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• » 23 Aug 1943

• Iro Ilk was awarded with the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe goblet. ww2dbase [Iro Ilk | CPC]
• The US submarine chasers SC-694 and SC-696 were sunk by German Ju-88 dive bombers off the coast of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. ww2dbase [AC]
• The British Joint Planning Staff authorized the transfer of six brigades under Orde Wingate's command for operations in Burma; Wingate had originally wanted eight brigades. The units were to be drawn from the UK 70th Division and the UK 81st African Division. ww2dbase [Orde Wingate | CPC]
• USS Permit began her tenth war patrol. ww2dbase [Permit | CPC]
• USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California. ww2dbase [Bailey | DS]
• Shortly after midnight, destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Chevalier, USS O’Bannon, USS Taylor, USS Saufley, USS Cony, and USS Renshaw made a patrol through Vella Gulf, Solomon Islands without locating any shipping. Persistent air attacks from Japanese aircraft resulted in no damage. ww2dbase [Nicholas | Renshaw | Saufley | Solomon Islands Campaign | DS]

• Yamato arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Yamato | Truk | CPC]

• 21 Japanese bombers escorted by 17 fighters took off from Hankou, Hubei, China to attack Chongqing in Sichuan Province, China; the formation was met with an additional 14 fighters en route. 10 P-40, 8 P-43, and 11 P-66 fighters of the Chinese Air Force rose to intercept. The Chinese lost one P-40 fighter, one P-43 fighter, and two P-66 fighters in the engagement while the Japanese lost one bomber and several damaged. This would become the final major aerial attack on Chongqing. ww2dbase [Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities | Chongqing | CPC]

• 727 RAF bombers dropped 1,700 tons of explosives on Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Berlin | TH]

• Barbers Point Naval Air Station: Part of Air Group 16 on board. TBF-1's, SBD-5's, and F6F-3's of Air Group 16 arrived on board. ww2dbase [Barbers Point Naval Air Station | Ewa, Oahu | DS]

• George Patton apologized to Charles Kuhl whom he slapped at a field hospital for accused cowardice. ww2dbase [George Patton | Sicilia | CPC]

• USS Sunfish damaged a Japanese transport in the South China Sea, hitting her with 2 of 3 torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Sunfish (Gato-class) | South China Sea | CPC]

• The Soviet Steppe Front captured Kharkov, Ukraine, ending the Fourth Battle of Kharkov; a German counterattack was attempted but repulsed by the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army. ww2dbase [Fourth Battle of Kharkov | Kharkov | TH]

• Escort carrier USS Bogue and her task group arrived at Norfolk, Virginia. This sortie was one of six Bogue sortie's singled out in a Presidntial Unit Citation. Upon arrival, Commander Dunn's orders came through finalizing his promotion to Captain. Composite Squadron VC-9 disembarked the ship to Naval Air Station Norfolk. ww2dbase [Bogue | Norfolk Navy Yard | Norfolk, Virginia | DS]

23 Aug 1943 Interactive Map