Russian Front. Wehrmacht ground forces recapture Kharkov after
four days of bitter house-to-house fighting against Russian
troops, ending the month long Third Battle of Kharkov.
In China. It was reported that Chinese had gained important
victory in Yangtze River front West of Hankow.
Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF). Northwest African Strategic
Air Force (NASAF) B-26 Marauder medium bombers, with fighters
escort, attack landing ground at Mezzouna. B-25 Mitchell medium
bombers follow with attack on same target. B-17 Flying Fortress
heavy bombers, with fighters escort, hit shipping off North
Tunisia. Fighters of Northwest African Tactical Air Force
(NATAF) fly tactical reconnaissance over battle area as British
18 Army Group's II Corps (United States) prepares to attack
East from Gafsa area. General Dunton is designated Commanding
General of North West African Air Service Command (NAASC),
to which are assigned Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron,
XII Air Force Services Command, all service groups, depot
groups, arms and service units of XII Air Force Services Command,
all maintenance, aircraft repair, aircraft assembly, embarkation,
and mobile parachute servicing units, and base depots formerly
assigned to Eastern Air Command (The British Royal Air Force
(RAF)) and numerous The British Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers, escorted by P-40 fighters of 79th
Group (the group's first operation in the theatre) bomb Zarat.
Fighters also fly strafing and bombing raids against ground
targets.
Tenth Air Force. 8 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Gokteik Viaduct and 8 others
attack Myitnge. Neither target suffers effective damage. 8
fighter-bombers damage bridge at Kadrangyang.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers,
along with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aeroplanes, bomb
shipping at Dobo and Wokam. B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers,
on single-plane flights bomb Gasmata and Cape Gloucester.
Thirteenth Air Force. Single B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber
hit Munda and Vila airfields. P-38 Lightning fighters strafe
airfields at Viru.
Eleventh Air Force. 6 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, with 4 P-38 Lightning fighters
flying top cover, bomb North Head, hitting Main Camp and gun
emplacements. 6 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers with 4 P-38 Lightning
fighters for top cover then bomb Main Camp. Revetments and
hangar area are strafed by the P-38 Lightning fighters one
of which is lost to antiaircraft. Next, 5 B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers and 16 P-38 Lightning fighters bomb and strafe Main
Camp area and North Head. 4 P-40 fighters then unsuccessfully
search for 3 enemy fighters which had earlier attacked weather
aeroplane. Main Camp is hit two more times, by 3 B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers and by 8 P-38 Lightning fighters.
M415
Minesweeper
Commissioned 15 March 1943
Go To: 16th
March
Articles:
The Second Great War.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
The War Illustrated.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
2194 Days Of War.
ISBN-10: 086136614X
For a complete list of
sources
