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• » 31 Jul 1943

• Young was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Young | CPC]
• After studying the findings of a small joint US Army, US Navy, and US Marine Corps reconnaissance mission to Vella Lavella between 21 and 22 Jul 1943, it was concluded that a landing in the Barakoma area was feasible. ww2dbase [Solomon Islands Campaign | CPC]
• Oberleutnant Erich Baumgartl of the German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. ww2dbase [CPC]
• USS Nicholas delivered her convoy to Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands and picked up another convoy bound for Nouméa, New Caledonia. ww2dbase [Nicholas | DS]

• A Brazilian Air Force Lockheed A-28A aircraft caught a surfaced German submarine, U-199, in the Atlantic Ocean. Though damaged by anti-aircraft fire the Brazilian crew managed to keep the U-Boat on the surface until a Brazilian Air Force Catalina aircraft arrived and sank the submarine. ww2dbase [AC]

• Repair ship Akashi began repairing cruiser Kumano at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]

• The Air Force of the Republic of China formed the 1st Bomb Group (Provisional) and the 3rd Fighter Group (Provisional); these two groups would form the foundation of the Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional) in two months. ww2dbase [CPC]
• B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. ww2dbase [Tianhe Airfield | Guangzhou, Guangdong | CPC]

• Alpino Bagnolini departed Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Aquitaine, France at 0800 hours for exercises, returning later on the same date. ww2dbase [Alpino Bagnolini | Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Aquitaine | CPC]

• While setting up for an attack on a convoy of one fleet oiler and one heavy cruiser, submarine USS Saury was rammed and damaged by a Japanese escort in the Philippine Sea and forced to terminate her patrol. ww2dbase [Saury | DS]

31 Jul 1943 Interactive Map