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 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > August 1943



Sunday, 1 August, 1943

A lone B-24 bombs the airfield at Lae, New Guinea.

Monday, 2 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-17's bomb supply dumps on the shores of Hansa Bay and targets of opportunity along the Francisco River; A-20's hit Buiambun and B-25's pound barges from Lae to Bogadjim, from Lae to Kepler Point, and from the Bubui River to Lepsius Point; and B-24's bomb Lae harbor, Salamaua, and the West shore of Voco Point.

Tuesday, 3 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-25's, B-17's, and B-24's bomb barges, small craft, villages, grounded planes, trails, and military camps at numerous points, including areas in or around Bogadjim, Salamaua, Manokwari, and Larat and along the Bubui, Masaweng, Mindjim, and Kofebi Rivers and Bogadjim Road. On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, the West coast of Borgen Bay and an island in Marien Harbor are also hit.

Wednesday, 4 August, 1943

B-25's bomb and strafe the Itni River area on New Britain Island and hit several villages on Selaroe Island in the Tanimbar Islands. Single B-24's bomb a dump area on the Francisco River, New Guinea and Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain Island.

Thursday, 5 August, 1943

In New Guinea, more than 30 B-25's pound barges near Madang and at Alexishafen, and hit the Nuru River bridge and towns of Bogadjim and Saidor; a single B-24 bombs Finschhafen while another hits Vitu Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm A. Moore takes command of the newly formed Second Air Task Force based at the recently constructed advance airfield at Tsili Tsili, New Guinea; strikes from here will facilitate operations against Lae, New Guinea.

Friday, 6 August, 1943

During the night of 6/7 Aug, B-24's bomb Laha Airfield on Amboina Island in the Celebes Islands.

Saturday, 7 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-24's thoroughly pound the Salamaua area and also hit Kela Village. On Timor Island, B-25's hit Cape Chater Airfield and Lautem.

Sunday, 8 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-24's attack Larat, shipping at Semboh, and barges at Kokas. The 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, based at Amberley Field, 25 miles (40 km) West of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia begins operating from Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-38's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on Thursday.

Monday, 9 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-17's, B-24's, and B-25's bomb Salamaua, Lae, Nuk Nuk, Samoa Harbor at the mouth of the Francisco River, a barge near Reiss Point, and bridges on the Bogadjim-Ramu road. Barges and machinegun positons along Borgen Bay on New Britain Island, installations at Unea Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, and targets of opportunity at Alilit in the Moluccas Islands are bombed. Amboina Island, in the Moluccas Islands is thoroughly pounded.

Tuesday, 10 August, 1943

In New Guinea, more than 20 B-24's pound airfields in the Salamaua area; 12 B-25's hit barges in the Lae area and AA positions West of Borgen Bay on New Britain Island; and 6 A-20's bomb and strafe barges in Labu Lagoon and on Gasmata Island off the coast of New Britain Island.

Wednesday, 11 August, 1943

A B-24 on armored reconnaissance sinks an enemy freighter Northwest of Kavieng on New Ireland Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. The Second Air Task Force completes a movement to Tsili Tsili Airfield, New Guinea.

Thursday, 12 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-25's hit the Bogadjim-Yaula road. In the Bismarck Archipelago, A-20's bomb and strafe Gasmata Island and nearby barges; and a B-24 hits Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain Island. The 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, based at Amberley Field near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia begins operating from Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-38's. The squadron will fly it's first combat mission on Friday.

Friday, 13 August, 1943

59 B-24's, B-17's, and B-26's drop 175 tons of bombs in the Salamaua, New Guinea area in the heaviest single day strike by the Fifth Air Force to date. 9 other B-24's bomb the oil center at Balikpapan, Borneo during a late night raid; the round trip covers 1,200 miles.

Saturday, 14 August, 1943

In New Guinea, more than 50 B-24's, B-17's, and B-25's pound the Salamaua area battle zone; with close air and artillery support, US forces push to the crest of Roosevelt Ridge; the enemy retains several ridges along Dot Inlet; and A-20's strafe barges near Finschhafen. On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's hit barges at Talasea and Rein Bay, and other B-25's bomb Koepang on Timor Island. HQ 475th Fighter Group and it's 431st, 432d and 433d Fighter Squadrons transfer from Amberley Field near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to Dobodura, New Guinea with P-38's. The 431st and 432d are operating from Port Moresby, the 431st until October 1943 and the 432d until September 1943; the 433d will fly it's first mission tomorrow.

Sunday, 15 August, 1943

In New Guinea, heavy bombers again hit the Salamaua area; 12 Japanese bombers, escorted by more than 20 fighters, attack Tsili Tsili Airfield for the first time; intercepting P-39's claim 14 airplanes downed for the loss of 3 P-39's.  HQ 35th Fighter Group transfers from Port Moresby to Tsili Tsili, New Guinea.

