January 28, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 28 JANUARY 1942

Brazil: Rio Conference of American republics (Third Conference of Foreign Ministers of the American Republics) concludes at Rio de Janeiro to secure a unanimous and binding resolution for the American republics to sever relations with the Axis powers. The conference began on January 15, 1942. Within days, all Latin American nations that had not already done so (except Argentina and Chile) sever ties with Germany, Italy, and Japan.

China: A reconnaissance flight indicated the presence of considerable numbers of Allied aircraft at Mingaladon and the 5th Flying Hikoshidan despatched a fighter sweep over the area. 27 Ki-27s from the 77th Sentai and ten from the 50th Sentai arrived around midday, but the two units were unable to co-ordinate their arrival and became involved in separate dogfights. P-40s from the 1st and 2nd Squadron of the AVG were scrambled together with Squadron Leader Sutton and Pilot Officer Brown of 136 Squadron. The 1st Squadron claimed five Japanese fighters shot down and one probable (two and one probable claimed by Squadron Leader Bob Sandell and Flight Leaders Schiel, Bill Bartling and Dick Rossi one each) while the 2nd Squadron claimed one (John Petach). The AVG lost one aircraft shot down (Ray Hastey, who parachuted) and another force-landed (Sandell).

The 77th Sentai claimed seven and one probable against a force of “at least ten P-40s”. The probable was credited to Captain Toyoki Eto (1st chutai) while the victories were credited to Lieutenant Nakajima (1st chutai) (two), Lieutenant Beppu (1st chutai), Lieutenant Nakao (1st chutai), Lieutenant Matsuo (2nd chutai), Warrant Officer Hagiwara (2nd chutai) and Lieutenant Kuwabara (3rd chutai). The 77th Sentai lost three pilots when Warrant Officer Kitasaka was shot down and killed while Captain Mitsuhiro Matsuda, commander of the 2nd chutai, and Lieutenant Kanekicki Yamamoto from the same unit, both failed to return. It seems that Yamamoto, after receiving hits in his engine deliberately crashed his fighter into Sandell’s force-landed P-40. The 50th Sentai claimed eight and four probables without losses.

Malaya: East Force continues unopposed withdrawal toward Singapore. Japanese reach Benut and continue southward behind Ind 11th Div. Gap develops between the two brigs of Ind 9th Div withdrawing along RR; 22d Brig becomes isolated from main body.

USA: 8th Air Force (8th AF) is activated at Savannah, Georgia, under Brig Gen Asa N. Duncan.

CENTRAL PACIFIC (Hawaiian Air Force): B-17's of Task Group 8.9 (TG 8.9) fly an unsuccessful anti-submarine mission from Canton.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Far East Air Force): B-17s from Malang and Palembang bomb airfields at Kendari Airfield and Kuala Lumpur Airfield. Crashed on take off and damaged is B-17D 40-3067 pilot 1st Lt. Edward C. Teats (survived).

U.S. Army: On Luzon in II Corps area, 41st Inf completes movement into Sector C line, taking up positions between 31st and 51st Div elements. Japanese renew attack against corps in evening: some cross Tiawir R in front of Sector D, where they are halted; others attempt to move forward in Sector C without success. From W coast, in I Corps area, Japanese move eastward along corps' MLR to 1st Div sector, where defense preparations are not yet completed; during night 28-29, Japanese breach MLR there and pour southward through gap. As the enemy force becomes divided in dense jungle, two pockets, called Little Pocket and Big Pocket, are formed, Little Pocket about 400 yards below MLR and Big Pocket nearly a mile behind MLR. In South Sector, Scouts of 2d Bn, 57th Inf, attack Longoskawayan Pt and advance two thirds of its length before arty support is obstructed by Pucot Hill. 3d Bn of 45th Inf (PS) attacks enemy beachhead at Quinauan Pt, but jungle terrain and enemy make progress slow and costly. At night 3d Bn is reinf by Co B of 57th Inf. In Anyasan-Silaiim sector, 17th Pursuit Sq and Philippine Constabulary elements push almost to coast of Anyasan Bay, but Constabulary, fearing counterattack, withdraws in confusion after dark.

USMC: 4th Marines mortars and machine guns were assigned to the 57th Philippine Scout Regiment to support their operations in partial relief of the Naval battalion on Longoskawayan Point (Longos Kawayan) on southern Bataan Peninsula, organized Japanese resistance in that sector ended.