September 18th, 1943 (SATURDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Crowborough: The Political Warfare Executive takes over Mussolini's National Fascist Radio frequency to broadcast a false message from an imitation "Mussolini".
The second prototype Hawker Tempest II fighter makes its maiden flight. (22)
Frigates HMS Avon and Gould commissioned. Frigates HMS Curzon and Dakins launched.
FRANCE: The US Eighth Air Force's VIII Air Support Command flies Missions 61 and 62 against 3 installations. (1) 25 B-26B Marauders hit Tille Airfield at Beauvais. (2) 18 B-26Bs dispatched to the Rouen marshalling yard and 72 B-26Bs dispatched to the Beaumont le Roger Airfield are recalled because of failure to rendezvous with fighter escort and bad weather, respectively.
GERMANY: Munich: A new Fascist regime is to be created in German-occupied northern Italy in the name of the ex-dictator Benito Mussolini, with its seat of government at Gargnano, on Lake Garda. The state will be called the "Italian Social Republic" in the absence of the King, who fled with the Badoglio government after the surrender. Similarly, il Duce has changed the name of his party from the "Fascist National Party" to the "Republican Fascist Party". Broadcasting today on German-controlled radio from Munich for the first time since his escape, Mussolini demanded the restoration of all party posts "to support the Germans and to punish cowards and traitors", and ordered the reinstatement of Fascists ousted by the "capitulation government" and the reconstitution of the Fascist militia.
POLAND: Auschwitz-Birkenau: The last "family transport" of women and children from Theresienstadt concentration camp arrives for gassing.
U.S.S.R.: Priluki, Lubny and Romodan are retaken by the Soviets during their advance towards Kiev. In the south they take Pavlograd, Krasnograd, Pologi and Nogaysk.
GREECE: British forces occupy the islands of Simi, Stampalia and Icaria in the Aegean Sea. The Germans raid airfields on Kos.
ITALY: US Seventh Army forces take Altavilla, Persano, and Battipaglia without opposition.
US Ninth Air Force B-24 Liberators hit the marshalling yard at Pescara, Italy.
US Twelfth Air Force B-17s bomb Viterbo Airfield and the Salerno-Avellino road, while B-25s and B-26s bomb the airfields at Ciampino and Pratica di Mare; B-25s fire 75mm shells at small vessels and a lighthouse near Capraia and between Pianosa and Corsica; P-38 Lightnings on detached service with the Northwest African Tactical Air Force strafe 4 satellite airfields at Foggia and bomb roads, railroads, bridges, and towns in the battle area.
To aid in the impending breakout from the Salerno beachhead by British and American forces, it became increasingly important to take Potenza, a city which served as a road hub and thus provided a direct communications link between Taranto and Salerno. A force consisting of the West Nova Scotia Regiment with Calgary tanks, RCHA, engineers, machine gun and anti-tank detachments and commanded by Lt-Col Bogert (Boforce) was given the task of liberating this city.
Boforce left from Villapiani on September 17 then headed inland from Nova Siri, arriving at Sant Archangelo by dusk. There was no enemy opposition.
Today, continuing the northward advance, Boforce moved into Corleto but rubble and blown bridges resulting from Allied bombing caused severe delays.
The advance was stopped at Laurenzana by yet another recently destroyed bridge. This bridge was destroyed by retreating enemy. (Stuart Millis)
Sardinia surrenders to the Allies. (Glenn Steinberg)
CHINA: 4 US Fourteenth Air Force B-25s and 7 P-40s attack rail yards and blast furnaces at Shihhweiyao.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: The fighting on Arundel Island, a small island off the northwest tip of New Georgia Island, continues as the US Army's 27th Infantry Regiment continues their advance. New Zealand General Barrowclough takes command the New Zealand and US forces on Vella Lavella Island. USAAF P-39Airacobra and P-40 pilots and USMC F4U Corsair pilots shoot down 15 IJN aircraft at midday.
NEW GUINEA: US Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit Tami Island in the Lae area while B-26s and RAAF aircraft bomb and strafe Finschhafen.
GILBERT ISLANDS: Aircraft from the US carriers Lexington, Princeton and Belleau Wood, under Admiral Pownall, strike Tarawa.
24 US Seventh Air Force B-24's, flying out of Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands and Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands, bomb Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll and Maiana and Abemama Islands in the Gilbert chain during the night of 18/19 September.
This action is part of a coordinated USAAF-USN attack on Tarawa, aimed at preventing Japanese attacks on US installations at Baker Island and in the Ellice Islands.
During the day, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 15 consisting of the aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-16) and light aircraft carriers USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) and USS Princeton (CVL-23), attack Japanese airfields and installations on Tarawa,Makin and Abemama.
Meanwhile, US Thirteenth Air Force B-24s based on Guadalcanal bomb the airfield and attack a phosphate plant and radio station on Nauru Island in the Gilbert Islands.
CANADA: Destroyer
HMCS Micmac launched.
Frigates HMCS Toronto and Orkney launched.
Corvette HMCS Whitby launched.
Tug HMCS Glenora
launched Owen Sound, Ontario.
Minesweeper HMS Regulus (ex-HMCS Long
Branch) launched Toronto, Ontario.
U.S.A.: Destroyer escorts USS Brough and Fleming commissioned.
Destroyer USS David W Taylor commissioned.
Frigate USS Muskogee laid down. Minesweepers USS Gavia and Ransom launched.
Destroyer USS Ross launched.