TUESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1943
CBI: Adm Mountbatten activates his new command, SEAC, and takes over operational control from CinC India. Movement orders are issued to U.S. forces who are to help operate the Bengal and Assam Rail Road. Gen Stratemeyer's Hq, AAF, India-Burma Sector, virtually rejects Gen Chennault's proposals for 1944 for logistical reasons. Hump tonnage requested cannot be supplied. Since the TWILIGHT plan for B-29's to be brought to CBI is approved, priority of Fourteenth Air Force must be lowered.
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): B-24's from Nanumea and Nukufeta bomb Japanese shipping at Jaluit, Imidj and Maloelap. Single aircraft hit Kwajalein and Makin and Tarawa.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-24's, 2 B-25's, and 4 P-40's attack
the docks at Kowloon; 2 B-25's damage 2 freighters near Nampang and Saint John, 2 more score hits on a tanker off the China coast S of Swatow, and 2 others
bomb barracks and a warehouse on Nampang; six P-40's on armed reconnaissance
in the Yen Bay-Dong Cuong area of French Indochina strafe railroad stations
and barracks; 1 B-25 and 12 P-40's hit a cavalry unit, barge, houses and numerous
sampans at Shihmen; the Li-Chou area also is attacked.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): During the night of 15/16 Nov P-70's harass Kahili Airfield. In the daylight, twenty B-25's and four B-24's pound Buka Airfield, 20+ other
B-25's fly sweeps over areas of the Bougainville coastline, Buka Passage and Sohano; supply dumps and barges are hit; 30+ P-40's
and P-39's also carry out sweeps over the area, hitting gun positions and other
targets in the Buka Passage area, several targets of opportunity along the east coast including Kieta Harbor, Tonolai Harbor, and Ballale. Lost is P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3166.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's
hit installations near Finschhafen and bomb and strafe a coastal track west of Reiss Point; P-39's, with P-40's
covering, strafe barges from Saidor to Madang. P-38's battle a large force of
fighters over Wewak, destroying 6; Two P-38's are lost: P-38H "Hold Everything" 42-66826 pilot 2nd Lt John J. Durkin (survived) and P-38H 42-66737 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert J. Smith (MIA). The 7th Fighter Squadron,
49th Fighter Group, transfers from Dobodura to Gusap with P-40's
and P-47's. Lost is C-47 "Betty El" 42-23589 pilot 1st Lt. Raymond E. Anglin (KIA) and C-47A 42-23420.
USMC: On Bougainville, a supply road, running laterally across the front of the perimeter from the Koromokina beaches to the Piva River is completed, vastly improving the supply situation. The 2d Defense Battalion, assigned to V Amphibious Corps, left Funafuti. ("Samoa").
USN: Tactical Group-1 the Eniwetok landing force was organized for the command of V Amphibious Corps by General Order No. 55-43 under operations in the Marshalls.
U.S. carrier group from Espiritu Santo strikes Nauru Island to neutralize Nauru Airfield.
USS Corvina (SS-216) is sunk by Japanese submarine I-176, south of Truk at Lat 05°05'N Long 151°10'E.
PBYs attack Japanese shipping off New Guinea, sinking cargo vessel Kyoritsu Maru, 03°51'S, 153°20'E.
Japanese minelayer Ukishima is lost to unknown cause, 11 miles off Hatsushima, Japan, 34°28'N, 137°20'E.
