Tuesday, October 12

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • Following agreement by Gen Douglas A. MacArthur to provide distant air support for the upcoming SoPac invasion of Bougainville, the 5th Air Forcce opens a major offensive campaign to neutralize or cripple Japanese air power at Rabaul’s four active airfields and Japanese naval power based at Rabaul’s superb harbor. In the initial attack, a record 349 USAAF and RAAF bombers and fighters—87 B-24s, 114 B-25 strafers, 12 RAAF Beaufighters, 125 P-38s, and 11 weather and reconnaissance aircraft—cause extensive damage to Rabaul’s aviation facilities and shipping, and more than 50 Japanese aircraft are destroyed on the ground. 4 B-24s and 1 B-25 are lost.
  • 475th Fighter Group P-38s down 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter and 1 G4M 'Betty' bomber over Rabaul between 1040 and 1050 hours. 1 8th Fighter Group P-38 downs 1 A6M Zero over Rabaul at 1210 hours.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 5 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack rail yards and warehouses Myitkyina.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s mount small attacks against Timor and other areas.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

NATAF
ITALY:

NATAF aircraft attack the Aquino Airdrome, several road junctions, road and rail traffic, rail facilities, and gun emplacements in and around the battle area.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

A 348th Fighter Group P-47 downs a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane over Wewak at 1300 hours.

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Air Operations, Pacific

The US 5th Air Force opens an offensive to isolate Rabaul and neutralize the Bismarck Archipelago. 350 Allied planes raid Rabaul dropping 20,500 tons of bombs inflicting heavy damage. 4 planes are lost.

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Air Operations, Solomons

2 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s skip-bomb 2 ships in Matchin Bay.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Diplomatic Relations

Portugal agrees to permit the Allies use of the Azores as a base for the protection of convoys.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Italy

During the night 5th Army starts its attacks on the Volturno line on a front of 40 miles. On the left are the 3 divisions, 46th, 56th and 7th Armored, of McCreery's X Corps. Between the coast and Capua 46th and 7th Armored make some progress but are held by German counterattacks. Around Capua 56th Division can make no ground at all. The American VI Corps of Gen Lucas does rather better. All 3 divisions, 3rd, 34th and 45th, make good advances.

The German defense is energetically conducted throughout and in any case the river, swollen by recent rain, and the roadless hills would have been formidable obstructions. The combination of bad weather, inadequate roads and German demolitions means that, until the ground hardens in the spring, the Allied advance must hinge around the 3 or 4 major roads. Moreover the 3 German formations given the task of defending the Volturno line the 15th Panzer Div, the Hermann Göring Panzer Div and the 3rd Division, making up Gen Hans Hube's XIV Panzer Corps put up stiff resistance to Gen Clark's Allied units.

In British X Corps sector, on the left of the Anglo-American front, while the 46th Division tries to break through toward Cancello, the 7th Armored Division and 56th Division, on the center and right, carry out some diversionary activities in the direction of Grazzanise and Capua. The 46th Division succeeds in establishing a bridgehead in the coastal sector, and the 7th Armored Division takes several places on the way to Grazzanise, but the 56th Division is pinned down and cannot push on beyond Capua.

The US 3rd and 34th Divisions of the VI Corps succeed in crossing the Volturno on the right of the front. The first takes Mounts Majulo and Caruso and the Caiazzo plain to where the Calore River flows into the Volturno. On the extreme right the American 45th Division takes Monte Acero when units of the German 26th Panzer Division retire.

Italy declares war on Germany at 3:00pm. Italy has the somewhat hybrid status among the Allies of 'co-belligerent'.

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New Britain

In a surprise attack 349 planes of 5th Air Force drop 350 tons of bombs on Rabaul. Many of the defending aircraft are shot down and 3 destroyers and several merchant ships in the harbor are damaged.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]


Images from October 12, 1943

Japanese American on Reconnaissance


Japanese American on Reconnaissance

Americans Cross the Volturno River


Americans Cross the Volturno River

Flight Deck Crews on the Saratoga


Flight Deck Crews on the <i>Saratoga</i>

British Soldiers Across the Volturno


British Soldiers Across the Volturno

First Crossing of the Volturno River


First Crossing of the Volturno River

British Infantry in Volturno Area


British Infantry in Volturno Area

British Infantry in Grazzanise


British Infantry in Grazzanise

Night Action near Grazzanise


Night Action near Grazzanise

Wednesday, October 13

Air Operations, Aleutians

8 Japanese Navy bombers attack Massacre Bay and the airfield there. 11 343rd Fighter Group P-40s are sent to intercept the strike, but they do not locate the Japanese planes.

[rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Bismarcks

An RAAF Beaufort squadron is able to mount a torpedo attack against shipping in Rabaul’s Simpson Harbor, but 70 V Bomber Command B-24s and more than 100 V Fighter Command fighters sent against other Rabaul-area targets are thwarted by bad weather. Nevertheless, 54 of 108 B-25s press on to attack 3 airfields and shipping through rain clouds. 20 B-24s and 24 B-25s are able to attack targets of opportunity at Cape Gloucester, Cape Hoskins, Gasmata, and Lindenhafen. 3 B-25s and 4 P-38s are lost in operational accidents.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • Japanese fighters based in Burma attempt to intercept Allied planes on the Hump ferry route at Sumprabum. After evading 10th Air Force fighter patrols, they down 1 C-46, 1 C-87, and 1 CNAC transport, and damage 1 B-24 and 2 C-47s. In response, 10th Air Force fighters are directed to mount an immediate counter-offensive aimed at sweeping the Japanese from airfields from which the Hump ferry routes can be reached. At the outset, P-40 fighter-bombers from bases in India and China attack Myitkyina Airdrome.
CHINA
  • 3 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack shipping at Amoy.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 4 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and 4 to Duisburg. There are no losses.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ALBANIA:

XII Bomber Command medium bombers attack the Tirana Airport.

ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command medium bombers attack the town of Alife and a road junction.
  • NATAF aircraft directly support the US 5th Army's assault crossing of the Volturno River.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Gilberts

VII Bomber Command B-24s obtain extensive preinvasion photographic coverage of Makin Atoll. Also taking part in photographing Makin is VD-3, in PB4Ys, which this day flies its maiden operational mission from the airfield on Canton Island.

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Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-402 is sunk by aircraft (VC-9) from the US escort carrier Card (CVD-11) in the North Atlantic area.

U-402

ClassType VIIC
CO Kapitänleutnant Baron Siegfried von Forstner
Location North Atlantic
Cause Air attack
Casualties 50
Survivors None
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Diplomatic Relations

After Italy declaring war on Germany the previous day, Premier Badoglio tells Eisenhower, 'By this act all ties with the dreadful past are broken and my Government will be proud to be able to march with you on to the inevitable victory.' She is not regarded as a full Ally and is classed as 'Co-Belligerent'.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Eastern Front

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Most of Zaporozhe has fallen. The German perimeter has been penetrated, 12th Army closing upon the hydroelectric dam. Soviet artillery begins to pound the Germans around the dam, inflicting severe damage.

Gen Karl-Adolf Hollidt's 6th Army is also involved in bitter stree fighting in Melitopol as the 28th Army fights its way into the town.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Germany, Resistance

Claus von Stauffenberg takes over the planning for the 1944 anti-Hitler coup.


Italy

American II and III Corps forces break across the Volturno River. Bridgeheads are established at several points on the north side despite sharp resistance. The Germans begin pulling back to the Winter Line, along the Garigliano and Sangro Rivers about 75 miles south of Rome.

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Mediterranean

The US destroyer Bristol (DD-453) is sunk by a submarine torpedo from the German submarine U-371 while escorting a convoy to Oran, Algeria.

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Pacific

The US submarine Rasher (SS-269) attacks a Japanese convoy proceding from Ambon to Kendari, sinking the cargo ship Kenkoku Maru (3127t).

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Images from October 13, 1943

Gen Maxwell Taylor and Marshal Bagdolio


Gen Maxwell Taylor and Marshal Bagdolio

Hitler on Himmler's Birthday


Hitler on Himmler's Birthday

Small Arms Manufacturing


Small Arms Manufacturing

M-5A1 Stuart Light Tank


M-5A1 Stuart Light Tank

Tanks in Downtown Minneapolis


Tanks in Downtown Minneapolis

Thursday, October 14

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s and 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack Cape Gloucester.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 4 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack shipping at Amoy and the airfield there.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, East Indies

3 V Bomber Command B-25s mount harrassment attacks at Dili and Lautem, Timor.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

US 8th AIR FORCE
GERMANY:

A force of 291 Flying Fortresses from 8th Air Force is sent to attack the German ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt. 228 planes drop 483 tons of bombs on target. They do considerable damage to the target but lose 60 planes with a further 140 damaged making the day become known as 'Black Thursday'. Most of the losses occur during the 400-mile round trip unescorted from Aachen. The 8th Air Force has lost a further 88 aircraft in the last week. These losses are intolerable and the USAAF abandons long-range, unescorted daylight attacks for the time being. They are not equipped to attack by night. The theories of the American airmen have been disproved on two counts. Bombers cannot fight their way to the target without prohibitive casualties and even carefully selected targets like Schweinfurt offer no great gains. Production in Germany is quickly switched to other areas, extra supplies are brought from Sweden and in any case an investigation ordered by Speer shows that stocks of ball bearings will last for several months.

US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s and B-24s attack bridges and towns in east-central Italy.
  • XII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Argos Airdrome.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s and 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack Alexishafen.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Solomons

  • One XIII Bomber Command B-24 attacks barges near Taiof Island.
  • 1 VMF-214 F4U downs 1 A6M Zero near Vella Lavella at 1345 hours.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Eastern Front

After intense and bitter fighting Malinovsky's troops, the Southwest Front, capture Zaporozhye, an important Ukrainian industrial center south of Dnepropetrovsk. Further south the troops of Tolbukhin's South Front are fighting in the suburbs of Melitopol and farther south still they cut the railroad leading to the Crimea from Melitopol. The Russian aim is to cut off the German 17th Army, just evacuated from the Taman peninsula, in the Crimea. They have cut the Melitopol-Crimea railway in 2 places.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

After a bloody, 4-day battle Zaporozhe falls to the 8th and 3rd Guards and 12th Armies, while the continuing threat to the dam poses by the 12th Army compels the Germans to abandon their bridgehead. Heavy fighting at Melitopol continues as the 6th Army fights vigorously.

