January 23, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY 1942

USA: The Roberts Commission that begun on December 18, 1941 concludes its investigation to "ascertain and report the facts relating to the attack made by the Japanese armed forces upon the Territory of Hawaii on December 7, 1941..." The exhibits gathered amount to 2,173 printed pages. Much of the blame on U.S. Army Lt. General Walter C. Short for lack of preparedness and U.S. Navy (USN) Admiral Husband E. Kimmel.

General Joseph Stilwell in Washington D.C., accepts China assignment and takes over part of staff previously selected by General Hugh A. Drum.

China: The first three Hurricanes arrived to Mingaladon where they landed at 09:15. Within minutes of their arrival the approach of a Japanese raiding force was announced.

The first wave of the attack comprised 24 Ki-27s of the 50th Sentai but, before their arrival over Mingaladon, two Buffaloes had been scrambled when a reconnaissance aircraft had been sighted over Zayatkwin; before they could make an interception however, Flight Lieutenant Colin Pinckney and Sergeant Christiansen ran into the Ki-27s, Pinckney (W8239) being shot down and killed near Pegu (the award of a DFC to this pilot would be announced the following June), while Christiansen claimed one of the attackers shot down. A further Buffalo (flown by Pilot Officer Cooper of 67 Squadron) together with five P-40s then joined the battle, followed by the three Hurricanes - still with the ungainly long-range tanks underwing - in the hands of Wing Commander Pennington-Legh (BG853), Squadron Leaders Stone (Z4726) and Elsdon (Z5334). The P-40s engaged the Ki- 27s, Flight Leaders Hill and Lawlor of the 2nd AVG Squadron claiming two apiece, Hill adding a probable, while Bill Bartling of the 1st AVG Squadron claimed one and a probable. Pilot Officer Cooper also reported damaging one. The Hurricanes were attacked as they attempted to reach altitude; the one flown by Stone returning damaged.

During the fight, the 50th Sentai claimed two P-40s and one probable, one Buffalo, one ‘Spitfire’ and one probable, and one unidentified aircraft for the loss of two Ki-27s.

About two hours later a dozen Ki-30s of the 31st Sentai approached Rangoon alone. They were to have been escorted by 24 Ki-27s of the 77th Sentai but these failed to rendezvous with the bombers, proceeding alone to arrive over Mingaladon 15 minutes later, where they found the bombers hard-pressed by the AVG; they reported meeting about a dozen fighters identified as P-40 and one ‘Spitfire’. The 2nd Squadron of the AVG had engaged the Ki-30s (identified as ‘Army Type 98’ bombers) and Percy Bartelt claimed three, while others were credited to Newkirk, Bright and Petach. Actual losses for the 31st Sentai were one shot down, three badly damaged and seven damaged to a lesser degree (virtually the whole force). The Americans, joined by a number of 1st Squadron pilots, were then heavily engaged by the 77th Sentai fighters.

After claiming one fighter shot down, Newkirk had his own aircraft badly shot-up and he crashed at the end of the runway whilst trying to land, escaping unhurt however. Bert Christman was shot down and baled out, but didn’t survive; his body was found next day, riddled with machine gun bullets. A third P-40 was lost when Bill Bartling crash-landed his damaged aircraft in a paddy field. In return for these losses, Flight Leader Bacon claimed two "I-97s", Flight Leader Lawlor two more (and a probable), Vice-Squadron Leader Robert Neale (1st Squadron) one and one probable, and Flight Leader Bob Little (1st Squadron) two probables. Neale then force landed at Moulmein with a burnt out engine.

In fact the 77th Sentai suffered no losses, pilots of the unit submitting claims for eight P-40s shot down and four probables. The 1st chutai’s Captain Toyoki Eto claimed three and one probable, Lieutenant Beppu one and Warrant Officer Kimura one probable; for the 2nd chutai, Lieutenant Yamamoto and Warrant Officer Hagiwara each claimed one and one probable, while Warrant Officer Honma and Sergeant Major Nagashima of the 3rd chutai claimed one apiece.

After the raid, a Blenheim of No. 113 Squadron from Mingaladon flew down to Moulmein carrying AVG groundcrew to repair Bob Neale’s P-40. A little later more of the unit's bombers headed for Raheng with a P-40 escort, but returned without attacking due to bad weather.

Malaya: Rear guards from Segamat and Muar fronts complete withdrawal through Yong Peng at midnight, 23-24; West Force then comes under command of Ind 3 Corps, which is to defend central Johore and thereby protect Singapore naval base until reinforcements arrive. Japanese are to be kept N of line Batu Pahat-Ayer Hitam-Kluang-Jemaluang, if possible. Fighting continues in Batu Pahat area, and road from there to Ayer Hitam is closed. Japanese intensify air attacks.

Burma: Japanese planes begin period of intensified attacks on Rangoon area in effort to destroy Allied aircraft in Burma.

CENTRAL PACIFIC (Hawaiian Air Force): HQ 14th Pursuit Wing is inactivated at Wheeler Field. B-17's of Task Group 8.9 (TG 8.9) returns from Nandi Airfield to Canton.

NEI: Japanese invasion forces move south in two convoys, one through Makassar Strait bound for Balikpapan on Borneo and the other through Molucca Passage to Kendari on Celebes. Unopposed landings are made at both places, but convoy off Balikpapan is attacked by Dutch planes. On Sumatra, RAF reinforcements from Middle East begin arriving at Palembang Airfields, where one of the two airdromes is attacked for first time by enemy planes.

USN: The first Navy aircraft to arrive in Samoa are OS2Us of VS-1-D14 with U.S. Marine Corps reinforcements sent from San Diego.

IJA: After midnight, the 144th Infantry Regiment "South Seas Detachment" landed at several locations on the on the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain including Raluana Point, west of Kokopo and Kerawun and north of Vulcan. Also Malaguna, west of Praed Point and Nordup. Defending were the outnumbered Australian Army 2/22nd Battalion and New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR). By morning, the Japanese occupy Rabaul.

IJN: Japanese carrier planes strike Wau Airfield and damage facilities and destroy the wreckage of DH.60M "Eros" VH-UQY in storage.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, the Philippine Division on II Corps W flank, withstands increasingly heavy pressure. After nightfall, II Corps begins withdrawal to final defense line. In I Corps area, Japanese maintain heavy pressure against Mauban MLR and frustrate further attempts to reduce roadblock on West Road. In Service Command Area, enemy amphibious force heading for Caibobo Pt, having lost its way during night, arrives at 2 points on SW coast, both well S of objective. About a third land at Longoskawayan Pt; the rest land at Quinauan Pt. Gen McBride, responsible for defense of S tip of Bataan except for naval reservation near Mariveles, sends Philippine Constabulary elements to Quinauan Pt, but they make little headway. Comdr Francis J. Bridget, commanding naval reservation, dispatches sailors and marines to Longoskawayan Pt; these, reinf by personnel of U.S. 301st Chemical Co and a howitzer from the Constabulary, clear Pucot Hill, but enemy returns after nightfall.

USMC: On Samoa, the 7th Defense Battalion was reinforced by the 2d Marine Brigade (the 8th Marines and 10th Marines, and 2d Defense Battalion).