N.A.S. Patuxent Established; Mystery Explosion Sinks YP-235

APRIL

THU 1 APR 1943
Pacific
Submarine Gato (SS-212) is damaged by depth charges off New Ireland, 03° 08'S, 153° 00'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese convoy off Kavieng, sinking merchant cargo ship Kokoko Maru.

Atlantic
Naval Operating Facility, Grondal, Greenland, is established.

Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, is established.

District patrol craft YP-235 is sunk by explosion of undetermined origin, Gulf of Mexico.

Submarine Shad (SS-235) torpedoes Italian blockade runner Pietro Orseolo 44°37'N, 02°18'W, shortly after the Italian ship had reached the Bay of Biscay and her escort of four German destroyers.