February 9, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) HQ 318th Fighter Group transfers from Hickam Field to Bellows Field. The 19th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group with P-40s transfers from Bellows Field to NAS Barbers Point.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24s bomb Kendari Airfield. A-20s hit the Malahang area. Lost is P-400 piloted Latane (survived).

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-26s, escorted by P-38s and P-39s, pound Vila Airfield. Other P-38s join Navy aircraft in attacking Munda Airfield. Organized Japanese resistance ends on Guadalcanal at 1625 hours local and the is declared secure even though some isolated pockets of Japanese troops remain. Lost on a reconnaissance mission over Nauru is B-17F "My Lovin' Dove" 41-24450 (crew rescued 50 days later). The 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25s and B-26s participates in the mission then transfers from the New Hebrides to Henderson Field.

U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal, the U.S. Army envelopment force links up with the western advance and Guadalcanal is declared secure. On Guadalcanal organized Japanese resistance ends concluding the bitter six month struggle on land, sea and air. The campaign was extremely costly for both sides in terms of men, ships, and materiel.

U.S. Navy: USS Tarpon (SS-175) sinks Japanese transport Tatsuta Maru 42 miles east of Mikura Jima at 33°45'N, 140°25'E.

IJN: Japanese submarine I-21 sights U.S. freighter Starr King one day out of Sydney and begins pursuit.