In Australasia. Australian hospital ship Centaur torpedoed
by Japanese submarine I-177 off Brisbane.
Eighth Air Force. Maximum force is put in air as part of combined
offensive against Wehrmacht. 198 heavy bombers of VIII Bomber
Command plus a small group of medium bombers launch simultaneous
attacks on 4 targets. The principal attack is against submarine
yards and naval installations at Kiel with other objectives
being Courtrai airfield, former Ford and General Motors plants
at Antwerp, and the Velsen power station at Ijmuiden. This
is first time more than 200 United States bombers are dispatched.
The attack at Ijmuiden is made at low level by 11 B-26 Marauder
medium bombers of 322d Bomber Group, first United States medium
bombers group to become operational in United Kingdom. No
medium bombers are lost during attack though 1 medium bombers
crashes while landing on return to base.
Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF). During
13-14
May 1943, Wellingtons hit Cagliari. During day, P-38 Lightning
fighters bomb tunnel, barracks, airfield, industry, power
station, and town areas at Sassari, Alghero, Porto Torres,
and Abbasanta. B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and P-38 Lightning
fighters escorts bomb dock and town area of Olbia, claiming
destruction of 3 vessels. B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit
Porto Ponte Romano while B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers
bomb Civitavecchia.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-40
fighters fly sea patrol and escort for bombers.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers administer thorough pounding to airfield
and surrounding area at Gasmata while B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers and B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers pound Rabaul
airfield. Other B-25 Mitchell medium bombers bomb Penfoei
airfield and Dili area. Single heavy bombers hit various targets
in NE New Guinea, New Britain and Netherlands East Indies
(NEI).
Thirteenth Air Force. Single United States Army Air Force
(USAAF) B-24 Liberator heavy bombers fly early evening snooper
strikes against airfields at Kahili, Ballale, and Munda. During
14-
15 May 1943,
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers on snooper mission bomb
Kahili.
Eleventh Air Force. Poor weather curtails bombings. Air-ground
liaison B-24 Liberator heavy bombers flies reconnaissance
and photo reconnaissance over Attu throughout the day. 1 B-24
Liberator heavy bombers carrying supplies for ground forces
hits mountain side 10 miles West of dropping zone. 6 B-24
Liberator heavy bombers and 5 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
fly ground support bombing missions over Attu. 2 P-40 fighters
bomb Kiska through overcast.
M8
Minesweeper
Sunk 14 May 1943
Go To: 15th
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
