The British Royal Air Force (RAF) Whirlwinds bombers bombed
railway viaduct at Morlaix, Brittany.
North Africa. The British Eighth Army began attack on Mareth
positions comprising the remnants of Field Marshal
Erwin
Rommel's Afrika Korps and the Italian armies, during night
of 20-
21 March
1943.
In the Mediterranean. Allied heavy bombers made night raid
on Naples.
In Burma. British troops made progress towards Donbaik, North
West of Akyab.
Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF). Northwest African Tactical
Bomber Force (NATBF) is formed under Northwest African Tactical
Air Force (NATAF) with a small combined Headquarters which
has under it 47th Bomber Group, 326 Wing (The British Royal
Air Force (RAF)), and air echelons of 2 squadrons of 12 Bomber
Group which are attached for operational control. B-26 Marauder
medium bombers and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers launch consecutive
attacks against landing ground at Djebel Tebaga. Other B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb shipping between Tunisia and
Sicily. Fighters fly escort and carry out numerous reconnaissance
missions as Eighth Army opens assault on Mareth Line.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Mareth area. Antiaircraft is
intense and all medium bombers suffer hits. P-40 fighters
escort bombers and carry out fighter-bomber and top cover
operations as British ground troops open assault on positions
with infantry and artillery. 30 Corps gains bridgehead across
Oued Zigzaou.
Tenth Air Force. 7 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers again attack Myitnge bridge, inflicting
little additional damage to the structure.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Langgoer and Kaimana. Landing
strip at Finschhafen and harbour area at Salamaua are bombed
by single B-24 Liberator heavy bombers.
Thirteenth Air Force. During
19-20
March 1943 Navy and Marine aircraft lay mines off Bougainville
coast in Buin-Tonolai area while 18 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy
bombers and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers pound Kahili airfield
in diversionary strike. This mission inaugurates mine-laying
operations by aircraft in South Pacific (SOPAC).
M453
Minesweeper
Commissioned 20 March 1943
M476
Minesweeper
Commissioned 20 March 1943
Z38
Destroyer
Commissioned 20 March 1943
Go To: 21st
March
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
