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• » 17 Feb 1943

• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru arrived at Rabaul, New Britain and departed later on the same day. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | CPC]
• American forces east of Kasserine Pass, Tunisia retreated into the pass. ww2dbase [Battle of Faïd Pass and Sidi Bouzid | CPC]
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder became AOC-in-C Mediterranean Air Command with responsibility for all air operations. ww2dbase [Arthur Tedder | AC]
• Adolf Hitler arrived at the headquarters of German Army Group South. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | CPC]

• Submarine USS Growler arrived at Brisbane, Australia ending her fourth war patrol, cut short due to a badly damaged bow after ramming a Japanese ship ten days earlier. Repairs were begun immediately at Capricorn Wharf. ww2dbase [Growler | Brisbane, Queensland | DS]

• USS Wahoo declared readiness for her next war patrol while at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. ww2dbase [Wahoo | Honolulu, Oahu | CPC]

• Legendary Russian fighter pilot Lydia Litvak (The White Rose of Stalingrad) was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. ww2dbase [Lydia Litvyak | AC]

• The 306th Bomb Group and the air base at RAF Thurleigh had a change of command with Lieutenant Colonel Claude Putnam relieving General Frank Armstrong. ww2dbase [RAF Thurleigh | Thurleigh, England | DS]

• Lexington (Essex-class) was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Essex-class | Lexington (Essex-class) | Bethlehem Fore River Shipyard | Quincy, Massachusetts | CPC]

• USS Haddock arrived at Midway, ending her third war patrol. ww2dbase [Midway Bases | Haddock | Midway | CPC]

17 Feb 1943 Interactive Map