Friendly Fire From Above

TUE 20 JUL 1943
Pacific
Searching PBY detects movement of Japanese surface force (Rear Admiral Nishimura Shoji) through the "slot" between Vella Lavella and Choiseul. TBFs from Henderson Field attack Nishimura's ships, sinking destroyer Yugure and damaging heavy cruiser Kumano and destroyer Minazuki. After a second wave of American planes (TBFs and USAAF B-25s) attack the enemy ships without success, a third wave (B-25s) sinks destroyer Kiyonami.

USAAF B-25s, unaware of friendly naval vessels in their patrol area, mistakenly sink motor torpedo boat PT-166 (08°15'S, 156°53'E) and damage PT-164 and PT-168 in Ferguson Passage, Solomons.

Submarine Pompano (SS-181) damages Japanese transport Uyo Maru, east of Miki Zaki, 33°55'N, 136°26'E.

Atlantic
USAAF aircraft sink German submarine U-588 in Bay of Biscay, 45°10'N, 09°42'W. [At least the Air Forces got something right today.]

Mediterranean
German planes bomb Allied shipping off Augusta, Sicily; U.S. freighter William T. Coleman is damaged when British tanker Fort Pelly, moored to same buoy, is set afire by direct hits. Getting underway, William T. Coleman runs aground, and while thus immobile, is menaced by burning oil from Fort Pelly, which then explodes, further damaging the freighter by flying debris.