November 11, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1943

China: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek replies to Gen Stilwell's memo of 5 November at conference of Chinese National Military Council at Chungking. While agreeing to Br and Ch attack on Burma, he wants to hold Chinese back until British are attacking Kalewa. Replacements and supplies for Y- Force are to be provided. 11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army's 4 Corps area, Japanese seize Haka.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Japanese aircraft bomb Nanumea hitting the airfield and destroying or damaging several airplanes, including 1 B-24. The 26th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) and 98th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfer from Wheeler Field and Mokuleia Field respectively to Nukufetau with B-24's. They will fly their first combat mission on 14 Nov. 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Hickam Field to Funafuti. They will fly their first mission on November 13, 1943.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-24's bomb the Burma Road about 375 miles (600 km) W of Tungling, producing a landslide and badly damaging the road; 6 P-40's S of Yoyang knock out a gun emplacement and hit a radio station, barracks, and hostels in the area; 8 more P-40's, on armed reconnaissance in the Li-Chou-Ching-Shih area, strafe a pontoon bridge and troops, and sink a river steamer, a motorboat, and several small supply boats.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24's bomb Lakunai Airfield. P-39's strafe Bogadjim and B-25's hit the Madang. Crashed is B-24D 42-41242. Damaged in a mid-air collision is B-24D "Jack Pot" 42-40280.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): A few B-25's and USN F4U's strafe barges and shore installations in Matchin Bay. B-24s join Fifth Air Force and U.S. Navy carrier planes for a strike on Rabaul. Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beauforts join the attack on shipping in Simpson Harbor. This is the Thirteenth Air Force's first strike on Rabaul. Reportedly, a total of 286 aircraft were involved in massive air combat. Escorting fighters claim 17 Japanese planes shot down and bombers claim 5 more.

USN: Carrier planes from Task Force 38 (TF 38) under the command of Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman and Task Group 50.3 (TG 50.3) under the command of Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery including USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Princton, USS Essex, USS Independence, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) strike Rabaul. The carrier planes include SB2C Helldivers from VB-17 and F6F Hellcats against Rabaul. This was the first combat by SB2C Helldivers. Lost are TBF Avenger 23973 pilot Lt(jg) Stephen A. Nyarady (POW/MIA) and TBF Avenger 24414 pilot Lt William F. "Red" Krantz (rescued).

IJN: Over Rabaul, over 170 Japanese aircraft intercept. Lost is A6M5 Zero 4323. Sunk is destroyer Suzunami, and damaged is Naganami, Urakaze, Wakatsuki, and damage light cruiser Yubari and Agano. Japanese planes locate Task Group 50.3 (TG 50.3) and attack it vigorously but ineffectively. Kates strike U.S. forces at Torokina on Bougainville. Lost is B5N2 Kate 3190.

USS Capelin (SS-289) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kunitama Maru northwest of Ambon, 03°08'S, 127°30'E.

USS Drum (SS-228) engages Japanese convoy from Truk bound for Rabaul, unsuccessfully attacking submarine depot ship Hie Maru, 00°19'N, 149°40'E (see November 17, 1943). Later that day, a USAAF B-24D Liberators bombs the same convoy, damaging Hie Maru. Despite these attacks, the enemy ships reach Rabaul the following day.

Submarine Sargo (SS-188) sinks Japanese transport Kosei Maru east of the Nansei Shoto, 27°40'N, 130°24'E.

U.S. freighter Cape San Juan, bound for Townsville, Australia, is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 at 28°08'S, 178°06'W; 16 of the 1,348 embarked troop passengers are killed in the initial explosion and a further 114 drown during the abandonment. Liberty ship Edwin T. Meredith begins picking up survivors, joined later by Allied planes, destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488), destroyer escort USS Dempsey (DE-26) and motor minesweeper YMS-241. Edwin T. Meredith attempts to scuttle Cape San Juan with gunfire but the ship remains afloat for another two days.

USMC: Additional elements of 21st Marines arrive. Marines now hold junction of Mission and Numa Numa Trails, having killed an estimated 550 Japanese during drive up Mission Trail. In order to secure airfield site, Gen Geiger orders 3d Mar Div to drive E and 37th Div, W.