August 5, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 5 AUGUST 1943

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-24's bomb the shore of Rekata Bay W of the Borokeiello Point area. B-25's and US Navy fighters strafe barges on the NE coast of Gizo. The principal objective of Central Solomons campaign: Munda Airfield is taken by XIV Corps forces after 12 continuous days of fierce fighting in the jungle area. The 372d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based on Espiritu Santo begins operating from from Carney Field (Bomber 2) with B-24's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on Saturday.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 30+ B-25's pound barges near Madang and at Alexishafen. Ditched is B-25D 41-30118 pilot Major Williston M. Cox (1 MIA, 5 POW, 4 executed). Also they hit the Nuru River bridge and towns of Bogadjim and Saidor; a single B-24 bombs Finschhafen while another hits Vitu. Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm A. Moore takes command of the newly formed Second Air Task Force based at recently completed Tsili Tsili Airfield; strikes from here will facilitate operations against Lae.

RAAF: Crashed is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-1 on a training flight.

U.S. Army: In New Georgia after 12 days of fighting Munda Airfield is captured by XIV Corps the main objective of the central Solomons campaign. 25th Division is next assigned the task of advancing on Bairoko and Zieta to clear the last Japanese resistance and make contact with Liversedge Force.

In New Guinea, Lt Col Malcolm A. Moore takes command of newly formed Second Air Task Force based at advanced airfield recently constructed at Tsili Tsili, in Watut R Valley W of Lae, in order to facilitate operations against Lae.