October 5th, 1943 (TUESDAY)
FRANCE: German troops complete the evacuation of the island of Corsica.
GERMANY: U-869 is launched.
ITALY: The US 5th Army captures Aversa and Maddaloni.
In U.S. Fifth Army area, the British X Corps gets forward elements to the Volturno River.
In the British Eighth Army’s XIII Corps area, indecisive fighting for the Biferno bridgehead at Termoli continues, with Germans penetrating into Termoli itself.
One hundred twenty four USAAF XII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses hit the Bologna marshalling yard with the loss of one aircraft; B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders bomb the Formia road, a road loop north of Mignano, and the Isernia chokepoint; Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force, XII Air Support Command, and RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) aircraft bomb numerous targets in and north of the battle area, including heavy traffic in the Isernia area, gasoline dumps at Alfedena, trains at Termoli, and towns of Venafro and Isolella.
During the night of 5/6 October, 51 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack Grossetto Airfield.
GREECE: Seventeen USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Eleus Airfield at Athens. Three aircraft are lost.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Lieutenant General James H Doolittle assumes command of the Twelfth Air Force during the absence of General Carl Spaatz. In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-17s hit the Bologna marshalling yard; B-25s and B-26 Marauders bomb the Formia road, a road loop north of Mignano, and Isernia chokepoint; Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force, XII Air Support Command, and RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) aircraft bomb numerous targets in and north of the battle area, including heavy traffic in the Isernia area, gasoline dumps at Alfedena, trains at Termoli, and towns of Venafro and Isolella.
CHINA: The Fourteenth Air Force dispatches a few B-25s and P-40s to attack a foundry at Shihhweiyao; damaging hits are scored on a barrack, on AA positions, blast furnaces, hoppers, and a steam plant. 10 USAAF fighters intercept a force of about 50 "Zeke" fighters west of Kweilin, shoot down 1 enemy fighter; the enemy force turns back.
NEW GUINEA: In North East New Guinea, Japanese documents captured near Finschhafen reveal that the Japanese are not in full retreat but intend some offensive operation. Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring, Commander of I Australian Corps, issues an operations order to the Australian 9th Division stating that Finschhafen is to be defended and developed and the troops are to gain control of the east coast of the Huon Peninsula up to and including Sio.
Fifth Air Force B-25s carry out a coastal sweep west to Madang, bombing and strafing villages and barges; B-17s hit the Bogadjim Road and jetties at Erima; and B-24s bomb the Babo area.
PACIFIC OCEAN: Today Admiral Montgomery's US Naval TF 14 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery) will shell and bombard Wake Island. They will do it again tomorrow.
TF 14 consists of the aircraft carriers USS Essex (CV-9) with Carrier Air Group Nine (CVG-9), USS Yorktown (CV-10) with CVG-5 and USS Lexington (CV-16) with CVG16; the light aircraft carriers USS Cowpens (CVL-25) with Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Five (CVLG-25), USS Independence (CVL-22) with CVLG-22) and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) with CVLG-24; three heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, 24 destroyers and two oilers. A predawn strike consisting of 48 F6F Hellcat fighters and 24 TBF Avenger bombers attacks the airfield and other installations while F6F pilots shoot down 30 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters).
The USN submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238) sinks the Japanese army transport Konron Maru (formally of the Shimonoseki-to-Fusan Ferry Line) in Tsushima Straits, about 126 nautical miles (233 kilometers) south of Pusan, Korea, at 34.00N, 129.00E. (The Tsushima Strait is a channel between Tsushima Island and northwest Kyushu, Japan, connecting the Sea of Japan with the East China Sea.) The ship is ferrying troops across the Tsushima Strait. Only 72 of the 616 soldiers and crewmen aboard the vessel survive because of heavy seas. This loss prompts the cancellation of night ferry trips across Tsushima Straits.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander of the Pacific Ocean Area, issues a plan for an offensive in the Central Pacific. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance Commander of the Fifth Fleet, is to seize Makin, Tarawa, and Abamama in the Gilbert Islands, cover amphibious landings on each with air and naval surface forces, and deny the Japanese the use of land bases in the Marshall Islands and at Nauru during the operation. D-Day for landings is set for 19 November and later postponed to 20 November.
U.S.A.: The Joint Chiefs of Staff approve a gradual strengthening of the western Aleutian Islands.
Escort carrier USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61) is commissioned.
Destroyer USS RICKETS is
commissioned. Destroyer escorts USS Wilhoite and Koiner are launched.
Destroyer escort USS John C Butler and Frigate USS Sandusky are launched.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-336 is sunk in the Straits of Denmark southwest of Iceland, in position 62.43W, 27.17W, by rockets fired by an RAF Hudson. (Sqdn. 269/F). 50 dead (all crew lost). (22)(Alex Gordon)
U-188 sinks the SS BRITANNIA.
GREENLAND: Patrol Squadron Six (VP-6 CG), was established as a U.S. Coast Guard squadron under U.S. Navy operational control at NAS Argentia, Newfoundland. Squadron personnel have actually been arriving since 23 July 1943, by Naval Air Transport Service. Upon arrival they commence training and indoctrination in cold weather operations. The squadron’s home port is Narsarssuak, Greenland, code name Bluie West-One (BW-1). Upon establishment it came under the administrative control of the USN’s Fleet Air Wing Nine (FAW-9). Personnel matters continue to be handled by Coast Guard Headquarters. The squadron flew the PBY-5A Catalina, with ten aircraft (one designated as a spare), 22 officers and 145 enlisted men, including eight enlisted pilots. Operational flights begin on 13 October 1943, after the first three PBY-5A Catalinas arrive at Narsarssuak. Two of the squadron’s nine operational aircraft are detached to NAS Argentia. These aircraft and crews are rotated frequently to allow maintenance and repair work to be done on the other seven. At Narsarssuak all the squadron’s aircraft sit outside and all maintenance, refueling and arming takes place in the open regardless of weather conditions because it is found that moving aircraft from warm hangars to the cold outside results in condensation and subsequent freezing in fuel pumps, controls and instruments. Herman Nelson F-1 portable heaters are needed to warm the engines and the aircraft interiors before starting. Crews are relieved every 12 months, with relief crews staggered every four months. The USAAF provides aerology support and daily weather briefings.