September 1943 in Montana

• September 2 – Ten men from the 612th Bomb Squadron stationed at Great Falls were killed in a B-17 crash five miles east of Ft. Benton during a training exercise.

• September 3 – British forces invaded southern Italy. Thousands viewed the pet and doll parade in Great Falls.

• September 8 – The surrender of Italy was announced.

• September 9 – The U.S. Fifth Army landed at Salerno, Italy and the Third War Bond drive began.

• September 10 – Convicted murderer Philip Coleman was executed at the Missoula County Jail. Two aviation instructors and two students were killed in a collision of their planes near the Missoula airport.

• September 12 – Australian troops and the 163rd Infantry captured Salamaua, New Guinea. The Italian dictator Mussolini was freed from captivity by Nazi commandos.

• September 13 – Gen. Chiang Kai-shek was declared president of China.

• September 16 – Australian troops on New Guinea captured Lae.

• September 24 – A 7th Ferrying Group pilot was killed in an air crash at Great Falls. The Germans evacuated Smolensk. A welder started a fire that resulted in $60,000 damages to the American Crystal Sugar Co. in Missoula.

• September 25 – Duck season opened.

• September 26 – O.F. Goddard, former chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court, died in Billings at age 90.

• September 27 – Residents of Naples revolted against German occupiers upon the approach of British troops.

• September 30 – Silk recycling was halted because it had been so successful.

Montana History Calendar 1942

Montana History Calendar 1941

Montana History Calendar 1930s

August 1943 in Montana

October 1943 (coming soon)

Learn more about what was happening September 1943 in Montana and check out  Montana’s Home Front During World War II

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