December 31, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 31 DECEMBER 1942

(11th Air Force) Six B-24s escorted by nine P-38s, attack Kiska Harbor bombing two cargo vessels; one of six intercepting Japanese aircraft is probably shot down. A B-25 searching for the Navy PBY missing since yesterday also flies reconnaissance over Semisopochnoi, Segula, Little Sitkin, Gareloi and Amchitka.

CBI (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40s on armed reconnaissance hit railroad targets of opportunity from Naba to Pinbaw.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Army Forces in South Pacific Area) B-26s from 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), escorted by P-38s and P-39s, attack Munda Airfield. Crashed is B-17E "Yankee Doodle Jr" 41-9227 after take off on Espirito Santo.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20s strafe forces in the Sanananda and Giruwa area and along the Amboga River. B-26s pound forces on the north shore of the Markham River near the mouth. B-24s operating singly, bomb Gasmata Airfield and attack shipping in Wide Bay and Saint George Channel. Lost are B-25D 41-29733 and B-25D "The Early Bird" 41-29733 (KIA).

Tweleve P-38 Lightnings including nine from 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) led by 1st Lt. Thomas J. Lynch plus three P-38s from 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) including 2nd Lt. