The British Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers made very heavy
night raids on Bochum in the Ruhr, Berlin and Czechoslovakia,
34 bombers missing.
North Africa. The last of the Afrika Corps forces in Tunisia
surrendered.
In the Mediterranean. Pantelleria bombarded by naval force.
Russian Front. Soviet Air Force raided rly junction at Orel
and Lozovaya.
Eighth Air Force. 119 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
heavy bombers attack Meaulte industrial areas and Saint-Omer
and Longuenesse airfield. The major effort is directed at
Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte. Four additional
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers groups (94th, 95th, 96th,
and 351st) become available for combat operations on 13-
14
May 1943.
Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF). Northwest African Strategic
Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bomb area of railroad station,
marshalling yard and docks in Naples during
12-13
May 1943. The following day, B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers,
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and B-26 Marauder medium bombers
from 7 bomb groups, escorted by fighters from 4 fighters groups,
bomb Cagliari, hitting shipping, dock area, marshalling yard,
oil dump, chemical plant, and city area. Tunisian campaign
ends with surrender of Marshal Messe, commander of Axis forces
in Africa.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Augusta. The British Royal Air
Force (RAF) Liberators, under IX Bomber Command, attack Messina
ferry terminal.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17
Flying Fortress heavy bombers bomb airfields at Rabaul, Wewak,
and Boram. B-25 Mitchell medium bombers blast airfield, town
area, and targets at Gasmata while A-20 Havoc light bombers
hit Cape Gloucester airfield and area. Single B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers and B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers attack
various shoreline and offshore targets, including landing
strips, buildings, gun positions, barges, and vessels, on
Northeast New Guinea coast, New Britain, and in Admiralty
Islands.
Thirteenth Air Force. During
12-13
May 1943 2 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers on snooper missions
bomb Kahili and Ballale airfields. They are followed shortly
by 6 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers which pound the same
targets. During day, 34 P-38 Lightning fighters, P-39 fighters,
and P-40 fighters, along with 62 Navy and Marine fighters
and 6 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40 fighters, intercept
20 aeroplanes over Russell Island-Tulagi area. Allied
pilots claim 16 aircraft shot down (1 by Army Air Force fighters).
During early evening, 5 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers
again hit Kahili and Ballale airfields.
Eleventh Air Force. Bad weather keeps air-ground liaison B-24
Liberator heavy bombers from observing or hearing friendly
ground forces on Attu and returns to base. Air ground support
mission of 6 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers is diverted from
Attu to Kiska. 2 of the bombers don't get the message, proceed
to Attu, and bomb Chichagof Harbour and Holtz Bay. The other
4 bomb Main Camp area. 8 P-40 fighters dispatched to Kiska
in 2 waves cannot see target and instead bomb Little Kiska
installations.
Go To: 14th
May
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
