SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

13 January 1943

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

6 of 7 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Guadalcanal

XIV Corps offensive broadens as 2d Mar Div begins coastal attack from line Pt Cruz-Hill 66, to right of 25th Div. 8th Marines, on right, attempts to advance W From Hills 80 and 81 but is halted by enemy fire.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
New Guinea

Gen Eichelberger assumes duties of Commander, Advance New Guinea Force, and takes control of all Aus and U.S. troops. Gen Herring commands New Guinea Force.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
POA

Gen Harmon activates U.S. Thirteenth Air Force under Brig Gen Nathan F. Twining, with hq at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 5 Allied sorties (11 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-01-13, flown by RAF, USAAF 9th Air Force. Targets included TUNISIA, LIBYA, FRENCH WEST AFRICA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Pacific Theater

THOR mission records show at least 4 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-01-13, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included NEW GUINEA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Theater not recorded

THOR mission records show at least 12 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1943-01-13, flown by USAAF 8th Air Force. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

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13 January in other years 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945

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13 January 1943

Entries

XIV Corps offensive broadens as 2d Mar Div begins coastal attack from line Pt Cruz-Hill 66, to right of 25th Div. 8th Marines, on right, attempts to advance W From Hills 80 and 81 but is halted by enemy fire.

Gen Eichelberger assumes duties of Commander, Advance New Guinea Force, and takes control of all Aus and U.S. troops. Gen Herring commands New Guinea Force.

Gen Harmon activates U.S. Thirteenth Air Force under Brig Gen Nathan F. Twining, with hq at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

THOR mission records show at least 5 Allied sorties (11 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-01-13, flown by RAF, USAAF 9th Air Force. Targets included TUNISIA, LIBYA, FRENCH WEST AFRICA.

THOR mission records show at least 4 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-01-13, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included NEW GUINEA.

THOR mission records show at least 12 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1943-01-13, flown by USAAF 8th Air Force. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Talk about it