SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

5 November 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.

8 sourced entries for this date.

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Entries

Bougainville

In zone of 9th Marines, 3d Ranger Bn repels Japanese attack against block on local trail, called Mission Trail. Later the Rangers and 3d Bn of 9th Marines drive up Mission Trail toward its junction with Numa Numa Trail.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
CBI

Gen Stilwell submits report to Chiang Kai-shek on SEAC planning and progress of preparations for attack from Yunnan by Y-Force.

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

Almost 100 carrier aircraft of TF 38 attack new enemy naval forces concentrated at Rabaul, taking enemy by surprise; despite intense AA fire, severely damage 5 cruisers and 2 DD’s at cost of 10 planes lost.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
The Italians bomb the Vatican in a failed attempt to knock out the Vatican radio.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
Vatican City

1943 two aerial bombings during the later stages of World War II.

Source Wikidata (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 70 Allied sorties (9 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-11-05, 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 165 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-11-05, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force. 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 44 Allied sorties (7 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-11-05, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 7th 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.

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

5 November in other years 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944

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5 November 1943

Entries

In zone of 9th Marines, 3d Ranger Bn repels Japanese attack against block on local trail, called Mission Trail. Later the Rangers and 3d Bn of 9th Marines drive up Mission Trail toward its junction with Numa Numa Trail.

Gen Stilwell submits report to Chiang Kai-shek on SEAC planning and progress of preparations for attack from Yunnan by Y-Force.

Almost 100 carrier aircraft of TF 38 attack new enemy naval forces concentrated at Rabaul, taking enemy by surprise; despite intense AA fire, severely damage 5 cruisers and 2 DD’s at cost of 10 planes lost.

The Italians bomb the Vatican in a failed attempt to knock out the Vatican radio.

1943 two aerial bombings during the later stages of World War II.

THOR mission records show at least 70 Allied sorties (9 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-11-05, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 165 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-11-05, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force. Targets included ITALY, GREECE.

THOR mission records show at least 44 Allied sorties (7 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-11-05, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force.

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