Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Timely Assistance

SAT 17 JUL 1943
Pacific
Navy and USMC SBDs (VB 11 and VMSB 132), Navy TBFs (VT 11 and VT 21), escorted by USMC F4Us (VMF 122, VMF 211 and VMF 221) (other F4U-equipped units also participate), and USAAF B-24s, escorted by USAAF P-39s and P-40s and RNZAF P-40s, attack Japanese shipping at Buin, Bougainville, Solomons. The pilots press home their strikes in the face of heavy fighter opposition and sink destroyer Hatsuyuki and damage destroyers Hatsukaze and Yunagi and auxiliary minesweeper W.15, 06°50'S, 155°46'E.

Small seaplane tender Chincoteague (AVP-24) is damaged by Japanese bombers off Vanikoro; seaplane tender (destroyer) Thornton (AVD-11), high speed minesweeper Trever (DMS-18), and destroyer Jenkins (DD-447) render timely assistance in the battle to save the crippled ship.

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