8 September 1943
High-value tanker sunk as enemy tanker convoy attacked on consecutive days
DEI
They destroyer-minelayer USS Pruitt was approaching Namlea to lay a minefield there to deter the midget subs infesting the area, when she herself hit a mine. She quickly sank. The other DM aborted the mission.
Another small disaster... the larger of 2 P-38 squardons ordered to sweep Kendari failed to make the trip, and the smaller group--just 7 operational aircraft--went up against 16 Georges. Only 3 made it back, no victories.
Andaman Sea
USS Hake scored a pair of hits on an Aden class cargo ship off Sabang (northwest coast of Sumatra), sinking it. Vehicle losses were reported, so it was carrying some kind of land unit.
Burma
More night raids on Pegu. The enemy lost one bomber to the nightCAP, another to flak. Again, no damage on the ground.
P-40s sweeping Rangoon disposed of 1 enemy Tony. It was enough... no bomber losses today.
Japan
USS Sunfish hit the same tanker convoy hit by Trout yesterday, this time scoring 2 hits on a (brand new) Type 1 TL tanker, starting a massive fire as its oil cargo ignited. So it's an inbound convoy after all. Moving west-northwest which would make it bound for Tokyo. No way that tanker survives.
Reinforcements
CVL Cowpens arrives at Balboa
DD Hazelwood arrives at San Francisco
DE Charles R. Greer arrives at Mare Island
PF Long Beach arrives at Mare Island
Provisionl Tank Brigade arrives at Aden
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