November 17, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
TUESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A weather a reconnaissance aircraft
is forced back by weather west of Kiska. Bombers are on alert to attack surface vessels.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-26s hit Gona Mission as the U.S. Army 32nd Infantry Division and Australian Army 7 Division continue to move toward
the Buna-Gona beachhead. B-25s bomb Lae Airfield and Gasmata Airfield. A lone B-24 bombs the wharf area at Rabaul. Lost are P-40E Warhawk 41-36166 (survived) and P-40E Warhawk 41-24821 (survived).
RAAF: Beaufighters from 30 Squadron make a low level strafing raid over Lae Airfield.
CNAC: Lost is C-47 441-18556 CNAC #60 pilot Captain John J. Dean (MIA).
|