October 6, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 6 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Seven P-40's from Suichwan intercept an attacking force of 27 bombers and 21 Zekes; 1 bomber and 1 fighter are shot down, and the attackers retire in the direction of Canton without dropping their bombs.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Eight P-39's and eight USN F4U's strafe barges off the west coast of Choiseul. 24 B-25's of the 42nd BG and 14 P-38's carry out a low-level strike against Kahili Airfield at dusk dropping parafrag bombs, damaging or destroying several parked aircraft. Lost is B-25D "Steamin' Jean" 41-30567 pilot 1st Lt. Lloyd D. Spies (MIA) and B-25C 42-64563 pilot 1st Lt.  Austin W. Eivers (survived).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25s sweep coastal areas of New Britain and through to the north and west, bombing and strafing targets of opportunity.

USN: Naval Battle of Vella Lavella during the night, three destroyers under the command of Captain Frank R. Walker intercept and attack nine Japanese destroyers under the command of Vice Admiral Ijuin Masuji evacuating troops from Horoniu (Horaniu) on northern Vella Lavella. At 11:01pm USS Chevalier (DD-451) was hit by a torpedo at Lat 7°30'S, Long 156°15'E. At 11:02 USS O'Bannon (DD-450) accidentally collides damaging both destroyers. At 11:06pm USS Selfridge (DD-357) was hit by a torpedo in each side of the bow and heavily damaged by torpedoes from either of Shigure or Samidare at Lat 7°27'S, Long 156°13'E. The only Japanese loss was Yūgumo hit by torpedoes from Chevalier and Selfridge. At 11:26pm heavy damaged USS Chevalier (DD-451) the crew were ordered to abandon ship and were rescued by USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and will be scuttled the next morning. The Japanese destroyer-transports are able to widthdraw 600 Japanese from Horoniu (Horaniu) on northern Vella Lavella. During the battle, all three U.S. destroyers were damaged during the last surface engagement in the central Solomon Islands.

Submarine chaser PC-478 and tank landing ships LST-451 are damaged in collision while en route from Adak to Amchitka.

USS Kingfish (SS-234) lands men and supplies on northeast coast of Borneo.

USS Skate (SS-305) lifeguarding for the Wake Island strikes is strafed and damaged by Japanese aircraft, but remains on patrol.

USS Steelhead (SS-280) damages Japanese fast fleet tanker Kazuhaya, 10°30'N, 146°37'E; Tinosa (SS-283) later finishes off Kazuhaya 240 nautical miles northwest of Truk, 10°30'N, 148°20'E.

USS Wahoo (SS-238) probably sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kanko Maru, 37°18'N, 129°33'E.

USS Dorado (SS-248) departs New London, Connecticut bound for the Panama Canal and is never heard from again.

In the Indian Ocean, the last lifeboat with 16 aboard from U.S. freighter Cornelia P. Spencer, torpedoed by German submarine U-188 on September 21 1943, reach safety on the coast of Somalia.

For the second day, Task Force 14 (TF 14) under Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery including 3 carriers, 3 small carriers, 3 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, 24 destroyers, and 2 oilers, strike Wake Island.

U.S. Army: ALAMO Scouts begin reconnoitering Gasmata area in preparation for invasion. In the Solomons, elements of 27th Inf, 25th Div, make unopposed landing on Kolombangara. Action in central Solomons comes to a close. U.S. casualties during the central Solomons total 1,094 killed and 3,083 wounded. Counted enemy dead total 2,483 except Vella Lavella. The Allies build or capture four airfields: Munda Airfield, Barakoma Airfield, Ondonga Airfield and Segi Airfield. All are within range of the next objective Bougainville.