North Africa. The British Eighth Army occupied Ben Gardane
in South Tunisia, Axis troops entered Gafsa, which was evacuated
by Americans.
In Burma. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) long-range bombers
raided Heho airfield.
In Australasia. Allied air force aircraft attacked Rabaul,
Amboina, Kolombangara, Munda, and Dilli, Portuguese Timor.
Eighth Air Force. 21 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
heavy bombers strike shipping at Dunkirk.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17
Flying Fortress heavy bombers hit harbour and shipping at
Palermo, while B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and B-26 Marauder
medium bombers attack Kairouan airfield. Fighters support
Allied ground forces being pushed back from Faid-Sidi bou
Zid area to position at Sbeitla, Kasserine, and Feriana. Enemy
troops, vehicles, gun positions, and tanks are repeatedly
attacked. Fighters hit similar targets in Gafsa-Bou Hamran
area.
Ninth Air Force. Desert Air Task Force (DATF) is established
with General Strickland as Commanding General. Whereas Desert
Air Task Force Headquarters, organised
22
October 1942, controlled United States Army, Middle East
Air Forces (USAMEAF) tactical operations in the Western Desert,
this new organisation, with Headquarters at Tripoli, supervises,
operationally and administratively, all of Ninth Air Force
West of, and including, Marble Arch. In addition the Commanding
General is commander of all United States troops in the area.
Colonel Hugo P Rush succeeds General Timberlake as Commanding
Officer of IX Bomber Command, which begins functioning from
its new station at Bengasi. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers attack
harbour at Naples, scoring direct hits on 2 vessels. British
Army ground forces resume operations toward Mareth Line as
weather improves.
Tenth Air Force. For second consecutive day heavy bomber strikes
against bridge at Myitnge cause little damage.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17
Flying Fortress heavy bombers again bomb town of Rabaul and
hit area nearby West of Simpson Harbour. A single heavy bomber
attacks Rapopo airfield. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers pound
shipping and town area at Amboina. B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
attack town and airfield of Dili and pound supply dumps at
Malahang. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers operating singly bomb
runway at Finschhafen, and claim direct hit on vessel in Stettin
Bay.
Thirteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-26 Marauder medium bombers, P-39 fighters, and P-40 fighters
attack Vila airfield. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, hindered
by effective antiaircraft fire, bomb airfields at Kahili and
on Ballale Island. 2 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers are lost.
Eleventh Air Force. Weather reconnaissance B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers is soon called off due to weather. All other
missions cancelled. 6 float-type enemy aircraft bomb and strafe
Amchitka, hitting runway and inflicting casualties.
M305
Minesweeper
Commissioned 15 February 1943
M368
Minesweeper
Launched 15 February 1943
M407
Minesweeper
Launched 15 February 1943
Go To: 16th
February
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