Monday, 16 August, 1943

Oil tanks at Balikpapan, Borneo are hit by 2 B-24's. In New Guinea, 5 B-25's bomb Larat; 15 P-38's and 32 P-47's intercept 25 fighters preparing to attack transport vessels near Tsili Tsili; the strike is completely thwarted and 12 fighters shot down. This marks first the combat use of the P-47 in this theater.

Tuesday, 17 August, 1943

In New Guinea, more than 50 B-24's and B-17's make a predawn attack on Wewak and satellite airfields at Boram, Dogaw, and But, and also hit Tadji and Madang; during the midmorning, more than 30 B-25's, with more than 80 P-38's covering, carry out the day's second bombing and strafing strike on Boram, Wewak, and Dogaw; this begins a campaign to neutralize Japanese airfields in preparation for offensive against Lae; A-20's again hit enemy forces in the Salamaua area. B-24's bomb oil facilities at Balikpapan, Borneo.

Wednesday, 18 August, 1943

In New Guinea, more than 70 B-24's, B-25's, and B-17's, with cover of almost 100 fighters, blast airfields at Wewak, Boram, Dagua, and But. The midmorning attacks cause heavy destruction of Japanese airplanes on the ground, and US fighters and bombers claim more than 30 enemy aircraft shot down.

Thursday, 19 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-24's attack Manokwari, sink a small craft near Babo, and bomb Larat and Saumlakki in the Tanimbar Islands. On Timor Island, B-25's hit Koepang, Fuiloro, and Lautem. HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura, New Guinea.

Friday, 20 August, 1943

In New Guinea, 24 B-24's, escorted by 46 P-38's, hit Boram Airfield in the late morning; P-38's claim 19 fighters shot down. A-20's bomb Lae and hit the Salamaua area where enemy forces have abandoned positions on Mount Tambu and Komiatum Ridge and are manning last-ditch defensive position at Salamaua. B-25's strafe barges near Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island.

Saturday, 21 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-25's pound But and Dagua Airfields; B-17's bomb the Bogadjim area; and single B-24's hit the Salamaua area and targets of opportunity at Malahang. B-24's carry out a damaging strike against Pombelaa in the Celebes Island.

Sunday, 22 August, 1943

B-25's strike Dili on Timor Island. In New Guinea, as a result of the air offensive against Wewak and satellite airfields, Japanese airpower on New Guinea is sufficiently neutralized for 4 Allied destroyers to proceed along the coast from Milne Bay to Finschhafen; after bombarding Finschhafen during the night of 22/23 August, the warships return to Milne Bay.

Monday, 23 August, 1943

B-24's bomb the town and airfield of Kendari on Celebes Island. B-25's hit targets in the Aroe Islands. In New Guinea, B-26's pound Kela; and B-25's hit Marawasa, Finschhafen, and Lillum Saun.

Tuesday, 24 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-24's thoroughly pound Wewak and bomb Salamaua; and B-25's bomb Larat and barges East of Wotap.

Wednesday, 25 August, 1943

In New Guinea, almost 100 B-24's, B-25's, and B-17's carry out an hour-long strike against the Hansa Bay area, Nubia, and Awar, and nearby shipping; and small flights of B-24's attack Finschhafen and hit a transport off New Hanover Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. A-20's hit Gasmata Island off New Britain Island; and B-25's bomb targets on Timor Island. HQ 433d Troop Carrier Group arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US. They will remain at this station until October 1944.

Friday, 27 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-26's attack bridges in the Bogadjim area; and A-20's strafe barges and troops along the Babui River in the Lae area. On Timor Island, B-25's bomb Dili and Cape Chater airstrip. The 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with C-47's.

Saturday, 28 August, 1943

In New Guinea, 26 B-25's bomb and strafe dumps and shipping in the Hansa Bay area, sinking a small freighter, a power launch, and 8 barges and luggers; and 20 B-17's and A-20's bomb jetties at Lae and Voco Point and hit barges in Samoa Harbor between Lae and Salamaua.

Sunday, 29 August, 1943

In New Guinea, 35 B-24's, escorted by 44 P-38's, strike airfields at Wewak and Boram; and 48 B-25's and 2 B-17's bomb and strafe the Alexishafen and Bogadjim areas. A-20's hit dumps on Gasmata Island off the coast of New Britain. B-24's bomb Babo, New Guinea and Adodo in the Moluccas Islands.

Monday, 30 August, 1943

In New Guinea, B-24's pound Dagua, But, and Tadji; and A-20's hit barges on the Bubui River. On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-26's bomb Cape Gloucester Airfield while B-25's sweep along the Northwest coast, bombing and strafing barges and enemy-occupied villages. The 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, transfers from Dobodura to Tsili Tsili, New Guinea with P-40's.

Tuesday, 31 August, 1943

Bombers fly scattered strikes against shipping and shore targets in the Saint George Channel between New Ireland and New Britain Islands and in the Netherlands East Indies.