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• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru arrived at Rabaul, New Britain. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | CPC]
• The International Medical Commission completed its investigation on the Katyn Massacre, concluding that the Soviet Union was responsible for the atrocity. ww2dbase [Katyn Massacre and Related Atrocities | CPC]
• US troops captured Hill 609 in Tunisia. ww2dbase [Conclusion of the Desert War | CPC]
• The Personnel Department was established to replace the Adjutant and Inspector's Department of the US Marine Corps headquarters. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Karl von Le Suire was named the commanding officer of German 117th Jäger Division. ww2dbase [Karl von Le Suire | CPC]
• The 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division and the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (converted from the Constantine temporary Division), the first two formations of Charles de Gaulle's revitalised French Army, were created. They would be committed to Italy at the end of November and December respectively. ww2dbase [AC]
• Korechika Anami was promoted to the rank of general. ww2dbase [Korechika Anami | CPC]
• Chiaki Matsuda was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. ww2dbase [Chiaki Matsuda | CPC]

• From Brisbane, Australia, George Kenney cabled Henry Arnold, noting that very few aircraft were being sent to the Southwest Pacific. Arnold would promise him enough fighters to form a new fighter group, but he could spare no additional personnel. ww2dbase [George Kenney | Brisbane, Queensland | CPC]
• Submarine USS Growler was floated out of South Brisbane Drydock after a total of three drydockings to repair her damaged bow. She returned alongside sub tender USS Fulton at Capricorn Wharf, Brisbane, Australia for further repairs. ww2dbase [Brisbane, Queensland | DS]

• Walter Auconi was made the commanding officer of Comandante Cappellini while at Bordeaux, France, relieving Marco Revedin. ww2dbase [Comandante Cappellini | Bordeaux, Aquitaine | CPC]
• The USAAF 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh launched a bombing raid against the German submarine facilities at Saint Nazaire, France. It was on this mission that ball turret gunner SSgt Maynard Smith performed the acts of gallantry that resulted in his award of the Medal of Honor. ww2dbase [RAF Thurleigh | Bombing of Cities in France and Low Countries | Saint Nazaire | DS]

• U-1059 was commissioned into service with Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Brüninghaus in command. She was assigned to 5th Submarine Flotilla for training. ww2dbase [U-1059 | CPC]
• Seaplane tender Richthofen was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Richthofen | CPC]
• Seaplane tender Richthofen was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Richthofen | CPC]

• Barbers Point Naval Air Station: Command Center - bombproof - usably complete. ww2dbase [Barbers Point Naval Air Station | Ewa, Oahu | DS]

• Four crew and six gunners, survivors of British motor tanker Corbis which was sunk by German submarine U-180 on 18 Apr 1943, were rescued after drifting in their open boat for 13 days by a South African crash Launch. They were taken to East London, South Africa. ww2dbase [HM]

• Commander Junio Valerio Borghese took over command of 10th MAS Flotilla at Muggiano, Italy, which was in actuality a special forces unit for the Italian Navy. ww2dbase [Junio Valerio Borghese | Muggiano, Liguria | CPC]

• Irako arrived at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Irako | Iwo Jima | CPC]
• USS Flying Fish sank a Japanese freighter off Japan, hitting her with 2 of 4 torpedoes fired; she survived a heavy depth charge counterattack. ww2dbase [Flying Fish | CPC]
• Masafumi Arima was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. ww2dbase [Masafumi Arima | CPC]

• Tanikaze completed escorting a transport from Truk, Caroline Islands toward Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Tanikaze | CPC]

• USS Hoe transited the Panama Canal. ww2dbase [Hoe | CPC]

• Basil Brooke (later 1st Viscount Brookeborough) became Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. ww2dbase [Northern Ireland | AC]

• CV-14 was renamed USS Ticonderoga. ww2dbase [Ticonderoga | Norfolk, Virginia | DS]
• Construction for Camp Concordia in Concordia, Kansas, United States completed. ww2dbase [Camp Concordia | Concordia, Kansas | CPC]
• Submarine USS Bowfin was commissioned at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire with Commander Joseph H. Willingham in command. ww2dbase [Bowfin | Portsmouth, New Hampshire | DS]

1 May 1943 Interactive Map