North Africa. Feriana, Kasserine and Sbeitla in Central Tunisia
occupied by forward Axis troops, airfields at Sbeitla and
Thelepte evacuated by United States of America forces.
In the Mediterranean. Allied air force bombers raided airfields
in Sardinia.
Russian Front. In the Ukraine Soviet troops occupied Slavyansk.
In China. Japanese troops landed in Kwangchowwan, South China,
and attacked also in Hupeh, Kwangsi, Kwangtung and Kiangsu.
Twelfth Air Force. Twelfth Air Force and other organisations
of Allied Air Force are transferred to Northwest African Air
Forces (NAAF) which supplants Allied Air Force. Northwest
African Air Forces (NAAF) , in turn, becomes part of Mediterranean
Air Command (MAC), a new air command which comes into existence
on this date with Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Tedder as commander.
Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) also includes Middle East
Air Command (later The British Royal Air Force (RAF), Middle
East) and Malta Air Command (later The British Royal Air Force
(RAF), Malta). Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF) Commanding
General is General Spaatz. Over 40 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy
bombers bomb Elmas airfield. B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
and B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit Sardinian airfields of
Villacidro and Decimomannu. Fighters escort bombers and support
ground forces in Sbeitla Kasserine-Feriana area. The fighters,
along with A-20 Havoc light bombers, attack and destroy numerous
tanks, trucks, and other vehicles moving against hard-pressed
British First Army forces.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers operating individually, strike Gasmata
airfield and Pondo Harbour, Babo, and sawmill at Ubili.
Thirteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-39 fighters join Navy fighters and dive bombers in strike
against Munda airfield. Single B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
bomb Nusave Island, and airfields on Ballale Island and at
Kahili.
Eleventh Air Force. Weather cancels all missions and also
laying of mat at Amchitka airstrip.
M463
Minesweeper
Launched 17 February 1943
R120
R-boat
Launched 17 February 1943
Go To: 18th
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