SOVIET COMMAND

The Stavka prepares to launch a major assault aimed at breaking through the German defenses on the west bank of the river line and crushing the 8th and 1st Panzer Armies. The Southwest Front is to attack between Zaporozhe and Dnepropetrovsk to pin the 1st Panzer frontally while the Steppe Front breaks through at the junction of the two armies. For the operation the Steppe Front has the 5th Guards, 7th Guards, 57th and 5th Guards Tank Armies near Dnepropetrovsk and the 53rd, 4th Guards and 52nd Armies near Kremenchug. In defense the 1st Panzer Army deploys the XL and LVII Panzer Corps, XVII, XXX and LII Corps.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Italy

The battle on the Volturno goes on. Gen Clark, Commander of the US 5th Army, shifts eastward the line between his 2 corps, The British X and American VI, so altering his plan of attack. The operation is made necessary by the failure of the British 56th Division to break through toward Capua. Clark's move enables the 56th Division to use one of the bridges built over the Volturno by the American 3rd Division and so cross the river upstream of Monte Triflisco.

Meanwhile the American 3rd Division, which has secured a bridgehead nearly 4-1/2 miles deep during the morning, directs its attacks on Dragoni, together with the 34th Division. The American V Corps continues to advance, especially on their right, astride the Volturno toward the Venafro-Isernia sector, taking the upper Volturno valley. The British 56th Division crosses the river east of its previous position and also pushes forward. In the 8th Army sector 1st Canadian Division takes Campobasso.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Occupied Philippines

The Philippines is declared an independent republic under Japanese tutelage.

[rarr]

Occupied Soviet Union

The inmates of Sobibor extermination camp revolt. Several Ukrainian guards and 11 SS men are killed and some 300 prisoners manage to escape, most of whom are killed by their pursuers. Those who had refused to join the revolt are all murdered. After the uprising the Germans abandon the idea of turning Sobibor into a concentration camp and close it down.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Pacific

The US submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks the Japanese fleet tanker Kozui Maru (7072t) north of Okinawa and eludes hunter-killer operations by the aviation supply ship Takasaki

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Images from October 14, 1943

Crash of a P-47 Thunderbolt


Crash of a P-47 Thunderbolt

Crash of a B-17F 'Cat O'Nine Tails'


Crash of a B-17F 'Cat O'Nine Tails'

B-17s over Schweinfurt


B-17s over Schweinfurt

Bombs Falling on Schweinfurt


Bombs Falling on Schweinfurt

Areas of Schweinfurt Burning


Areas of Schweinfurt Burning

B-17 Trailing Smoke


B-17 Trailing Smoke

B-17 'Lazy Baby'


B-17 'Lazy Baby'

Kugelfischer Factory on Fire


Kugelfischer Factory on Fire

Friday, October 15

Air Operations, Bismarcks

49th Fighter Group P-38s down 2 A6M Zeros over Gasmata at 1000 hours.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, East Indies

6 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Boela, Ceram.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

US 8th AIR FORCE
NETHERLANDS:

The 356th and 55th Fighter Groups, in P-47s and P-38s, respectively, make their combat debuts in a pair of fighter sweeps over the Frisian Islands.

US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:

XII Bomber Command B-25s attack the Megalo/Mikra and Salonika/Sedhes Airdromes.

NATAF
ITALY:

NATAF attack aircraft attack a vast array of communications and transportation targets servicing the battle area, as well as tactical targets within the battle area, especially around the Volturno River.


Air Operations, New Guinea

  • During the morning, in fear of an imminent invasion effort against Rabaul, approximately 100 Japanese aircraft are sent to attack shipping in Oro Bay, but they are intercepted by 59 V Fighter Command P-38s and 8 P-40s. In the action, V Fighter Command P-38s down 26 D3A 'Val' dive bombers, 1 B5N 'Kate' dive bomber, and 19 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over or near Oro Bay between 0805 and 0900 hours. 1 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs 1 A6M Zero north of Buna at 0900 hours. 1 P-38 is lost in the action.
  • More than 70 V Bomber Command B-25s attack barges between Saidor and Sio.
  • 49th Fighter Group P-38s and P-40s down 5 Ki-48 'Lily' bombers over Finschhafen at 1730 hours.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 21 XIII Bomber Command B-24s, 17 AirSols F4Us, and 12 XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville during the noon hour.
  • 6 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Buka late in the evening.
  • VMF-214 F4Us down 6 A6M Zeros between the Kahili and Ballale airfields at 1220 hours.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter James Russell Lowell (7176t), in Convoy GUS-18, is torpedoed by U-371 off the coast of Algeria and abandoned. The British whaler Southern Sea rescued the 41-man crew and the 28-man Armed Guard.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Eastern Front

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Around Veliki Bukrin the Voronezh Front launches a new assault with the 27th, 40th and 3rd Guards Tank Armies, but meet fierce resistance from the XLVIII Panzer Corps. The German defenses are very thin but hold the Soviets solidly. Fighting is intense as the Germans try to wear down the Soviet attack on its start lines.

The LVII Panzer Corps comes under sustained attack southeast of Kremenchug and breaks apart, the 5th Guards Army smashing the German forward positions. With the forward German defenses crushed, the Soviets introduce their armor, the 5th Guards Tank Army pouring into the rear of the 1st Panzer. The Soviet air armies provide crucial support, the 5th Air Army smashing German ground forces as the armies advance.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Italy

The battle on the Volturno goes on. The American 5th Army continues to advance, especially on their right. The British 56th Division crosses the river east of its previous position and also pushes forward joining up with other 5th Army units which are trying to advance on to the ridge that divides them from the Rapido and Garigliano Rivers.

North of the Volturno Gen Hans Hube's German XIV Panzer Corps has established 3 fortified defensive lines: the so-called 'Barbara' line which goes from Monte Massico to the Matese hills by way of Teano and Presenzano: the 'Bernhard' ('Reinhard') line, much longer and stronger, consisting of a broad strip of fortified strongholds, from the mouth of the Garigliano to Castel di Sangro, relying on the natural defenses of the mountains, Difensa, Maggiore and Camino in the area between Presenzano and Sant' Ambrogio, and Monte Sammucro west of Venafro; and lastly, further north, the 'Gustav' line, the most solid of the 3 defensive lines, which follows the Garigliano and Rapido Rivers and takes in the natural fortification provided by Monte Cassino, then turning north through Roccaraso and Casoli to finish on the Adriatic coast south of San Vito. Behind these lines stands Gen von Vietinghoff's 10th Army, with Gen Han Hube's XIV Pzr Corps to the south and Gen Trangott Herr's LXXI Pzr Corps to the north.

After crossing the Volturno the American 3rd Division takes Cisterna.

In the 8th Army sector 1st Canadian Division takes Vinchiaturo and Campobasso.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

New Guniea

The Japanese mount an air attack on Allied positions in Oro Bay. The attacking aircraft take heavy losses. The attack is repeated on October 17 with the same results.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Pacific

  • The headquarters of the US I Marine Corps issues directives for Operation GOODWOOD, the invasion of the Northern Solomons. The attacking force, Task Force 31 under the command of Rear-Adm Theodore S. Wilkinson, will land the Marines on October 27 on the Treasury Islands, where the enemy bases must be taken or neutralized in readiness for the main landing on Bougainville, which will take place on November 1. Possession of the island is a crucial step toward the Allied dominance of the Japanese base at Rabaul.
  • The US submarine Pompano (SS-181) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific Ocean area.
  • The US submarine Tullibee (SS-284) attacks a 10-ship Japanese convoy sinking the transpsort Chicago Maru (5866t) off the northwest coast of Formosa.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr]

Southeast Asia, Command

The British Gen Sir Henry Pownall is appointed Chief of Staff to Adm Mountbatten at SEAC. Gen Albert C. Wedemeyer, an American, is to be his deputy Chief of Staff.



Images from October 15, 1943

B-26 Bombs Nazi Installation


B-26 Bombs Nazi Installation

Troops Crossing the Volturno River


Troops Crossing the Volturno River

38th Fighter Squadron at Nuthampstead


38th Fighter Squadron at Nuthampstead

Sherman Tank Crew Enjoying a Meal


Sherman Tank Crew Enjoying a Meal

Oscar Coen of the 334th Fighter Squadron


Oscar Coen of the 334th Fighter Squadron

Canadian Tank Crew at Termoli


Canadian Tank Crew at Termoli

Saturday, October 16

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Gasmata.
  • 1 V Bomber Command B-24 sinks a patrol boat between Cape Hoskins and Rabaul.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • In their unit’s combat debut, 3 311th Fighter Group A-36s are lost while patrolling the Hump ferry route near Sumprabum.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

The Luftwaffe flies many hundreds of sorties against the Dnieper bridgeheads.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 9 Mosquitos are sent to Dortmund and there are 11 OTU sorties. There are no losses. One of the Mosquitos is carrying out a G-H trial, but its equipment fails and it has to bomb by dead reckoning.
US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:

12th Air Force P-38 fighter-bombers attack ships at sea off the west coast of Greece.

ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s attack rail lines, a rail tunnel, marshalling yards, a highway underpass, a gas works, and industrial buildings in and around Bologna.
  • NATAF aircraft attack a large number of communications and transportation targets, troop concentrations, road traffic, and a landing ground from the battle area north to around the city of Rome.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

  • More than 60 V Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfield at Wewak, Alexishafen, and numerous coastal targets.
  • 8th Fighter Group P-38s down 4 Ki-61 'Tony' fighters and 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over the airfield at Boram Airdrome at 1100 hours. 348th Fighter Group P-47s down 10 A6M Zeros and 2 'Tonys' over Alexishafen and Madang at 1100 hours and 1 Zero over Wewak at 1125 hours. A 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Zero over Madang at 1400 hours.
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Air Operations, Solomons

3 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kara airfield on Bougainville. 6 B-25s attack the airfield at Ballale.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Battle of the Atlantic

  • U-470 is shadowing Convoy ON-206 when she is attacked by Sunderland 'S' of No 422 Squadron RCAF. The U-boat manages to shoot the aircraft down. She is then attacked by 2 more aircraft, Liberators 'E' of 'Z' of No 120 Squadron. Both aircraft deliver one attack when joined by Liberator 'C' of 59 Squadron which attacks twice resulting in the U-boat being blown out of the water.
  • U-470

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Oberleutnant zur See Günther Grave
    Location Atlantic SW of Iceland
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 46
    Survivors 2

    U-844

    ClassType IXC/40
    CO Oberleutnant zur See Günther Moller
    Location Atlantic, SW of Iceland
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 53
    Survivors None
  • U-844 in the vicinity of Convoy ONS-206 is attacked by Liberator 'S' of No 59 Squadron. Through heavy flak and the aircraft drops four depth charges around the U-boat. As the explosions subsided the U-boat begins to dive and the aircraft drops another four depth charges ahead of the swirl.
  • [rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

    China

    Adm Lord Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander for Southeast Asia, arrives in Chungking, the provisional capital of Nationalist China, for a conference with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

    [larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

    Eastern Front

    There is fierce fighting in Melitopol.

