The British Admiralty announced the sinking of another blockade-runner
in Atlantic.
North Africa. British units drove enemy from high ground West
of Mateur. It was announced that Canadian troops had arrived
in North Africa.
In Libya. Eighth Army at Buerat 60 miles west of Sirte.
Russian Front. Prokhladnaya, rly junction North of Mozdok,
and Tsimlyanskaya on Don front occupied by Russians ground
forces.
Australasia. Nine Japanese surface ships sunk at Rabaul by
Allied bombers. United States of America warships bombarded
Japanese airfields at Munda, New Guinea.
Army Air Force. General Spaatz is designated Air commander-in-chief,
Allied Air Force, in North Africa and, as such, Chief Air
Adviser to General Eisenhower, the Commander-in-Chief Allied
Forces.
Twelfth Air Force. Allied Air Force is activated. It includes
Twelfth Air Force, Eastern Air Command (The British Royal
Air Force (RAF)) and such French air units as might be assigned
or attached to it. The command serves under direction of Commander-in-Chief,
Allied Forces. System of area commands in North West Africa
is reorganised. Headquarters announces that the Moroccan,
West Algerian, and Central Algerian Composite
Wings are to be replaced by 2d, 1st, and 3d Air Defence Wings,
respectively, upon arrival of these units in the theatre.
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, with large P-38 Lightning
fighters escort, attack Sfax power station. Fighter-escorted
B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit Kairouan airfield. Other
fighters fly patrols, reconnaissance, and C-47 Skytrain transport
aircraft escort.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers of 93d Group bomb Sousse harbour (clouds
obscure primary target at Tunis). The British Royal Air Force
(RAF) Liberators of 160 Squadron during 5-
6
January 1943, hit harbours at Tunis and Sousse. Severe 2-day
storm (
4-5
January 1943) sharply decreases capacity of Bengasi port and
forces British Eighth Army to make greater use of more distant
port of Tobruk.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-26
Marauder medium bombers again pound Sanananda Point area as
Australian Infantry and armoured elements reach Soputa and
United States forces of 128th infantry start North West along
coast toward Tarakena as preliminary moves to all out assault
on Sanananda get under way. B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers,
A-20 Havoc light bombers, B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, and
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers hit airfields at Lae, and harbour,
shipping, and airfield at Rabaul.
Eleventh Air Force. 3 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers sink a 6,500-ton cargo vessel
previously sighted by a PBY off Holtz Bay, where a weather
and armed reconnaissance B-24 Liberator heavy bombers with
direct bomb hits sinks another freighter shortly afterwards.
A B-24 Liberator heavy bombers flies photo reconnaissance
over Amchitka, concentrating on Constantine Harbour. A Kiska
attack mission of 6 heavy bombers, 6 medium bombers, and 12
fighters is cancelled due to weather.
M363
Minesweeper
Commissioned 5 January 1943
Go To: 6th
January
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
