March 20, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 20 MARCH 1943

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, seven B-25's again attack the Myitnge bridge, inflicting little additional damage to the structure.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) HQ 308th Bombardment Group and 373nd Bombardment Squadron, 374th Bombardment Squadron, 375th Bombardment Squadron and 425th Bombardment Squadron with B-24's arrive from the U.S. in China. The HQ and 425th are based at Kunming; the 373rd Bombardment Squadron at Yangkai; and the 374th Bombardment Squadron and 375th Bombardment Squadron at Chengkung. The four squadrons will fly their first combat mission on 4 May.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night of 19/20 March, 18 B-17's and B-24's pound Kahili Airfield in a diversionary strike in support of USN/USMC aircraft laying mines offshore. Ditched is B-17E "Goonie" 41-2523.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25s bomb Langgoer and Kaimana. Single B-24s bomb Finschhafen Airfield and the harbor area off Salamaua.

USN: USS Sawfish (SS-276) sinks Japanese guardboat Shinsei Maru in the northern Pacific, 32°55'N, 152°11'E. USS Scamp (SS-277) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Seinan Maru off Tomari, 41°06'N, 141°26'E. USS Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese gunboat Choan Maru off the Admiralties, 03°44'N, 144°12'E, with a dud torpedo.