Eighth Air Force. Almost 140 United States Army Air Force
(USAAF) heavy bombers attack aircraft engine works, Renault
motor works, and ball bearing plant at Parix. Comparable numbers
of aircraft bomb airfields at Chartres and Romilly-sur-Seine.
About 70 B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit Merville airfield.
Mission to Lille is abandoned due to bad weather. Small number
of heavy bombers fly night mission with The British Royal
Air Force (RAF) against Montlucon Dunlop tire factory.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17
Flying Fortress heavy bombers of XII Bomber Command bomb highways
and railroad at Torre del Greco while B-25 Mitchell medium
bombers and B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit highways and
road junctions at or near Torre Annunziata, Battipaglia, Eboli,
Serre, Auletta, and Polla. XII A Support Command and other
Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) elements attack
buildings, railroads, highways and motor transport in support
of United States Fifth Army as the Wehrmacht counter attacks
astride Sele River subside. British Eighth Army forces reach
Sapri, threatening the enemy with entrapment between United
States and British forces.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers hit marshalling yard at Potenza and
attack railroads and warehouses in areas around Potenza, Altamura,
Gravina di Puglia, and Matera.
Fourteenth Air Force. 5 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers attack Haiphong cement plant.
More than 50 Japanese fighters attack the heavy bombers, shooting
down 4 of them. The 1 returning B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
claims 10 fighters downed. 6 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
and 14 P-40 fighters attack Wucnang cotton mill area.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers, with P-38 Lightning fighters escort,
bomb airfields in Wewak area, destroying 10 enemy aircraft
on the ground. 14 more are claimed destroyed in air combat.
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers bomb Lae area. B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers sink about 15 barges between Alexishafen and
Finschhafeu, blast ammunition and supply dump near Bogadjim,
and attack antiaircraft positions at Bostrem Bay.
Thirteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers bomb Vila, Kahili, and Kara airfields.
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, with fighters escort, later
pound Kahili runway area, others hit Parapatu Point. During
the night, B-25 Mitchell medium bombers hit Kahili airfield
twice and heavy bombers bomb airfields on Buka and Ballale.
Ballale Island airfield is also hit by Navy dive bombers,
supported by Army Air Force, Navy and Marine fighters. Bivouac
area, revetments, supply dumps and gun positions are hit.
Runway appears badly damaged by the strikes.
Henschel Hs
293
was used against the transport ship SS James W. Marshall which
was severely damaged.
R304
R-boat
Launched 15 September 1943
Go To: 16th
September
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