November 26, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
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THURSDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1942

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 reconnoitering Holtz Bay on Attu spots shipping targets which are subsequently hit by four B-26s escorted by four P-38s; 1 large vessel is claimed afire and sinking; reconnaissance is flown over Rat, shipping off Kiska, Agattu and Semichi and the north coast of Attu; 2 P-38s and 1 B-26 sustain minor damage.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): US and Australian ground forces carry out limited attacks on the Buna front, making little progress; in an effort to break Japanese air superiority over Buna, P-40s, A-20s, and B-25s pound airfields and AA positions in the area; B-26s strike the Salamaua area. Lost are C-47 "Swamp Rat" 41-38601 (KIA), C-47 41-38631 (KIA) and P-40E 41-5645 (MIA).

U.S. Army: In New Guinea, stalemate continues on the Gona front. Further frontal and flanking attacks of 126th Inf, U.S. 32d Div, toward Sanananda make limited progress: 1st Bn (-) is pinned down on Soputa-Sanananda track after a 100 yard advance; on left, 3d Bn (-) drives E to within 700 yards of Killerton trail; on right, Co L and Australians finally overrun the bitterly contested food dump. Urbana Force halts frontal and right flank attacks on the Triangle and prepares to make strong effort on left, since enemy is disposed in less strength west of Entrance Creek and terrain is more favorable. Warren Force, under personal observation of Gen Harding, makes determined effort to advance after strong air and arty preparation. Japanese retire into bunkers during bombardment and emerge afterward to meet attack. 3d Bn of 128th Inf (-) and 1st Bn of 126th (-) advance abreast, latter on left followed by 1st Bn of 128th. Little is accomplished by the attack. Co I of 128th Inf and Aus 2/6th Independent Co, charged respectively with securing W and E ends of New Strip, are unable to advance. Japanese retain air superiority over Buna front and sink lugger bound for Hariko with ammunition. 127th Inf reaches Port Moresby from Australia.

IJN: Japanese fighters and bombers from 582 Kokutai took off from Lae Airfield and strike the Buna area of ground combat. They claimed two Douglas transports destroyed: C-47 "Swamp Rat" 41-38601 and C-47 41-38631. Also two other C-47s were damaged plus damage to ground targets and a transport ship, lugger Helen Dawn that had run aground and was strafed and destroyed. There was also air combat with P-40s from 8th Fighter Squadron. Also sunk are three Allied small ships: Bonwin, Minnamurra, Alacrity and a captured Japanese barge.

A Japanese radio message states 10 Zeros and 7 Val dive bombers were available at Lae Airfield. Various Allied reports place the number of attacking Japanese aircraft at 15, 13, 11 or 8 at various points during the attacks. In addition the Japanese hit US (3Bn/128th Inf) and Australian positions (inc a field hosp). Aussies suffered 22 killed (including two MDs) and about 50 wounded, US lost 6 killed. References: Japanese monograph on naval SE Area air ops via Richard Dunn.

Field Guide to the Kokoda Track (2006) page 420:
"Some low reconnaissance flights were immediately followed up by a raid by 13 Zeros that bombed both Soputa and a nearby American clearing hospital. Six Americans were killed, but worse was in store for the Australians. At the MDS, sited in a clearing by the roadside and practically devoid of cover, 22 Australians were killed and approximately another 50 patients, field ambulance personnel and visitors were wounded. Among those lost were two well-beloved Australian medical officers, Majors Ian Vickery and Hew McDonald of the 2/4th Field Ambulance, both of whom had done outstanding work during the campaign over the ranges."

The book list the following 10 AA Medical Corps members Killed In Action (KIA) during the attack:
Pte George E Antees, NX71582 (KIA)
Sig Dean B George, NX46705 (KIA)
Pte Keith A Kuch, VX29147 (KIA)
Pte Keith A Lawler, TX3638 (KIA)
T/Maj Hew F McDonald, VX14704 (KIA)
L/Cpl Arthur M Moodie, NX25177 (KIA)
Pte Edmund Schubert, NX52126 (KIA)
Spr Horace W Thomas, NX53514 (KIA)
Maj Ian F Vickery, NX473 (KIA)
Pte Gordon L Pugh, NX67499 (WIA, DOW December 31, -DEC-1942)

ABMC for those listed as KIA with the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division on 26/27-NOV-1942 and have come up with the following five names. Note that there were other personnel, serving with other parts of the 32nd Inf Div also killed on these dates, so these are not confirmed to have been KIA in the air raid.

26-NOV-1942:
Pvt Howard Adams, 37067179 (KIA. buried Manila)
PFC Ralph Carpinelli, 36111734 (KIA, buried Manila)
Sgt Walter J Zimmerman, 20650622 (KIA, buried Manila)

27-NOV-1942:
Pvt Joseph A Jack, 36206332 (KIA, buried Manila)
PFC Daniel H Phetteplace, 20650474 (KIA, buried Manila)

RAAF: Lost is DB-7 "Retribution" A28-22 (MIA) over Buna.