    SOUTHERN SECTOR

    Bloody fighting continues at Veliki Bukrin as the XLVIII Panzer Corps fends off repeated Soviet attacks. The German line around Kremenchug also collapses, enabling the Steppe Front to push southwest toward Krivoi Rog.

    [rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

    Italy

    In the 5th Army sector the Germans begin to make a fighting withdrawal to the 'Barbara' line according to the schedule that Kesselring has ordered.

    [rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Indian Ocean

U-533 is moving into the Gulf of Oman to operate against tanker traffic when she is attacked by a Bisley aircraft of No 244 Squadron RAF. The submarine is taken completely by surprise and sunk with four depth charges.

U-533

ClassType IXC/40
CO Kapitänleutnant Helmut Hennig
Location Indian Ocean, Gulf of Oman
Cause Air attack
Casualties 52
Survivors 2
[larrlarr | rarrrarr2]

New Guinea

A captured enemy document has enabled the Australian 9th Division to take the necessary step to repulse a series of fierce counterattacks launched by the Japanese from their strongpoint of Sattelberg, which overlooks Finschhafen.

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Occupied Yugoslavia

The sixth German offensive against Tito's Partisans commences in Bosnia. It will end inconclusively in mid-January 1944.

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Pacific

The Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No. 31 is sunk by US Army aircraft off New Britain.

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Persian Gulf

U-533 is sunk by patrolling aircraft from RAF 255 Squadron.

[larrlarr]

United States, Command

Gen Lewis H. Brereton takes command of the US 9th Air Force in the UK.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Images from October 16, 1943

B-25 Strafer over Boram Airfield


B-25 Strafer over Boram Airfield

A 25-pdr Self-propelled Gun in Action


A 25-pdr Self-propelled Gun in Action

Light Reconnaissance Car Crossing a Bailey Bridge


Light Reconnaissance Car Crossing a Bailey Bridge

8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers


8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

Sunday, October 17

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail yards at Naba.
  • 7 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Htawgaw.
INDIA
  • The 311th Fighter-Bomber Group’s 530th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, in P-51As, mounts its first combat sorties along the Hump ferry route from the airfield at Kurmitola, but there are no contacts.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, East Indies

6 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Ternate Island in the Molucca Islands—a 2,200-mile round trip.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 8 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 2 to Aachen, 2 to Hamborn, 54 Stirlings and Wellingtons lay mines in the Frisians and off the Biscay ports and there are 16 OTU sorties.
    • There are no losses.
USAAF
ITALY:

NATAF aircraft, especially A-20s and B-25s, attack numerous rail, road and tactical targets.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

  • 7 V Bomber Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfield at Boram and Wewak at low level.
  • 18 B-25s and 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Sattelberg.
  • Japanese aircraft on their way to attack shipping in Oro Bay are intercepted by 40 475th Fighter Group P-38s and 18 Japanese aircraft attacking Finschhafen are intercepted by 4 35th Fighter Group P-39s. 49th and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 24 A6M Zeros, 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter, and 1 Ki-61 'Tony' fighter over Buna and Cape Ward Hunt between 1015 and 1040 hours. 35th Fighter Group P-39s down 5 Ki-48s and 1 Ki-43 'Lily' bomber off Finschhafwen at 1100 hours.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • The sustained aerial offensive against Japanese bases in the Bougainville area opens with an attack by Marine Corps SBDs and TBFs against the Kahili airfield on Bougainville. 6 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 21 Marine Corps F4Us, sweep the airfield at Ballale.
  • When the F4Us are engaged over the airfield at Ballale by as many as 40 A6M Zeros at 1650 hours, 14 of the Zeros are downed. 1 F4U is lost in an operational accident.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Battle of the Atlantic

  • U-540 is found on the surface by Liberators 'D' of No 58 Squadron and 'H' of No 120 Squadron. The depth charges of the Liberator 'D' in its first attack overshot the U-boat. In the second attack the depth charges straddle the U-boat, but the attack by Liberator 'H' finishes the U-boat.
  • U-540

    ClassType IXC/40
    CO Kapitänleutnant Lorenz Kasch
    Location Atlantic, E of Cape Farewell
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 55
    Survivors None

    U-631

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Krüger
    Location N Atlantic, SE of Cape Farewell
    Cause Depth charge
    Casualties 53
    Survivors None
  • The British corvette Sunflower is escorting Convoy ON-206 when she detects U-631 on her asdic. She makes two attacks in foul weather, but a large oil slick is subsequently observed.
  • U-841 is surprised by an aircraft while shadowing Convoy ON-206. She dives but has sustained damage with water leaking through a torpedo tube. She is then spotted by British destroyer escort Byard and is attacked by the British ship increasing the damage. The U-boat surfaces and is scuttled as the crew wave a white flag.

    U-841

    ClassType IXC/40
    CO Kapitänleutnant Werner Bender
    Location N Atlantic, E of Cape Farewell
    Cause Depth charge
    Casualties 26
    Survivors 27
    [rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

    Eastern Front

    The Soviets break the German line around Kremenchug and push forward toward Krivoy Rog. The objective is still to cut off the Crimea. Troops of the Central Front under Rokossovsky cross the Dniepr south of Gomel and take Loyev.

    CENTRAL SECTOR

    Fighting flares up around Vitebsk as the 43rd Army drives a deep salient in the junction of IX and LIII Corps. The LIII Corps, recently moved to reinforce this sector, fights around the town. On the southern flank of Army Group Center the Central Front crosses the Dniepr near Loyev and gains a significant bridgehead.

    SOUTHERN SECTOR

    Inconclusive fighting continues at Veliki Bukrin as the Stavka considers calling off the attack. With the Lyutezh bridgehead now established to the north, the Soviets will be able to turn the northern wing of Army Group South, but it will take time to redeploy forces into this sector. Farther south the 8th Army and 1st Panzer Army are forced back as the Steppe and Southwest Fronts exploit the hole blown in the German line. Forward elements of the Steppe Front push toward Krivoi Rog.

    [rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Italy

Units of the American 3rd Division take Liberi and Alvignano. Elements of the American 34th Division occupy Alvignano.

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German Raiders

The last operational German auxiliary cruiser, Michel, is sunk by the US submarine Tarpon (SS-175) off Chichi Jima, Bonin Islands. Michel has sunk 17 ships during its cruise. It is the last of the 10 armed merchantmen which the German navy employed during the war. Beginning in February 1940, when the first one put to sea, they were a scourge to Allied merchant vessels. Each was equipped with 6 to 8 powerful guns and torpedo tubes. Some even had 1 or 2 of their own reconnaissance planes. Raiders only attacked ships operating alone. With the exception of 1 raider captain, Helmuth von Ruckteschell who was later tried as a war criminial, the officers commanding these ships always operated within the rules of warfare and international law. In all, the raiders accounted for a total of 133 ships of 830,000 tons.

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Mediterranean

The British submarine Trooper is presumed lost on a patrol east of Leros probably due to mining. She had departed Beirut September 26 and due back this date. The entire crew of 63 is lost.

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Norway

Allied destroyers land Norwegian troops on Spitzbergen.

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Pacific

  • There is an exchange of Japanese and Allied civilian internees aboard the liners Teia Maru and Gripsholm at Marmagao, Portuguese India.
  • The US submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks the German auxiliary cruiser Michel off Chichi Jima, Bonins.
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Images from October 17, 1943

Another Tank Crossing the Volturno


Another Tank Crossing the Volturno

Wrecked Japanese Barges at Scarlet Beach


Wrecked Japanese Barges at Scarlet Beach

Monday, October 18

Air Operations, Bismarcks

Nearly 80 43rd, 90th, and 380th Heavy Bomb group B-17s and B-24s are sent to hit Rabaul, but abort in the face of bad weather. 54 38th and 345th Medium Bomb group B-25s, however, proceed at lower altitude and are able to attack the Tobera and Rapopo airfields at Rabaul and shipping from very low level. An estimated 70 Japanese airplanes are destroyed on the ground, and 2 ships are claimed as sunk. 2 B-25s and 1 crew are lost. Also, 7 of the heavy bombers are able to attack Cape Gloucester, 13 are able to attack Cape Hoskins, and 6 attack Sio (New Guinea).

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Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 360 Lancasters are sent to Hannover.
  • The target area is covered by cloud and the Pathfinders are not successful in finding Hannover. The raid is scattered with most of the bombs falling in open country north and northwest of the city. This raid concludes the current series of raids on Hannover. Bomber Command has dispatched 2,253 sorties in 4 raids and 10 American B-17 sorties have also been flown. 1,976 aircraft claim to have bombed in the target area. Only 1 raid has been completely successful that caused severe damage. 11O bombers have been lost on the raids, 4.9 per cent of those sent.
    • 18 Lancasters are lost on this raid.
Other Ops:
  • 11 Mosquitos are sent to Duisburg, 8 to Berlin and 11 more to 4 other targets. 6 Wellingtons lay mines off Texel and there are 12 OTU sorties. There are no losses.
  •  One of the Lancasters lost on the Hannover raid was the 5,000th Bomber Command aircraft lost on operations since the start of the war. By the end of this night, the bombers will have flown approximately 144,500 sorties 90 per cent of them by night and lost 5,004 aircraft 4,365 by night and 639 by day over enemy territory, crashed in the sea or shot down over England by German Intruders or 'friendly' defenses.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Air Support Command A-36s attack the rail yards at Venafro.
  • 12th Air Force fighter-bombers attack troops, gun emplacements, and the railroad stations at Boiano, Petacciato, and Vairano.
  • 12th Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers strafe the seaplane base at Bracciano and airfields at Grosseto, Rome, and Viterbo, and attack trains on several lines through Rome.
  • 47th Light Bomb Group A-20s attack road and rail targets in central Italy.
  • 86th Fighter-Bomber Group A-36s down 2 Bf-109s and an Fi-156 in two separate actions.
YUGOSLAVIA:

XII Bomber Command B-25s attack marshalling yards at Skoplje, and escorting P-38s attack locomotives and motor vehicles.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack roads around Bogadjim.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 28 XIII Bomber Command B-24s, more than 32 AirSols SBDs, and more than 50 fighters attack the airfield at Ballale.
  • More than 35 AirSols aircraft attack Kaskas and a military camp on Choiseul.
  • 1 VMF-214 F4U downs 2 A6M Zeros over the Fauro Islands at 1040. 2 347th Fighter Group P-38s down 1 Zero near Ballale at about 1050 hours. VMF-221 F4Us down 7 Zeros over Kahili at 1630 hours. VMF-214 F4Us down 7 more Zeros between the Kahili airfield at Bougainville and the airfield at Ballale at 1650 hours.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler confers with two Bulgarian Regents.

