August 6th, 1943 (FRIDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Frigate HMS Ascension launched.
Escort carrier HMS Emperor commissioned.
GERMANY: Allied air raids cause a partial evacuation of Berlin. (Glenn Steinberg)
U.S.S.R.: Zolochev, North-West of Kharkov falls to the Red Army.
ITALY: German troops start pouring in to take over the country's defences.
Troina, Sicily falls to the US 1st Division. The "Big Red One" has had a bitter, tough fight. They then push through the town and one mile (1.6 km) to the east before opposition halts them.
US troops are unable to cross the Furiano River as fierce resistance continues.
The British are advancing on Adrana. They also take Biancavilla. During the night they take Adrano as the enemy pulls back.
There is a meeting between German and Italian foreign ministers at Tarvisio. (Glenn Steinberg)
In the air, 60+ USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb Bronte, Catania, and Randazzo and the area north of the Adrano-Biancavilla road; 20+ others bomb road intersections in Adrano and Bronte; and 100+ P-40s attack shipping and shore targets in the Messina area while 30 others attack shipping on the west coast.
Northwest African Strategic Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb coastal roads near Messina; B-26s and B-25 Mitchells hit a road junction southwest of Badiazza and railroad bridges north of Gesso;
Northwest African Tactical Air Force light and medium bombers hit roads, junctions, and buildings in the Troina, Adrano, Biancavilla, Tortorici, Bronte, Piranino, and Randazzo areas and the Bagnara, Italy area; and fighter-bombers hit shipping from Vibo Valentia south to the Straits of Messina.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Santa Isabel Island 20 P-39Airacobras and P-40s of the USAAF Thirteenth Air Force hit the Tanagaba Harbor area; and 24 B-17s and B-24s, 24 B-25s, and 50+ US Marine Corps F4U Corsairs and SBD Dauntlesses pound the Rekata Bay area, hitting bivouac and supply areas. Marine F4U pilots shoot down 6 A6M "Zekes" and 2 Aichi E13A1 Navy Type 0 Reconnaissance Seaplanes, Allied Code Name "Jake."
Shortly before 2400 hours local, the Battle of Vella Gulf is
joined as six destroyers of the USN's Task Group 36.2 (Commander Frederick
Moosbrugger) attack four Japanese destroyers attempting to bring troops and
supplies to Kolombangara Island in Vella Gulf; USN destroyers USS Dunlap
(DD-384), USS Craven (DD-382), and USS Maury (DD-401) sink IJN destroyers HIJMS
Kawakaze, HIJMS Hagikaze, and HIJMS Arashi, at position 07.50S, 156.47E. U.S.
forces suffers no damage.
General MacArthur announced the capture of Munda (Japanese air base on New Georgia Island) by American forces. All organized resistance on New Georgia ceased August 28
U.S.A.: The motion picture "Above Suspicion" is released. Based on a Helen MacInnes novel, this spy thriller, directed by Richard Thorpe, stars Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray, Conrad Veidt, Basil Rathbone and Reginald Owen; Peter Lawford appears as a student in an unaccredited role. The plot has Oxford professor MacMurray and his bride Crawford off on a European honeymoon on the eve of World War II but they are actually spying for British intelligence. This was Veidt's last film; he died on 3 April 1943 after previously appearing in "Casablanca."
Frigate USS Orange launched.
Submarine USS Corvina commissioned.
Destroyer escort USS Ottersetter commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0450, the unescorted Fort Halkett
was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by
U-185 about 600 miles SE of
Natal, Brazil. The master and 23 survivors landed south of Natal. The chief
officer and 23 survivors were picked up by destroyer USS Goldsborough and landed
at Recife. The second officer and ten survivors landed at Cabadello, Brazil.
U-615 sunk by
USN Mariner aircraft, Squadron VP-205/P-4.
The boat was lost in this massive hunt in the Caribbean. It fought bravely for
days against overwhelming odd before finally being sunk.