SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

17 July 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

New Georgia

43d Div withstands the only organized offensive attempted by Japanese during Munda operation, beginning night 17-18. The counterattacks at various points are generally unsuccessful.

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

From Nassau Bay, Coane Force (2d and 3d Bns of 162d Inf, U.S. 41st Div, and supporting units) moves out to join Aus 3d Div in drive toward Salamaua.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Sicily

15th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s Prov Corps area, 3d Div, assisted by naval gunfire, completes reduction of Agrigento. 82d A/B Div is being moved forward to W flank by motor.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 15 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-07-17, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

THOR mission records show at least 106 Allied sorties (57 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-07-17, flown by USAAF 9th Air Force, USAAF 12th Air Force, RAF. Targets included ITALY, GREECE.

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 35 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-07-17, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force.

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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17 July in other years 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945

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17 July 1943

Entries

43d Div withstands the only organized offensive attempted by Japanese during Munda operation, beginning night 17-18. The counterattacks at various points are generally unsuccessful.

From Nassau Bay, Coane Force (2d and 3d Bns of 162d Inf, U.S. 41st Div, and supporting units) moves out to join Aus 3d Div in drive toward Salamaua.

15th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s Prov Corps area, 3d Div, assisted by naval gunfire, completes reduction of Agrigento. 82d A/B Div is being moved forward to W flank by motor.

THOR mission records show at least 15 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-07-17, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 106 Allied sorties (57 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-07-17, flown by USAAF 9th Air Force, USAAF 12th Air Force, RAF. Targets included ITALY, GREECE.

THOR mission records show at least 35 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-07-17, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force.

Talk about it