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Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter Delisle, in Convoy WB-65, hits a mine laid by U-220 about 15 miles out of St. John's, Newfoundland, as she is rescuing survivors of the British freighter Penolver. There are no casuaties among the 32-man crew, the 7-man Armed Guard and 3 sailors from Penolver. The British trawler Miscou rescues the survivors.

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Diplomatic Relations

A conference of the Allied powers takes place in Moscow, attended by Cordell Hull representing US President Roosevelt, British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov. The governments of the US, USSR, China and Britain make a number of declarations, including the early establishment of an international organization to maintain peace and security (the United Nations). Regarding German atrocities, the conference resolves: 'Those responsible... will be sent back to the countries in which their abominable deeds were done in order that they may be judged and punished according to the laws of these liberated countries.' Britain and the US assure the USSR that a second front will be created by the following spring.

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Eastern Front

The fighting for Melitopol continues. The Soviets have now penetrated to the center of the town.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

In Melitopol the 28th Army has penetrated to the city center, the 6th Army beginning to cave in under the repeated Soviet assaults.

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Italy

The US 3rd and 34th Divisions reach Dragoni. After taking Roccaromana they prepare for the decisive attack to capture Dragoni and the bridges over the Volturno beyond it. Gioia is also taken. Montgomery's 8th Army launches a fresh offensive and pushes towards the Trigno River.

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Occupied Italy

The first trainloads of Jews leave Rome for the Auschwitz concentration camp despite many citizens handing over gold to save them.

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Pacific

  • The US submarine Lapon (SS-260) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Taichu Maru (1906t) about 15 miles east of Owase, Japan.
  • The US submarine Silversides (SS-236) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Tairin Maru (1913t).
  • [larr2larr | rarrrarr]

    Solomons

    There is a heavy air attack on the Japanese air base at Buin on Bougainville. They also resume their attacks on Rabaul with considerable effect. Gen Haruyoshi Hyakutake, in command of the Japanese 17th Army, deploys his forces, about 33,000 men, for the defense of Bougainville. 25,000 are concentrated south of the island, near Buin and Kahili airfields, 5,000 on the north coast, aboutn 3,000 on the east coast where the mouths of several rivers might serve as possible landing sites.

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Images from October 18, 1943

Lancaster III of No 207 Squadron


Lancaster III of No 207 Squadron

Another 207 Squadron Lancaster


Another 207 Squadron Lancaster

Crossing a Railway Bridge near Cancello


Crossing a Railway Bridge near Cancello

Hitching a Ride


Hitching a Ride

Japanese Fighters Caught on the Airfield at Tober


Japanese Fighters Caught on the Airfield at Tober

Saskatoon Light Infantry


Saskatoon Light Infantry

Pipers of the 48th Highlanders


Pipers of the 48th Highlanders

Tuesday, October 19

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s and RAAF Hudsons attack Fuilaro, Timor.

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Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • NAAf opens an air offensive against railroad bridges throughout Italy in the hope of forcing the German Army in Italy to make greater reliance upon vulnerable coastal shipping and motor transport to keep its combat divisions at the front supplied.
  • XII Bomber Command B-24s flying at low level attack a number of rail bridges.
  • NATAF aircraft attack rail lines, trains, tunnels, gun emplacements, two landing grounds, an ammo dump, motor vehicles, and German troops.
  • A 33rd Fighter Group P-40 downs an FW-190 at 1040 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

  • 3rd Light Bombardment Group A-20s and RAAF aircraft attack Sattelberg.
  • 348th Fighter Group P-47s down 6 F1M 'Pete' reconnaissance float plans near Wewak between 1045 and 1115 hours.
  • Japanese bombers mount an unopposed attack against Finschhafen, but damage is minimal.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 24 XIII Bomber Command B-24s, 8 Navy PVs, 20 SBDs, 12 TBFs, 14 P-38s, 20 P-40s, and 2 F4Us attack antiaircraft batteries at the Kara and Kahili airfields on Bougainville. One PV is downed and 2 USAAF airplanes are lost in operational accidents.
  • 1 347th Fighter Group P-38 downs 1 A6M Zero over Fauro Island at noon.
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Diplomatic Relations

  • The Foreign Ministers of the USSR, Molotov, the US, Cordell Hull, and Great Britain, Eden, meet in Moscow at the Second Moscow Conference. Chinese representatives are admitted as and when the conference considers matters of specific interest to China. The meetings will last until November 1. Among issues discussed: the Russians are guaranteed that D-Day would be staged in May 1944, and the Soviets indicate for the first time that they would enter the war against Japan once Germany had been vanquished. To allay Russian fears, Britain and the US agree that Germany would have to surrender unconditionally and no separate armistice would be concluded. Russia indicates its willingness to join in an 'international organization for peace'.
  • The 3rd London Protocol is signed in Washington, extending American aid to the USSR until June 30, 1944. The United States will provide the Soviet Union with 2,700,000 tons of supplies through Russian ports on the Pacific and a further 2,400,000 tons through the Persian Gulf.
  • The first PoW exchange between Germany and Britain takes place at Gothenburg, Sweden. About 5,000 Germans and 5,400 British and Imperial forces are involved in the exchange.
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Italy

The Germans pull out of Dragoni just before the attack from 34th Division goes in.

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Mediterranean

Over the next two days B-25s and Beaufighters attack convoys north of Crete. The German prison ship Sinfra is sunk. 566 men are rescued.

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Eastern Front

The Soviets attack Pyatikhatki, to the west of Dnepropetrovsk. Konev's forces are storming out of the Kremenchug bridgehead and making for Krivoy Rog. Manstein is desperately bringing up reserves to meet this attack and give the forces holding the bend of the Dniepr time to pull back. In the Kiev sector the Soviet units are busily consolidating their bridgeheads north of the city. They capture Vishgorod as well.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The Soviets abandon their attacks at Veliki Bukrin. Vatutin immediately begins to move his forces surreptitiously away from this sector to Lyutezh, 100 miles to the north. Unknown to the Germans, the 3rd Guards Tank Army starts to pull out of the line and cross to the east bank of the river.

In the Dniepr elbow the Southwest Front takes Pyatikhati. Vishgorod also falls after a brief battle.

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Pacific

A US Navy communiqué reveals that since December 7, 1941, US submarines have sunk or damaged more that 400 Japanese vessels (319 confirmed sinkings). The tally would have been higher had it not have been for defective torpedoes, which often did not explode on hitting a vessel.

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Images from October 19, 1943

Canadian Soldiers Moving Supplies


Canadian Soldiers Moving Supplies

Marine Paratroopers on Guadalcanal


Marine Paratroopers on Guadalcanal

Captured Russian POW's near Minsk


Captured Russian POW's near Minsk

Wednesday, October 20

Air Operations, Bismarcks

3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Gasmata.

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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge at Meza.
  • Japanese fighters based in Burma down a C-46 along the Hump ferry route.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

Attempted night raids on London and Hull fail abysmally.

BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 358 Lancasters of Nos. 1, 5, 6 and 8 Groups are sent to Leipzig.
  • This is the first serious attack on this distant German city. The weather conditions are bad and the bombing is widely scattered.
    • 16 Lancasters are lost.
Other Ops:
  • 28 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, Cologne, Brauweiler and Emden, 15 Stirlings lay mines in the Frisians and there are 26 OTU sorties.
    • 2 Mosquitos are lost.
US 8th AIR FORCE
GERMANY:
  • 212 VIII Bomber Command B-17s are dispatched to attack aircraft-industry targets at Duren, but only 86 from the 3rd Bomb Division are able to complete the attack, releasing 209 tons of bombs over the city about 1415 hours. Due to the failure of the new Oboe pathfinding equipment aboard the lead 1st Bomb Division B-17, the entire formation aborts, except for the 379th Heavy Bomb Group's 17 B-17s, which attack Woensdrecht Airdrome in the Netherlands, with about 42 tons of bombs at 1430 hours. Also, 11 B-17s of the 3rd Bomb Division's 385th Heavy Bomb Group attack Aachen when they are unable to locate Duren.
    • 9 B-17s are lost, 10 damaged; 1 crewman killed, 85 missing
  • 321 VIII Fighter Command P-47s and 39 P-38s escort and support the heavy bombers. In sporadic action, 4 Luftwaffe fighters are downed over the Netherlands and Belgium between 1400 and 1435 hours.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s, B-25s, B-26s, and P-38s attack the Cervetri and Macigliana Airdromes, the Rome/Casale Airdrome, and rail bridges in and near Grosseto, Montalto di Castro, and Orvieto.
  • NATAF aircraft attack numerous gun emplacements, motor vehicles, and rail and road targets.
YUGOSLAVIA:
  • XII Bomber Command bombers attack a marshalling yard at Nis.
  • NATAF fighter-bombers sink 2 ships off the Dalmatian.
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Air Operations, Gilberts

VII Bomber Command B-24s and VD-3 PB4Ys obtain extensive preinvasion photographic coverage of Tarawa Atoll.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

  • V Bomber Command B-24s attack ground targets and 2 freighters at Manokwari. B-25s attack the Bogadjim area.
  • 30 Japanese fighters mount an unopposed attack against Finschhafen, but damage is minimal.
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Battle of the Atlantic

Aircraft (VC-13) from the US escort carrier Core (CVE-13) sink the German submarine U-378 in the North Atlantic area.

U-378

ClassType VIIC
CO Kapitänleutnant Erich Mader
Location N Atlantic, N of the Azores
Cause Air attack
Casualties 52
Survivors None
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Caribbean

U-516 sinks 6 ships in the Caribbean and escapes despite a week-long hunt by Allied forces.

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Diplomatic Relations

Britain, Russian and the United States agree to establish an investigative War Crimes Commission establishing the basis for the Nürnberg war crimes trials.

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Eastern Front

4 Russian 'Fronts', army groups, previously known as Voronezh, Steppe, Southwest and South, are re-designated 1st to 4th Ukraine Fronts.

CENTRAL SECTOR

Army Group Center reports to OKH that is is in excess of 200,000 men below establishment.

