U.S. Navy Department (April 15, 1943)
Communiqué No. 344
North Pacific.
On April 13, during the day, ten attacks were carried out against Japanese installations at Kiska by formations of Army Liberator (Consolidated B‑24) heavy bombers, Mitchell (North American B‑25) light bombers and Warhawk (Curtiss P‑40) and Lightning (Lockheed P‑38) fighters. Beached enemy float planes were strafed. Many hits were scored and fires were started in the runway and main camp area.
South Pacific.
On April 14, during the afternoon, Avenger (Grumman TBF) torpedo bombers and Wildcat (Grumman F4F) fighters bombed and strafed Japanese barges and installations in Viru Harbor, New Georgia Island. Several fires were started.
News Release
For Immediate Release
April 15, 1943
Army bomber sinks submarine in Caribbean
A heavy bomber of the U.S. Army Air Forces caught a German submarine cruising on the surface in the Caribbean Sea several months ago, and destroyed the undersea raider with depth charges. A member of the submarine’s crew, who survived the attack, later was picked up by a U.S. destroyer.
The plane, piloted by CPT Howard Burhanna Jr., USAAF, of 1747 Maryland St., Philadelphia, was on a patrol flight when the submarine was sighted on the surface, eight miles away. Changing his course CPT Burhanna made for the sub, and in a few minutes was over his target. The sub had not had time to submerge, and was still on the surface when the plane released its depth charges.
Immediately after the attack, air and oil bubbles began rising from the water with gradually increasing intensity. Thirty‑seven minutes later, the men in the bomber spotted a large volume of oil and air bubbles surging to the surface. The oil slick spread out in a large circular area.