January 22, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
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THURSDAY, 22 JANUARY 1942

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Far East Air Force): Between January 22, 1942 until February 3, 1942 B-17s fly at least 15 missions out of Singosari Airfield (Malang) against a Japanese convoy in the Makassar Strait between Borneo and Celebes. Four missions abort due to bad weather, 6 end with negative results, and the remaining 5 suffer heavy losses but sink 4 ships. Damaged during take off is B-17E 41-2419 and afterwards written off.

IJN: Japanese Navy carrier planes strike Rabaul, but find few targets and instead perform aerobatics over the area.

RAAF: Damaged is PBY Catalina A24-7 and written off at Napa Napa.

USMC: Japanese force of 900 soldiers from the 2d Battalion, 20th Japanese Infantry land at Quinauan Point, and Longoskawayan Point on the Bataan Peninsula.