SOVIET COMMAND

The Stavka re-designates its southern fronts, the final major change to the order of battle of the Soviet formations on the southern wing for the remainder of the war. The Voronezh Front is renamed the 1st Ukrainian Front, the Steppe Front becomes the 2nd Ukrainian, the Southwest Front the 3rd Ukrainian and the South Front the 4th Ukrainian Front. Rokossovsky's Central Front becomes the Belorussian Front, while Yeremenko's Kalinin Front is renamed the 1st Baltic Front and the old Baltic Front under Popov becomes the 2nd Baltic.

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Italy

The US 45th Division takes Piedimonte d'Alife while on its left 3rd and 34th Divisions advance on either side of the Volturno with the 34th taking Alife. While the US 3rd Division continues its march northward against Mignano, west of the Volturno, the 34th makes for Capriati on the Volturno, east of the river.

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New Guinea

The 24th Brigade arrives at Finschafen to reinforce the Australian 9th Divison troops already there and to help clear the continuing Japanese resistance in the area.

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Pacific

  • In Operation RO the aircraft from the Japanese carriers in Truk are transferred to Rabaul. The ships concerned are Zuikaku, Shokaku, Zuiho, Junyo, Hiyo and Ryuho. Although the aircraft are withdrawn from Rabaul in November they take heavy losses in the meantime, further signalling the decline of the Japanese naval air force as the number of experienced pilots dwindles. Adm Mineichi Koga, successor to Yamamoto, decides to send naval forces to the Solomons and New Britain.
  • In the American camp Adm Halsey has agreed with Gen MacArthur's view that it would be impossible to 'skip' Bougainville as was done on Kolombangara, and in fact the Americans are preparing to invade the big island, from which it will be much easier to capture or neutralize New Britain.
  • The US submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks the Japanese transport Tsunushima Maru (6712t) between Truk and Kavieng.
  • The US submarine Kingish (SS-234) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Sana Maru (3365t) off Banbon Bay, French Indochina.
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Soviet Union, Armed Forces

In recognition of the Red Army's advances, the Stavka renames a number of fronts. The Voronezh Front becomes the 1st Ukrainian Front, the Steppe Front the 2nd Ukrainian Front, the Southwestern Front the 3rd Ukrainian, and the Southern Front the 4th Ukrainian. The Central Front is renamed Belorussian Front, the Kalinin Front becomes the Baltic Front and the Baltic Front is retitled 2nd Baltic.

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Images from October 20, 1943

U-boat Under Attack


U-boat Under Attack

Another View of the U-boat Under Attack


Another View of the U-boat Under Attack

Crewman Scrambles to Help Hellcat Pilot


Crewman Scrambles to Help Hellcat Pilot

Engine Work on a B-17F near Port Moresby


Engine Work on a B-17F near Port Moresby

Mystery Bombardment on Nis, Serbia


Mystery Bombardment on Nis, Serbia

Wooden Mockup of the Jagdtiger


Wooden Mockup of the <i>Jagdtiger</i>

Thursday, October 21

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Fighter Command P-40s attack Gasmata and 2 Japanese cruisers off Kavieng.

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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 6 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a barracks at Nawlang.
CHINA
  • 6 14th Air Force P-40s attack a barracks at Kunlong.
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Air Operations, Europe

An American P-40 squadron destroys a Stuka formation about to attack Yugoslav Partisans.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 11 Mosquitos are sent to Emden, the Bruderich steelworks at Düsseldorf and Dortmund. All targets are bombed without a loss.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ALBANIA:

XII Bomber Command B-17s attack rail and road bridges.

ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack a rail viaduct at Terni.
  • XII Bomber Command B-24s attack a rail bridge at Orvieto.
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack bridges at Acquapendente and Montalto di Castro, and the rail line at Orbetello.
  • XII Bomber Command P-38s attack a radar station at Pellegrino.
  • NATAF A-20s and B-25s attack the town area, a rail line, and troop concentrations at Cassino.
  • XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers attack numerous tactical, rail, and road targets in and around the battle area.
  • P-40s of the 33rd Fighter Group's 66th Fighter Squadron down 6 Ju-87s in an engagement at 0755 hours.
  • P-38s of the 1st and 82nd Fighter Groups down 8 Luftwaffe fighters over Orvieto between 1145 hours and noon.
  • P-39s of the 350th Fighter Group's 345th Fighter Squadron score their first victory when they intercept Luftwaffe night raiders over a convoy off Cape Tenos and down 1 He-111 and damage another.
YUGOSLAVIA:
  • XII Bomber Command P-38 fighter-bombers attack a marshalling yard at Skoplje.
  • NATAF aircraft attack Axis ships at sea off the Dalmatian coast.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 50 V Bomber Command B-24s and 19 B-25s attack Sattelberg from high and low altitudes, respectively. Other B-25s sweep roads around Bogadjim.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 12 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by 36 fighters, attack the Kara airfield on Bougainville. 3 Navy PVs also attack the Kara airfield.
  • VF-33 and VF-38 F6Fs down 2 A6M Zeros between Bougainville and Choiseul at 1000 hours.
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Britain, Home Front

The First Sea Lord Adm Sir Dudley Pound dies at age 66.

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India

Lord Wavell is installed as viceroy of India.

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Mediterranean

German planes attack Convoy MKS-38, strafing and torpedoing the US freighter Tivives (4596t) about 15 miles off Cape Tenes, Algeria. 1 of the 48-man crew and 1 of the 25-man Armed Guard are lost in the attack. The Free French-manned British corvette Lamalouine rescues the survivors.

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Mediterranean, Command

Adm Sir John Cunningham succeeds Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham in command of the RN forces in the Mediterranean.


Occupied Malaya

Subhas Chandra Bose forms the pro-Axis provisional government of Azad Hied ('Free India') at Singapore. His proclamation says its aim is to 'bring about the expulsion of the British and their Allies from India.'


Occupied Philippines

Japan grants 'independence' to the Philippines, but has little real value as the islands remain under Japanese jurisdiction.

[rarr]


Images from October 21, 1943

5-in Guns Fire during a Night Attack


5-in Guns Fire during a Night Attack

Embarkation of 3rd Marine Division


Embarkation of 3rd Marine Division

First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound


First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound

Friday, October 22

Aegean

Over the next 3 days 3 Allied destroyers hit mines in the Aegean.

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Air Operations, Bismarcks

More than 50 V Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack Gasmata.

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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a rail bridge spanning the Mu River near Monywa.
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Air Operations, East Indies

11 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack nickel mines at Pombelaa, Celebes.

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Air Operations, Europe

BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 569 aircraft are sent to Kassel. In this total are 322 Lancasters and 247 Halifaxes.
  • The initial 'blind' H2S marking overshoots the target, but 8 of 9 'visual' markers correctly identify the center of the city and place their markers accurately. Although German decoy markers may have drawn off some of the force, the main raid is exceptionally accurate and concentrated. The result is the most devastating attack on a German city since the July Hamburg firestorm raid. The fires are so concentrated that there is a firestorm but not as intense as the one in Hamburg. Two-thirds of Kassel, an important tank- and locomotive-manufacturing town, is destroyed by the raid. Industrial production is paralyzed for 3 months. One of the specific targets on this raid is the Fieseler aircraft factory which, according to British intelligence sources, is working on Peenemünde's rocket program. The factory is damaged and construction of the V-1 flying bomb delayed for some months.
    • 25 Halifaxes and 18 Lancasters are lost.
  • In a diversionary raid, 28 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos are sent to Frankfurt. The bombing is scattered and 1 Lancaster is lost.
Other Ops:
  • 12 Oboe Mosquitos are sent to the Knapsack power station and 1 to Dortmund, 17 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and off Texel and there are 10 OTU sorties.
    • 1 Mosquito is lost.
It was on this night that an RAF ground radio station in England, probably the one at Kingsdown in Kent, started its broadcasts with the intention of interrupting and confusing the German controllers' orders to their night fighters. The Bomber Command Official History describes how, at one stage, the German controller broke into vigorous swearing, whereupon the RAF voice remarked, 'The Englishman is now swearing'. To this, the German retorted, 'It is not the Englishman who is swearing, it is me'.
US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:

XII Bomber Command B-25s attack the Athens/Eleusis Airdrome, and 82nd Fighter Group P-38 escorts down 2 Bf-109s near the target about 1230 hours.

ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-26s attack rail bridges near Orvieto.
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s attack rail bridges near Grosseto.
  • NATAF aircraft attack the Aquino Airdrome and numerous rail, road, and tactical targets in and around the battle area.
  • A 27th Fighter-Bomber Group A-36 downs 2 Bf-109s near the Viterbo Airdrome at 0845 hours.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

  • More than 20 V Bomber Command B-25s attack Wewak at low level and sink 2 freighters. 4 V Fighter Command P-39s and 2 RAAF aircraft strafe Madang.
  • 475th Fighter Group P-38s down 1 A6M Zero and 2 Ki-61 'Tony' fighters in the Wewak area between 1020 and 1030 hours.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Pacific

The Japanese lose 123 aircraft during another massive US air raid on air facilities around Rabaul.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Solomons

  • In one of AirSols busiest days of the war, 10 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 20 Navy F6Fs attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville. 9 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 12 F6Fs attack Poroporo, Choiseul. 9 B-24s and 8 F6Fs attack coastal targets on Choiseul. 12 B-24s and 16 XIII Fighter Command P-40s also attack the Kahili airfield. 24 AirSols TBFs, 48 SBDs, and 68 AirSols fighters continue the attack on the Kahili airfield. 24 fighters strafe the Kara airfield on Bougainville, where 16 airplanes are destroyed on the ground. 1 B-24 attacks a ship near Buka. 2 AirSols aircraft are lost in the day's action.
  • 2 VF-40 F6Fs down 1 Ki-61 'Tony' fighter over Choiseul at 1055 hours. An 18th Fighter Group P-39 downs 1 A6M Zero over Kahili at 1250 hours.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Britain, Command

Gen Robert Laycock becomes the British Chief of Combined Operations, one of only 2 survivors from the 'Keyes Raid'.(see November 17, 1941)

[larrlarr | rarrrarr2]

Italy

8th Army comes into action once more. Near the coast 78th Division seizes a small bridgehead over the Trigno during the night. 5th Army is still fighting hard to make any sort of advance. Units of the 34th Division begin the attack on Sant' Angelo d'Alife, but are driven back.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Mediterranean

In the British Aegean Campaign while carrying out a diversion the Greek destroyer Adrias hits a mine off the east coast of Kaymnos and is beached at Gumushuk on the Turkish coast. 21 of her crew are killed and 21 wounded. Going to aid the Adrias the British destroyer Hurworth sinks on a mine east of Kaymnos with the loss of a number of officers and men. 85 survivors are rescued and taken to Budrun, Turkey.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Pacific

