February 1943 (2)

“Warm Reception” by Jim Dietz of the Guadalcanal Cactus Air Force.

7-18 February – Chiang Kai-shek agreed to use his forces in the Burma campaign, but as usual, this was in exchange for a promise of even more US financial aid.  Mahatma Gandhi started his 21-day hunger strike in India in his non-violent opposition to British policies in his country.

Chindits 1943

The 47th and 55th Indian Brigades were beaten back at Donbaik in the Arakan peninsula.  The Chindits opposed the enemy for the first time on the 18th in Burma and advanced.  They managed to cut the Japanese railroad line between Mandalay and Myitkyina.

New Guinea

12 February – the Allies initiated the Elkton Plan; a campaign designed by MacArthur to eject the Japanese from New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomons.  This would isolate the enemy headquarters at Rabaul.  (The original plan included capturing Rabaul, but was scrapped due to D.C.’s Casablanca decisions.)  In response to their loss of Guadalcanal, the Japanese began to pour reinforcements onto New Guinea, including the 18th Army, under LtGen. Adachi Hatazo, and the 4th Air Army.

Solomon Islands and surrounding area.

21 February – Operation Cleanslate began as an effort to reclaim the Solomons.  US assault battalions took Russell Island, NW of Guadalcanal.  This was the first operation as part of a larger plan – Operation Cartwheel, working up from the south and east to re-capture the Pacific.  This plan was the coordinated strategy of MacArthur and Adm. Nimitz.

22 February – a serious POW incident occurred at Featherston, New Zealand.  With thanks  to a lead from Ian at the Aussie  Emu, an article on this event will be the subject of the following post.

Jeep convoy on the Burma Road

28 February – a new Burma Road was completed, which allowed supplies to be transported by land to the Chinese forces in Burma rather than air dropped.  The road ran 300 miles (428 km) from Ledo to southern China.  It was constructed by US Army Engineers and 14,000 laborers.

By the end of February, Gen. Wavell’s staff at New Delhi, India Headquarters decided the Arakan expedition should be halted, but Churchill wouldn’t hear of it.  The Prime Minister continued to feel that the Japanese were a “numerically insignificant opposition.”  It was later discovered that the troops were staying on the roads, thereby making themselves easy targets for the enemy.  This strategy was revised.

Click on images to enlarge.

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Military Humor – Sad Sack cast….

Sad Sack and cast

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Farewell Salutes – 

Eric Bradshaw – Wandoan, AUS; RA Air Force # 124491

Leroy Dunn – Wilmington, NC; USMC, WWII, PTO

Howard Greenberg – Bay Village, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII, 221st Medical/11th A/B

Herbert Hart – Arlington, VA; USMC, Korea, Vietnam, Middle East, Captain, 2 Purple Hearts

Gilbert Lysaker – Fargo, ND; US Army, WWII, ETO, 82nd A/B, 2 Purple Hearts, Bronze Star

Leo Monahan – Broad Channel, NY; US Army, WWII

Bobby Plaster – Huntington, WVA; USMC, WWII

Joshua Stevens – Dagsbord, DE; US Army Air Corps, Korea, 187th RCT

Barrie Tarr – Thames, NZ; RNZ Navy # NZ125539, Korea

Andrew Weathers – DeRidder, LA; US Army, Afghanistan, Sgt., 7th Special Forces A/B

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