World War II Database

• Home
• » Events
• » WW2 Timeline
• » 1 Apr 1943

• Submarine Croaker was laid down. ww2dbase [Croaker | CPC]
• I-168 arrived at Kiska, Aleutian Islands from Paramushiro, Kurile Islands; she took on sick personnel of the Kiska garrison and departed. ww2dbase [I-68/I-168 | CPC]
• 12 British Mosquito aircraft destroyed a power station and a railways yard at Trier, Germany without any losses; local reports recorded 21 deaths. On the same date, RAF Squadron Leader C. O'Donoghue of 103 Squadron commanded a lone Lancaster bomber on a bombing attack on Emmerich, Germany; the aircraft was shot down, killing the entire crew. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | CPC]
• US 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions attacked Italian positions at Hill 369 near El Guettar, Tunisia for the third consecutive day to little success. ww2dbase [Battle of El Guettar | CPC]
• Destroyer Yuzuki was assigned to the 2nd Surface Escort Division. ww2dbase [Yuzuki | CPC]
• Thorn was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Thorn | CPC]
• US Marine Corps established Marine Aircraft Group S3 at Cherry Point, North Carolina, United States under Lieutenant Colonel Frank H. Schwable; it was the first USMC night fighter group. ww2dbase [CPC]
• George Patton's aide Captain Richard Jenson was killed during a German air attack; Patton shed tears over Jenson's body and cut a lock of hair, keeping some of himself and sending the remaining to Jenson's family. Patton would blame the British Royal Air Force for allowing German aircraft to operate with impunity; this accusation would create controversial at top levels of Allied command. ww2dbase [George Patton | CPC]
• Captain Frank E. Beatty, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Columbia, relieving Captain William A. Heard. ww2dbase [Columbia | CPC]
• German 704th Infantry Division was refitted as the 104th Jäger Division. ww2dbase [CPC]
• German 704th Infantry Division was redesignated as the 704th Jäger Regiment; Hartwig von Ludwiger remained the unit's commanding officer. ww2dbase [Hartwig von Ludwiger | CPC]
• Kamoi was assigned to the 3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet of the Southwest Area Fleet. ww2dbase [Kamoi | CPC]

• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru departed Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Truk | CPC]
• USS Tunny patrolled off North Pass Island and Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Tunny | Truk | CPC]

• The US Navy formally established the operations at base Grondal, also known as Bluie West Seven, in southwestern Greenland. ww2dbase [Bluie West Seven | Ivigtut, South Greenland | CPC]

• US Navy Construction Battalions in US Territory of Hawaii took over construction projects previously worked on by civilian contractors. ww2dbase [CPC]
• USS Runner departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her second war patrol. ww2dbase [Runner (Gato-class) | Pearl Harbor Navy Base and Ford Island Naval Air Station | Pearl Harbor, Oahu | CPC]
• Barbers Point Naval Air Station: Dispensary (150 beds) usably complete. ww2dbase [Barbers Point Naval Air Station | Ewa, Oahu | DS]

• The "P" (parachute) battalion of "San Marco" naval infantry regiment merged with "N" (swimmer) battalion to form the new Grupo Battaglioni "NP". ww2dbase [CPC]

• Naka was assigned to Japanese 14th Cruiser Division while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan. ww2dbase [Naka | Maizuru, Kyoto | CPC]

• The US Marine Corps activated the 4th Base Depot at Nouméa, New Caledonia. ww2dbase [Nouméa | CPC]

• The Mako Guard District at Pescadores islands, Taiwan was transferred to Takao in southern Taiwan, and it was renamed the Takao Guard District. Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi remained the guard district's commanding officer. ww2dbase [Takeo Takagi | Takao Guard District | Takao | CPC]

• Andrew Geddes was made the head of Operations and Plans of the Second Tactical Air Force RAF. ww2dbase [England | CPC]

• USS Mingo departed Long Island, New York, United States area for Newport, Rhode Island, United States. ww2dbase [Mingo | New York | CPC]
• Access to the Clinton Engineer Works facilities in Tennessee, United States became strictly controlled. ww2dbase [Operation Trinity and Manhattan Project | Clinton Engineer Works | Oak Ridge, Tennessee | CPC]

1 Apr 1943 Interactive Map