  • The Americans decide to drop a parachute battalion at Voza, in Choiseul Island, southeast of Bougainville, on the night of October 27. Minimum objective: diversionary attack; maximum: to establish a base for use against Bougainville.
  • The US submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks the Japanese transport Awata Maru (7397t) in the China Sea.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr]


Images from October 22, 1943

Nightly Ritual for the Evening's Operation


Nightly Ritual for the Evening's Operation

Heavy Raid on Kassel


Heavy Raid on Kassel

Saturday, October 23

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • When heavy cloud cover over the target thwarts a planned attack against the Tobera airfield at Rabaul, 45 of 57 V Bomber Command B-24s sent on this mission, escorted by 47 V Fighter Command P-38s, attack the Rapopo airfield at Rabaul, where they destroy an estimated 20 aircraft on the ground.
  • 49th and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 13 A6M Zeros and Ki-43 'Oscars' over the Rabaul area between 1215 and 1310 hours.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the rail bridge at Meza and 6 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Htawgaw.
  • Japanese fighters based in Burma down 3 C-46s along the Hump ferry route.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Central Pacific

A P-40 with the 15th Fighter Group’s 45th Fighter Squadon downs an H8K 'Emily' flying boat near Baker Island at 1220 hours.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
ALBANIA:
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a bridge.
  • XII Bomber Command B-38s attack the Tirana Airport and an 82nd Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ju-52 over the target at 0830 hours.
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-26s attack road and rail bridges at Marsciano and Montalto di Castro.
  • NATAF aircraft attack a German Army troop concentration near Spinete and numerous road, rail, and tactical targets in or near the battle area.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

  • 9 V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Bogadjim area.
  • 348th Fighter Group P-47s down 6 Japanese fighters near Finschhafen between 1040 and 1045 hours. An 8th Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-61 'Tony' fighter over Finschhafen at 1110 hours.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Solomons

24 AirSols SBDs, 18 TBFs, and 60 AirSols fighters attack the Kara airfield on Bougainville and antiaircraft batteries. 11 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 16 XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville followed by 6 B-24s and 16 AirSols fighters attacking the same airfield. 24 SBDs, 18 TBFs, and 36 XIII Fighter Command fighters next attack the Kara airfield. 6 B-24s attack Kakasa. 1 aircraft is shot down and another is destroyed in an operational accident.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Battle of the Atlantic

  • The US destroyer Duncan (DD-485) and the British destoyer Vidette sink U-274 using 'Hedgehog' depth charge patterns.
  • U-274

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Oberleutnant zur Zee Günther Jordan
    Location N Atlantic, SW of Iceland
    Cause Hedgehog
    Casualties 48
    Survivors None
  • In an engagement in the Bay of Biscay with German torpedo boats the British cruiser Charybdis is sunk by T-23 and T-27. 59 on board are killed and about 400 are missing. 107 are rescued. In the same engagement the British destroyer Limbourne is badly damaged by T-22 with the loss of 42 of her crew. After an unsuccessful attempt at towing, the British destroyer Talybont scuttles her. 103 crewmen are rescued.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Britain, Policy

Churchill sends Adm Mountbatten clear directives about the limits and the objectives of his mandate as Supreme Allied Commander for Southeast Asia.

[larr2larr | rarr2]

Diplomatic Relations

The privisional government of India of Subhas Chandra Bose declares war on Britain and the US.

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Eastern Front

Melitopol falls to the Gen Tolbukhin's 4th Ukraine Front after 10 days of fighting. The thrust from Kremenchug toward Krivoy Rog is still making good progress but slows as the opposition stiffens. The Soviets are now within 20 miles of the town and have cut the railroad to Dnepropetrovsk.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The 6th Army loses control of Melitopol to the 28th Army. With its line broken, 6th Army retreats rapidly to the Dniepr, losing contact with the 17th Army in the Crimea, leaving Jaenecke's force isolated.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

English Channel

A German squadron protecting a blockade runner sinks the British cruiser Charbydis and the destroyer Limbourne. The German torpedo boats T-23 and T-27 each put a torpedo into the cruiser sinking her. 520 men are lost.

[larrlarr | rarrrarr2]

Italy

In the 5th Army sector Sparanise is taken by the British 56th Division. The 8th Army attacks across the Trigno River northwest of Termoli.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Mediterranean

German planes raid Allied shipping off Naples, Italy hitting the US freighter James Iredell with 3 bombs setting fire the ship's gasoline cargo. The ship is abandoned with no casualties among the 44-man crew and 28-man Armed Guard.

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New Britain

Rabaul is raided on both this day and the next. 1 destroyer is sunk in the harbor along with 5 merchant ships.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Pacific

The US submarine Silversides (SS-236) sinks the Japanese fleet tanker Tennan Maru (5407t) and army cargo ships Johore Maru (6182t) and Kazan Maru (1893t) about 300 miles north of New Guniea.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr]


Images from October 23, 1943

Canadians on the Watch for Snipers


Canadians on the Watch for Snipers

New Zealand Soldiers Arrive at Taranto


New Zealand Soldiers Arrive at Taranto

US Medic Carries Wounded German


US Medic Carries Wounded German

B-24J Makes a Forced Belly Landing


B-24J Makes a Forced Belly Landing

Sunday, October 24

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • 62 3rd Light and 345th Medium Bomb group B-25s, escorted by 54 V Fighter Command P-38s, attack three airfields in the Rabaul area, where they destroy an estimated 45 aircraft on the ground. 3 B-25s are lost and 2 crash-land on Kiriwina.
  • 8th, 49th, and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 40 Japanese fighters over the Rabaul area between 1100 and 1210 hours.
  • During the night, VP-101 Black Cat PBYs sink the Japanese destroyer Mochizuki in Rabaul Harbor.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 8 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Htawgaw while on a resupply mission on the Hump ferry route.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 14 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 13 P-40s attack the barracks at Co Bi.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 13 Mosquitos are sent to 5 targets in the Ruhr area and 6 are sent to Emden, 30 Stirlings and Wellingtons lay mines in the Frisians and off Texel.
    • There are no losses.
US 8th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:

200 3rd Medium Bomb Wing B-26s, escorted by 205 VIII Fighter Command P-47s and 48 P-38s, attack the Beauvais/Nivillers, Montdidier, and St.-Andre-de-L'Eure Airdromes.

US 12th AIR FORCE
ALBANIA:

XII Bomber Command medium bombers attack the Tirana Airport.

AUSTRIA:
  • 89 XII Bomber Command B-17s and 24 B-24s, escorted by 36 P-38s, attack the Bf-109 factory at Wiener-Neustadt. Total cloud cover prevents all but the 98th Heavy Bomb Group, in B-24s, from dropping bombs on the target.
  • 301st Heavy Bomb Group B-17s are able to attack a marshalling yard north ow Wiener-Neustadt.
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command medium bombers attack a rail bridge near Orvieto and the viaduct at Terni.
  • NATAF aircraft attack numerous road, rail, and tactical targets in and around the battle area.
  • P-38s of the 1st Fighter Group's 27th Fighter Squadron down 1 Mc-202 and 2 Bf-109s in an engagement over Lake Bracciano, near Rome, at 1135 hours.
  • During the afternoon, A-36s of the 27th Fighter-Bomber Group's 522nd Fighter-Bomber Sqadron down 3 Bf-109s and 1 Fi-167 biplane.
YUGOSLAVIA:

NATAF aircraft attack road and rail targets along the Dalmatina coast.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

  • V Bomber Command B-24s mount a light attacks against Manokwari.
  • 3rd Light Bombt Group A-20s attack defenses in the Lae area.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Solomons

9 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 13 AirSols fighters attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville. 47 AirSols SBDs, 22 TBFs, and 28 AirSols fighters attack antiaircraft batteries in the area of the Kahili airfield. In another attack on Kahili, 36 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 39 AirSols fighters attack the runway and revetments. There are no Allied losses.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Atlantic

32 German MTBs make an unsuccessful attack on a convoy off Cromer. 2 MTBs are lost.

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Battle of the Atlantic

  • The US submarine Dorado (SS-248) is reported as presumed lost in the Atlantic Ocean area.
  • While making the transition to service in the Mediterranean U-566 is sunk by Wellington 'A' of No 179 Squadron RAF.

U-566

ClassType VIIC
CO Kapitänleutnant Hans Hornkohl
Location Atlantic, NW of Cape Ortegal
Cause Air attack
Casualties 49
Survivors None
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Eastern Front

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The 5th Guards Tank Army breaks through to Krivoi Rog as the 37th Army moves to support, only to be held back by the 11th Panzer Division. A German counterattack forces the 5th Guards Tank to pull back its forward units.

On the Nogaisk Steppe the XLIV Corps, having been evacuated from the Taman and deployed on the extreme southern wing of the 6th Army, is struck by the 2nd Guards Army and almost overrun. However, the Germans hastily reorganize their units and counterattack, halting the Soviet advance.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Italy

The US 34th Division takes Sant'Angelo. This is one of the few successful actions in this phase of the battle. The Germans continue to slow down the Allies' progress.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Mediterranean

The British destroyer Eclipse sinks on a mine in the Aegean Sea with the loss of 260 on board. 109 of the men on board are rescued by various ships in the area.

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Pacific

The Japanese destroyer Mochizuki is sunk by US naval land-based aircraft east of New Britain.

