The U.S. 1st Ranger Battalion, "Darby's Rangers", took El Guettar Tunisia from surprised Italian forces.
William O. Darby, their commander, was a pre-war artilleryman who was exposed to British Commandos while stationed in Northern Ireland. Darby sought and was granted a leadership role in the 1st Ranger Battalion when it was formed in 1942. The Rangers at that time were heavily made up of volunteers from the 34th Infantry Division, which was a National Guard division made up of units from several states. That the rangers had this origin is often missed.
Darby was killed in action in Italy shortly before the war ended.
United States Army Air Corps bombardier Jack Warren Mathis was killed in action. He'd be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on this day. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy over Vegesack, Germany on 18 March 1943. First Lt. Mathis, as leading bombardier of his squadron, flying through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire, was just starting his bomb run, upon which the entire squadron depended upon for accurate bombing, when he was hit by the enemy antiaircraft fire. His right arm was shattered above the elbow, a large wound was torn in his side and abdomen, and he was knocked from his bombsight to the rear of the bombardier's compartment. Realizing that the success of the mission depended upon him, 1st Lt. Mathis, by sheer determination and willpower, though mortally wounded, dragged himself back to his sights, released his bombs, then died at his post of duty. As the result of this action the airplanes of his bombardment squadron placed their bombs directly upon the assigned target for a perfect attack against the enemy. First Lt. Mathis' undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.
Mathis had joined the Army in 1940 and had served as an enlisted artillerymen until his brother joined the Air Corps. He then transferred to it.
The German recapture of Kharkiv was completed. The Red Army evacuated Belgorod.
Of note, now regarded as a Russian city, it had been a Ukrainian one prior to the USSR redrawing the map.
The British Canadian Star, Clarissa Radcliiffe, Dafila, Kaying, the US SS Ogelthorpe, Molly Pitcher, Walater Q. Gresham and the DutchTerkolei went down in the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Vichy administration of French Guiana was deposed.
American Nazi leader, German-born Fritz Kuhn, was stripped of his U.S. citizenship.
Deportation of Jewish residents of Bulgarian occupied Thrace commenced.
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