Nine Dead; Survivors Get Free Butts

FRI 16 JUL 1943
Pacific
Small seaplane tender Chincoteague (AVP-24) is attacked by Japanese bombers off Vanikoro, but suffers no damage (see 14 and 17 July 1943).

High speed transports Waters (APD-8) and Dent (APD-9) rescue last two groups of survivors from light cruiser Helena (CL-50) (see 6 July 1943) from Japanese-held Vella Lavella.

Atlantic
TBFs (VC 13) from escort carrier Core (CVE-13) sink German submarine U-67 in mid-Atlantic, 30°05'N, 44°17'W.

U.S. freighter Richard Caswell is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-513, about 200 miles off the coast of Brazil, 28°10'S, 46°30'E. U-513 surfaces, questions the survivors, provides them with cigarettes and then retires. Nine of the 42-man merchant complement perish in the attack; there are no casualties among either the 24-man Armed Guard or the two passengers (see 19 and 22 July 1943).

Mediterranean
German planes bomb Allied shipping in Algiers harbor. U.S. freighters John H. Eaton and Stephen C. Foster are damaged by falling debris and concussion when nearby Allied merchantmen are destroyed by bombs. There are no casualties to either the merchant complements or Armed Guards on board either U.S. vessel.

German planes bomb Allied shipping off Sicily; U.S. freighter William T. Coleman is damaged by near-miss of bomb.

Indian Ocean
First group of survivors from U.S. freighter Robert Bacon, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-178 on 14 July 1943 off Mozambique Light, arrives at Mozambique harbor (see 27 and 28 July, 3 and 27 August 1943).