Today in World War II History—August 16, 1943
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 by Sarah Sundin

Messina, Sicily, WWII (US Army Center of Military History)
80 Years Ago—Aug. 16, 1943: As US and British forces converge on Messina, Sicily, US artillery first fires at the Italian mainland.
US B-17 Flying Fortress bombers fly final mission in the Southwest Pacific, and US P-47 Thunderbolt fighters fly first mission in the Southwest Pacific.