Today in World War II History—Nov. 2, 1943

Light cruiser USS Montpelier firing her guns during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, night of 1-2 Nov 1943 (US Navy photo)

75 Years Ago—Nov. 2, 1943: Battle of Empress Augusta Bay: US Navy Task Force 39 drives attacking Japanese ships away from Bougainville, sinking Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze and light cruiser Sendai.

US Fifteenth Air Force flies first strategic bombing mission: 112 B-24s and B-17s bomb Messerschmitt aircraft factory in Wiener-Neustadt, Austria.

Patch of the US Fifteenth Air Force, WWII