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Images from October 24, 1943

Destroyed Church in Benevento


Destroyed Church in Benevento

Vunakanau Airfield with Japanese Aircraft


Vunakanau Airfield with Japanese Aircraft

Australian Commando Beheaded


Australian Commando Beheaded

Monday, October 25

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • Despite bad weather that forces 11 of 61 V Bomber Command B-24s and 73 of 81 V Fighter Command P-38s to abort, 50 B-24s and 8 475th Fighter Group P-38s attack targets in the Rabaul area and claim an estimated 20 aircraft destroyed on the ground. 1 B-24 is shot down and all but 2 of its crew are rescued by a Patrol Wing 10 PBY.
  • A 475th Fighter Group P-38 downs an A6M Zero over the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul at 1215 hours.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 6 14th Air Force P-40s strafe shipping at Haiphong. 2 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 4 P-40s attack shipping in the Gulf of Tonkin.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 23 Stirlings lay mines in the Kattegat without a loss.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • NATAF aircraft attack the Tarquinia Airdrome and numerous roads and bridges servicing German Army forces in and around the battle area.
YUGOSLAVIA:
  • 12th Air Force P-39 fighter-bombers attack the landing ground at Podgorica.
  • NATAF aircraft attack road and rail targets along the Dalmatian coast.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s mount a light attack against Manokwari. 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Japanese Army ground troops near Lae.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Solomons

31 AirSols SBDs, 18 TBFs, and 30 fighters attack the runway and antiaircraft batteries at the Ballale airfield.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Eastern Front

Malinovsky launches a powerful attack across the Dniepr at Dnepropetrovsk and Dneprodzerzhinsk. Both towns are taken comparatively easily along with the Dnepropetrovsk Dam because the German forces there have been weakened to meet Konev's attacks and von Kleist's forces have not yet been brought into line from the Crimea. Berlin admits the German position in Russia to be 'extremely grave'.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Fighting at Dnepropetrovsk leaves the XXX Corps shattered, the town falling to the 46th and 8th Guards Armies of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Dneprozherzinsk also falls. Elements of the 5th Guards Tank Army of the 2nd Ukrainian again reaches Krivoi Rog but heavy rain impedes the advance.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Italy

Allied forces are directd to press offensive actions and engage a maximum number of Germans who might be massing for a counteroffensive.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

New Guinea

The Japanese have no more forces to throw into the attack and begin to withdraw to their strongpint of Sattleberg, north of Finschhafen.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

North Sea

The British minesweeping trawler William Stephen is sunk by German motor torpedo boat S-74 off Cromer. In return, British motor gunboats MGB-607 and MGB-603 sink S-63 and S-88.

[larr2larr | rarr2]

Occupied Burma

The Burma-Siam Railway ('Death Railway') is completed by Allied PoWs and native coolies. The Japanese project to build a track through dense jungle forests is achieved at tremendous human cost. A fifth of the 61,000 Allied prisoners on the project die as a result of accidents, abuse, disease and starvation. This is the largest of Japan's many projects across Asia. The Japanese captors show complete indifference to the sufferings of their captives. Despite the massive construction project, the railway delivers much less capacity than originally intended.

[rarr]

Pacific

US Vice-Adm Spruance issues his first plan for Operation GALVANIC, the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr]


Images from October 25, 1943

Russian Infantry in Battle


Russian Infantry in Battle

Gun Crew with 17-pdr Anti-tank Gun


Gun Crew with 17-pdr Anti-tank Gun

Americans during Liberation of Naples


Americans during Liberation of Naples

Tuesday, October 26

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • 82 V Bomber Command B-25s sent to attack Rabaul abort in the face of bad weather.
  • During the night, 3 RAAF Catalinas commence a regular schedule of night harrassment missions against Kavieng.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • As Japanese fighters based in Burma take a rising toll in Allied transports flying the Hump ferry route, Maj-Gen Claire L. Chennault orders the transports to fly a more northerly route, out of range of the fighters. Then 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s are sent along the southern route. When the Japanese pilots mistake the heavily armed B-24s for look-alike C-87s, many of the fighters are downed.
CHINA
  • A total of 8 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s based at Nanning mount 3 separate missions against the harbor at Kungshan and a concentration of Japanese shipping in the nearby Hainan Strait. 1 B-25 is downed by a Japanese fighter during the third attack, and another B-25 crash lands due to damage inflicted by a Japanese fighter over the target.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 13 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 15 P-40s attack rail facilities at Haiphong.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
GREECE:
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s and P-38s attack the Megalo Mikra and Salonika/Sedhes Airdromes.
ITALY:
  • NATAF B-25s attack Terracina and an ammo dump.
  • NATAF aircraft attack parked Axis aircraft near Ancona, and road, rail, and tactical targets from central Italy south to the battle area.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, East Indies

  • 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount a light attack against Pombelaa, where fighters down 2 of the B-24s.
  • V Bomber Command B-25s attack Tanimbar Island in the Molucca Islands.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, Solomons

  • 30 AirSols SBDs, 18 TBFs, and 42 fighters attack buildings, the runway, and antiaircraft batteries at the Kara airfield on Bougainville. 7 Navy PB4Ys attack the runway at the Kahile airfield on Bougainville. 15 XIII Fighter Command P-38 strafers kill an estimated 200 laborers filling craters on the runway at the Kahili airfield. 22 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s, 49 AirSols SBDs, 36 TBFs, and 69 AirSols fighters attack the runway and antiaircraft batteries at the Kahili airfield. 8 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack aircraft parked at the airfield at Buka destroying 6 of them. Following is another attack on Buka by B-25s and 15 P-38s the control tower and parked aircraft are targeted with 5 more planes destroyed on the ground. 1 Allied plane is lost.
  • 5 Navy PVs attack Mono Island in the Treasury group.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Battle of the Atlantic

U-420 is sunk by Liberator 'A' of No 10 Squadron RCAF.

U-420

ClassType VIIC
CO Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Reese
Location Atlantic, NE of Newfoundland
Cause Air attack
Casualties 49
Survivors None
[rarr | rarrrarr2]

Eastern Front

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Kleist orders the 17th Army to evacuate the Crimea to prevent its isolation in the peninsula. However, Hitler immediately countermands the order, instructing the 17th to stand fast.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

India, Home Front

Wavell visits famine-stricken areas in Bengal. Relief camps are to be established.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

New Guinea

The Japanese outposts around Finschhafen begin to withdraw toward Sattelberg.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Pacific

The Treasury Islands assault group, part of Rear-Adm Theodore S. Wilkinson's Task Force 31, sails for its objective.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr]


Images from October 26, 1943

SS Deportations from Kaunas, Lithuania


<i>SS</i> Deportations from Kaunas, Lithuania

Sherman Tank Crossing a Stream


Sherman Tank Crossing a Stream

Metal Works in Dniepropetrovsk is Destroyed


Metal Works in Dniepropetrovsk is Destroyed

Railway Bridge across the Dnieper Destroyed


Railway Bridge across the Dnieper Destroyed

Soviet Partisans Seeking Opportunities


Soviet Partisans Seeking Opportunities

USS New Jersey (BB-62)


USS <i>New Jersey</i> (BB-62)

US Army In Naples


US Army In Naples

Russian Partisans Prepare Execution


Russian Partisans Prepare Execution

Wednesday, October 27

Air Operations, Bismarcks

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

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 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.
CHINA
  • 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.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 22 OTU Wellingtons make leaflet flights over France without a loss.
US 12th AIR FORCE
AUSTRIA:
  • More than 150 XII Bomber Command B-17s and B=24s attack aircraft-industry targets at Wiener-Neustadt and bridges and rail lines at two other locations.
ITALY:
  • Most NATAF missions are canceled due to bad weather, some XII Air Support Command aircraft are able to provide some support for Allied ground forces in the battle area, and fighter-bombers attack Gaeta.
YUGOSLAVIA:
  • NATAF fighter-bombers attack small ships and craft at Opuzen.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

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.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

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.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Britain, Home Front

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

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

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 November 1.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

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.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Italy

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

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

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.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Pacific

Gen Robert Row's 8th Brigade of the New Zealand 3rd Division 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.

The US submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks the Japanese transport Nanman Maru (6550t) north of Palau.

The US submarines Shad (SS-235) and Grayback (SS-208) sink the Japanese merchant cargo ship Fuji Maru (9138t) and damage the cargo vessel Kamo Maru.

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Images from October 27, 1943

Falamai Beach on Mono Island


Falamai Beach on Mono Island

Unloading Equipment on Mono Island


Unloading Equipment on Mono Island

British Soldiers Moving Up Calvi-Risorta


British Soldiers Moving Up Calvi-Risorta

Vehicles Stuck in Mud


Vehicles Stuck in Mud

Soldier in Colle d'Anchise, Italy


Soldier in Colle d'Anchise, Italy

Thursday, October 28

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • 348th Fighter Group P-47s attack barges and ground targets at Talasea.
  • V Fighter Command P-40s attack the Gasmata area.
  • More than 170 Japanese Navy carrier aircraft—40 B5N 'Kate' dive bombers, 45 D3A 'Val' dive bombers, 82 A6M Zeros, and 6 reconnaissance planes—are ordered to depart their ships to bolster the 373 Japanese Navy and Army aircraft already at Rabaul. All the carrier aircraft will arrive by November 1.
[rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 7 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Mangshih.
  • 3 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 7 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack Fort Bayard.
  • 2 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack shipping in the South China Sea.
  • 6 P-40s attack a warehouse and revetments at Yoyang.
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Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Air Support Command A-36s attack gun emplacements and several highways and bridges between Rome and the battel area.
  • During a mission to the Rome area, 27th Fighter-Bomber's 522nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-36s down 6 Bf-100s between 1100 and 1130 hours.
  • During an afternoon engagement over Civita Castellana, A-36s from the 86th Fighter-Bomber's 526th Fighter-Bomber Squadron down 3 Bf-109s.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

348th Fighter Group P-47s strafe coastal tagets around Sio.

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Air Operations, Solomons

19 AirSols TBFs, 38 SBDs, and 46 fighters attack the Kara airfield on Bougainville followed by 19 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attacking the same target. 21 TBFs, 38 SBDs, and 32 fighters attack the airfield at Ballale.

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Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-220 is sunk by aircraft (VC-1) from the US escort carrier Block Island (CVE-21) in the North Atlantic area.

U-220

ClassType XB
CO Oberleutnant zur See Bruno Barber
Location North Atlantic
Cause Air attack
Casualties 56
Survivors None
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Eastern Front

As Russian advances continue, Berlin radio admits 'the main German defenses have been broken'.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The IV Corps of the 6th Army launches a counterattack from Nikopol against the flank of 4th Ukrainian Front.

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New Zealand, Home Front

Butter is rationed.

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Pacific

The US submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks the Japanese fleet oiler Koryu Maru (589t) north of Palau.

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United States, Home Front

530,000 coal miners go on strike. On November 1 Roosevelt commandeers the mine. The strike ends two days later.

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Images from October 28, 1943

Action at the Airfield on Munda


Action at the Airfield on Munda

Friday, October 29

Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • 46 V Bomber Command B-24s escorted by 57 V Fighter Command P-38s attack targets in the Rabaul area targets with 115 tons of bombs and claim an estimated 45 aircraft destroyed on the ground at the Vunakanau airfield.
  • RAAF Beauforts mount the first of an ongoing regime of torpedo attacks against shipping at the mouth of Simpson Harbor.
  • V Fighter Command P-47s attack shipping in Hansa Bay and strafe ground targets around Cape Gloucester.
  • 8th, 49th, and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 18 Japanese fighters over the Rabaul area between 1220 and 1305 hours.
  • During the night, RAAF Catalinas mount the first in a regular schedule of night harrassment missions against Kavieng.
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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 2 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack the airfield at Fort Bayard Airdrome.
  • 9 14th Air Force P-40s attack a train near Chiuchiang.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 14 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 16 P-40s attack smelters at Quang Yen.
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Air Operations, East Indies

  • 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfield at Selaroe Airdrome.
  • V Bomber Command B-25s sink a ship off Tanimbar Island.
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Air Operations, Europe

US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack marshalling yards at Genoa and Sampierdarena, several industrial plants at San Giorgio, and bridges around Genoa-Ansaldo.
  • NATAF aircraft attack two gun emplacements, several bridges, and ships and port facilites at Giulianova.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Waroe Bay area, and 17 B-25s attack the Madang area.

