January 21, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 21 JANUARY 1942

CENTRAL PACIFIC (Hawaiian Air Force): B-17's of Task Group 8.9 fly from Canton to Nandi on Fiji.

New Guinea: (RAAF) On reconnaissance flights, two PBYs are lost: Catalina A24-9 and Catalina A24-8 two hours later.

IJN: Japanese aircraft attack Salamaua and Salamaua Airfield destroying aircraft on the ground and also strike Lae and Lae Airfield plus Bulolo and Bulolo Airfield where A6M2 Zeros strafe and destroy parked G 31ba "Pat" VH-URQ, G.31 "Bulolo I Paul" VH-UOU and G 31 "Bulolo 2 Peter" VH-UOV. Other Japanese planes strike Madang and Madang Airfield.

Australian Army: A Japanese flyingboat flew over Buka Airfield and was fired on by Australian ground forces.

RAN: Japanese submarine I-124 is sunk near Darwin by depth charges dropped by HMAS Deloraine, the first Japanese submarine lost off Australia.

RAAF: The remaining two No. 24 Squadron planes were loaded with sick and wounded were evacuated from Vunakanau Airfield.