December 26, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 26 DECEMBER 1942

(Eleventh Air Force) Six B-24s and nine P-38s attack Holtz Bay but do not find the eight float Zekes seen there yesterday; the P-38s strafe Attu installations at minimum altitude. while the B-24s bomb Sarana Bay. AA fire downs on P-38 and damages another. Six B-25s and four P-38s over Kiska and Gertrude Cove abort due to low ceiling. An OA-10 flies reconnaissance over northeast Kiska.

CBI (Tenth Air Force) In Thailand, 12 India Air Task Force B-24s bomb the railroad station, dock area, arsenal, and power plant at Bangkok. In Burma, China Air Task Force B-25s hit Lashio. In China, a large force of enemy aircraft attempt to raid Yunnani Airfield. They are intercepted by P-40s of the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, and four Japanese aircraft are shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Heavy bombers carry out single-bomber attacks against Cape Gloucester Airfield and attack shipping off New Britain. Heavy bombers carry out single-bomber attacks against Finschhafen and Madang. Japanese aircraft attack Dobodura but are intercepted by P-40E Warhawks from 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) that claim five "Zeros" shot down. Lost is P-40E "The Rebel" 41-25164 pilot 1st Lt. John D. Landers (survived) bailed out and later returned to duty.

JAAF: Fifteen Ki-43-I Oscars from 11th Hiko Sentai, 1st Chutai led by Captain Shigenori Miyabayshi plus Oscars from Sentai Hombu (Headquarters) took off from Lae Airfield on a fighter sweek bound for Buna South Airfield (Dobodura). The Oscars followed the coastline at an altitude of 13,000' then dived down to attack with the 1st Chutai patrolling and headquarters strafing ground targets. strafed Hudson A16-3 that had just taken off and caused it to ditch into Oro Bay. Intercepted by P-40E Warhawks from 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) they claim seven shot down including four uncertain. Lost was Ki-43 pilot SgtMajor Fujii and Ki-43 pilot SgtMajor Imamura and Ki-43-I Oscar pilot W/O Yoshitake shot down by Wirraway A20-103 pilot P/O John S. Archer.

RAAF: Hudson A16-3 (rescued, 2 missing) is shot down by Ki-43 Oscars from the 11th Hiko Sentai ditched into Oro Bay. Over Gona, a "Zero" [sic Ki-43-I pilot Yoshitake] is shot down by Wirraway A20-103 pilot P/O John S. Archer. This was the only incident when a Wirraway to managed to shoot down an enemy fighter.

U.S. Army: In New Guinea on Urbana front, 127th Inf renews attack to open corridor to sea. Co C is prevented by stubborn opposition from reaching Cos A and F near the coast, but patrol gets through. Warren Force, assisted by 25-pound gun emplaced at the southeast end of Old Strip, succeeds at last in forming continuous line across the strip. Advance elements on flanks push to NW end and begin reduction of enemy positions there. Japanese planes from Rabaul, the first to be based there, attack Dobodura but are driven off by Fifth Air Force. Under cover of darkness, 26-27, additional Allied tanks and troops are landed at Oro Bay.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Army Forces in South Pacific Area) Brigadier General Francis P. Mulcahy, USMC, arrives at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2 MAW) which is to relieve 1st Marine Air Wing (1 MAW) and assumes operational control of all aircraft on the island, including those of the USAAF and USN.

U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal, after artillery and air preparation, 3d Bn of 132nd Infantry Regiment renews attack to the south, making limited progress against strong opposition from The Gifu. 3d and 1st Bns, latter on east, dig in for night on line between Hill 31 and The Gifu.