“Warm Reception” by Jim Dietz of the Guadalcanal Cactus Air Force.
7-18 February – Chiang Kai-shek agreed to use his forces in the Burma campaign, but as usual, this was in exchange for a promise of even more US financial aid. Mahatma Gandhi started his 21-day hunger strike in India in his non-violent opposition to British policies in his country.
Chindits 1943
The 47th and 55th Indian Brigades were beaten back at Donbaik in the Arakan peninsula. The Chindits opposed the enemy for the first time on the 18th in Burma and advanced. They managed to cut the Japanese railroad line between Mandalay and Myitkyina.
New Guinea
12 February – the Allies initiated the Elkton Plan; a campaign designed by MacArthur to eject the Japanese from New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomons. This would isolate the enemy headquarters at Rabaul. (The original plan included capturing Rabaul, but was scrapped…