5 March 1943
War at Sea
End of the battle of the Bismarck Sea - twelve Japanese warships are sunk (eight transports and four destroyers)
War in the Air
RAF Bomber Command uses the Oboe navigational aid in an attack on Essen
Technology
Maiden flight of the Gloster Meteor, the first British jet fighter to enter operational service. The flight took place at RAF Cranwell, and only lasted for three and a half minutes, before the test pilot was forced to land the aircraft.
Related Books
Gloster Meteor, Britain's Celebrated First-Generation Jet, Phil Butler and Tony Buttler. This is a detailed, well illustrated and well written look at the development and service history of the Gloster Meteor, both in British and overseas hands. The book covers the development of the E.28/39, Britain's first jet aircraft and the development of the Meteor, looks in detail at the prototype aircraft, the various versions of the Meteor and its British and overseas service careers. [
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (28 December 2007), 5 March 1943, http://www.historyofwar.org/secondworldwar/date/1943_03_05.html