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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 40 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 22 Navy F6Fs attack the airfield at Buka. 9 B-25s follow up with an attack on aircraft parked at Buka with parachute-fragmentation bombs. Buka is next hit by 21 XIII Bomber Command B-24s. Next to hit Buka are 11 B-24s and 24 AirSols fighters.
  • 12 Navy PVs and 1 B-25 attack aircraft parked at the Bonis airfield on Bougainville with parachute-fragmentation bombs.
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Battle of the Atlantic

U-282, near Convoy ON-208, is destroyed after a long hunt by a Hedgehog explosion delivered by the British corvette Sunflower.

U-282

ClassType VIIC
CO Oberleutnant zur See Rudolf Müller
Location Atlantic, S of Greenland
Cause Hedgehog
Casualties 48
Survivors None
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Eastern Front

Army Group Center, now commanded by Field-Marshal Ernst Busch in succession to Gunther von Kluge, fights with great vigor to hold up the enemy near the Orsha River with 4th Army and in front of Vitebsk with the 3rd Panzer Army. The German forces between Orsha and Vitebsk come under renewed pressure from the Soviet armies. The brunt of the attacks is borne by Gen Gotthard Heinrici's 4th Army but he expertly organizes the defense to repel them. His performance in these and later battles earns him the reputation as probably the best defensive tactician in the German army.

CENTRAL SECTOR

Gen Busch is appointed commander of Army Group Center. Kluge had been injured in a crash and was invalided until the middle of 1944. As if to give Busch his baptism of fire, the West Front renews its attacks around Orsha and the 1st Baltic Front around Vitebsk.

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Italy

Canatlupo is taken by troops from XIII Corps of 8th Army. The port of Mondragone is captured by 5th Army.

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Pacific

  • US submarines begin mining the waters off French Indochina. Grenadier places 32 mines outside Haipong. Within a few days the Hainan Strait and the approaches to Saigon are also sown with mines.
  • The US submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Wuhu Maru (3222t) off Swatow, China.
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Images from October 29, 1943

Anti-Aircraft Battery in Italy


Anti-Aircraft Battery in Italy

34th Infantry Division Soldiers Crossing the Volturno


34th Infantry Division Soldiers Crossing the Volturno

Saturday, October 30

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack barges in Rein Bay, but bad weather over the target causes a bombing mission against Rabaul to be canceled.

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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 7 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 12 P-40s attack a barracks and motor pool at Shayang.
  • 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack docks at Chiuchiang. 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s down 2 A6M Zeros and 4 Ki-44 'Tojo' fighters over Chiuchiang during the morning.
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Air Operations, Europe

US 9th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:
  • 5 IX Air Support Command A-20s attack the Cherbourg/Maupertus Airdrome.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-24s attack steel works at Genoa-Ansaldo and Sampierdarena and marshalling yards at Genoa.
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack marshalling yards at Imperia, Porto Maurizio, Savona, and Varazze.
  • NATAF B-25s attack Frosinone.
  • NATAF fighter-bombers attack various road, rail, and tactical targets in and around the battle area.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 12 AirSols TBFs and 26 fighters provide support for the Marine Corps’ 2nd Parachute Battalion mounting a diversionary raid on Choiseul.
  • 16 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kara airfield on Bougainville. 68 AirSols SBDs, 27 TBFs, and 50 fighters also attack the Kara airfield.
  • 6 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 32 fighters attack Kieta.
  • 26 AirSols fighters strafe ships in Tonolei Harbor.
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Diplomatic Relations

The Moscow Conference between the Foreign Ministers of the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States ends. The principle of 'unconditional surrender' for Germany is confirmed, as is the wish to found an international organization for the preservation of peace. It is also decided to set up in London a consultative European commission to study the problems that will arise on the continent when the war ends.

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Eastern Front

In their advance across the Noraysk Steppe, the Soviet forces reach Genichesk cutting one exit from the Crimea for the Axis forces. The Russians now control several bridgeheads on the right bank of the Lower Dnieper, together with the entire left bank, except for the Nikopol Salient.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Soviet tanks reach Perekop and cut the main land route out of the Crimea. Genichesk, the last railway route out of the peninsula, is also captured as 17th Army is isolated once again. At this point Hitler relieves Gen Eberhard von Mackensen from command of the 1st Panzer Army, Gen Hans Hube being appointed in his place.

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Italy

On the west coast 5th Army takes Mondragone, having penetrated the 'Barbara' line there. Inland the other units of the army continue their advance over the difficult hilly terrain against tenacious defense. The Germans counterattack the 8th Army bridgehead over the Trigno.

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Images from October 30, 1943

Canadian Artillery Battery in the Mud


Canadian Artillery Battery in the Mud

B-24J at Enfidaville Airfield, Tunisia


B-24J at Enfidaville Airfield, Tunisia

Life on board HMS Tracker


Life on board HMS <i>Tracker</i>

SAS on Parade for Inspection


SAS on Parade for Inspection

Sunday, October 31

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Fighter Command P-40s attack barges off New Britain, but bombing missions against Rabaul are canceled because of bad weather over the target.

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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a rail bridge at Meza.
  • 10th Air Force P-40s armed with 1,000-pound bombs mount 4 separate bombing and strafing attacks against facilties and antiaircraft batteries at the Myitkyina airfield.
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Air Operations, Europe

BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 11 Mosquitos are sent to the Ruhr and 6 to Emden. All targets are bombed but 1 Mosquito on the Ruhr sorties is lost.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ALBANIA:
  • 82nd Fighter Group P-38s down 1 Fi-156 and 3 Bf-109s between 1500 and 1520 hours during a bombing and strafing attack on Tirana Airport.
  • 11 Mosquitos are sent to the Ruhr and 6 to Emden. All targets are bombed but 1 Mosquito on the Ruhr sorties is lost.
FRANCE:
  • XII Bomber Command B-17s attack a viaduct at Antheor.
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s attack Anzio.
  • XII Bomber Command B-26s attack port facilities and shipping at Civitavecchia.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • 19 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kara airfield on Bougainville. The Kara airfield is next hit by 34 AirSols SBDs, 24 TBFs, and 54 fighters attacking runways and antiaircraft batteries. The last attack of the day on Kara is delivered by 23 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 16 fighters.
  • A VF(N)-75 F4U night-fighter downs a G4M 'Betty' bomber near Vella Lavella at 2300 hours.
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Battle of the Atlantic

  • U-306 is shadowing Convoys SL-138 and KMS-28 when she is spotted by the British destroyer Shitehall and corvette Geranium, depth-charged and sunk
  • U-306

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Kapitänleutnant Klaus von Trotha
    Location Atlantic, NW of Cape Finisterre
    Cause Depth charge
    Casualties 51
    Survivors None

    U-584

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Kapitänleutnant Joachim Deecke
    Location Atlantic, NW of the Azores
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 53
    Survivors None
  • Aircraft (VC-9) from the US escort carrier Card (CVE-11) sink the German submarine U-584 in the North Atlantic area.
  • U-732 is sighted by the trawler Imperialist and is attacked with a ten-charge pattern. The U-boat surfaces and is attacked with the trawler's deck guns and is sunk but not destroyed. U-732 surfaces some time later in the vicinity of the destroyer Douglas who completes the destruction.

    U-732

    ClassType VIIC
    CO Oberleutnant zur See K. P. Carlsen
    Location Atlantic, W of Strait of Gibraltar
    Cause Depth charge
    Casualties 31
    Survivors 19
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    Eastern Front

    The Soviets capture Chaplinka and have now, therefore, cut all the railroad lines leading out of the Crimea, cutting off German supplies.

    ASSESSMENT

    In the year since November 1942 the Ostheer has suffered 1,886,000 casualties. Some 250,000 had been lost at Stalingrad and of the remainder, 240,000 had been killed, 993,000 wounded and 106,000 captured, plus many more missing in actino. However, only 1,260,000 men had been replaced. In the four months since Operation CITADEL the Germans had lost 911,000 men. Equipment levels had also fallen, German armored strength standing at 700 operational vehicles. There were in fact 2,300 tanks and assault guns available, but a lack of spare parts prevent many being put back into the line. The Red Army had 6,500 tanks and Su's.

THE OSTHEER

Despite its falling strength, the Ostheer had committed another 3 panzer, 2 infantry and 1 security divisions to the fighting but 4 infantry divisions left the line. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd SS Panzer-Grenadier divisions had also been redesignated panzer divisions. German strength stood at 22 panzer, 9 panzer grenadier and 150 infantry divisions.

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Italy

In the British X Corps sector Teano is taken by the 56th Division in the course of attacks toward Monte Santa Croce by the 7th Armored Division and the 46th Division. To the left attacks also go in against Monte Massico. In the east, where the British 8th Army is operating, the 5th Division captures Cantalupo.

The Italian 1st Motorized Group is incorporated into the US 5th Army, the first Italian unit to enter the war as an Allied co-belligerent.

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Pacific

The US submarine Rasher (SS-269) sinks the Japanese oiler Koryu Maru (589t) off Pambero, Indonesia.

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Solomons

Task Force 31 sails for Bougainville, having taken on board in the Central Solomons the 20,000-odd men of the 1 Amphibious Corps of the US Marines, made up of the 37th Inf Division and 3rd Marine Division, under the command of Gen Alexander Vandegrift. The Americans are well aware that they are outnumbered, but rely on support from their powerful navy and air force, which in the course of the last weeks has put every enemy airfield in the south of Bougainville out of action.

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United States, Home Front

Max Reinhardt, a German-Jewish theatrical producer, dies at age 70.

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Images from October 31, 1943

US Cruisers at Pearl Harbor


US Cruisers at Pearl Harbor

The Perils of a Night Landing!


The Perils of a Night Landing!

German 'Tiger' Moving through a Burning Village


German 'Tiger' Moving through a Burning Village

Constructing a Bridge over the Dnieper


Constructing a Bridge over the Dnieper

[ September 1943 - November 1943]