1943 in aviation

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1943:

Events

Watanabe Iron Works transfers its aircraft manufacturing business to a new subsidiary, the Kyushu Airplane Company Ltd.

January 5 – In support of the American occupation of Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands scheduled for the next day, United States Army Air Forces aircraft fly photographic reconnaissance missions over Amchitka and strike Japanese forces on Attu and Kiska, sinking two fully loaded Japanese transports approaching Attu and Kiska.

January 6 – Firing at a Japanese Aichi D3A dive bomber (Allied reporting name "Val") south of Guadalcanal, the United States Navy light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) claims the first hit on an enemy aircraft by antiaircraft ammunition employing the Mark 32 VT proximity fuse.

January 13

The U.S. Army Air Forces activate the Thirteenth Air Force in New Caledonia.
Operating from Guadalcanal, United States Marine Corps Major Joe Foss shoots down three Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters, bringing his victory total to 26, all scored since October 13, 1942; he is the first American to match Eddie Rickenbacker's World War I score of 26. Although Foss never shoots down another plane, his total is enough to make him the second-highest-scoring Marine Corps ace in history and the highest-scoring one to score all of his victories while in Marine Corps service.

Email this Page Play all in Full Screen Show More Related Videos

back

PLAYLIST TIME: