In Sicily. It was announced that Marsala was occupied. Taormina
bombarded from the sea.
In the Mediterranean. Bologna in Italy bombed.
In Australasia. It was announced that Japanese 9,000-ton seaplane-carrier
attempting to reach Buin (Solomons) sunk by Allied bombers.
Trondheim and Heroya bombed by United States Army Air Force
(USAAF) Flying Fortresses heavy bombers in their first attack
on Norway. 791 British Royal Air Force (RAF) Lancasters, Halifaxes,
Stirlings, Wellingtons attacked Hamburg during the night in
heaviest raid of the war to date, 2,300 tons of bombs dropped
in 50 minutes, for the loss of 12 bombers.
Eighth Air Force. 167 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
heavy bombers execute very successful attack on nitrate works
at Heroya. This is Eighth's first mission to Norway and its
longest (1,900 mile round trip) to date. Work at the plant
is disrupted for 3 1/2, months, and unfinished aluminium and
magnesium plants are damaged and subsequently abandoned by
the Germans. Naval installations at Trondheim also are hit.
Crews successfully experiment with new assembly procedure
for occasions when bad weather conditions prevent ascent in
formation. Aircraft take off individually on instruments,
proceed to designated splasher beacon for group formation,
and then along line of 3 splasher beacons for force assembly.
The method works well and makes possible many future missions
which might otherwise have been abandoned.
Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF). Northwest African Strategic
Air Force (NASAF) B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers and B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Bologna railroad yards. B-26
Marauder medium bombers hit Paola railroad yards. Northwest
African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighter-bombers hit barges,
warships, and docks in Messina-Milazzo area and transport
Northeast of Mount Etna. United States Seventh Army continues
to mop up West part of Sicily. Further East, 45th Infantry
Division takes Cefalu and Castelbuono while 1st Infantry Division
seizes Gangi and heads toward Nicosia.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-40
fighters fly armed reconnaissance and fighter-bomber missions
over Adrano and Milazzo areas. Attacks are concentrated against
motor transport targets.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Lautem, Fuiloro, Koepang, Tenau,
and airfield and surrounding areas at Lae, and attack barges
in Wapelik and Cape Busching areas and villages on Itni River.
Thirteenth Air Force. 48 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
fighters join Navy and Marine dive bombers in support of ground
forces in Bairoko area. Later in the day gun positions at
Bibolo Hill near Munda are hit, along with other targets.
Seventh Air Force. 8 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers from Midway attack Wake, bombing
oil storage, barracks, and a gun emplacement. 2030 Zeros attack
the formation. 9 fighters are claimed destroyed. 1 heavy bomber
is lost in collision with falling Japanese fighters.
Eleventh Air Force. 62 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-40 fighters fly 9 missions to Kiska (2 of them with Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots) bombing runway and scoring
many hits. An antiaircraft battery takes a direct hit and
explodes. Antiaircraft guns are strafed on North Head and
Little Kiska. Intense antiaircraft fire downs 1 P-40.
R218
R-boat
Launched 24 July 1943
Go To: 25th
July
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
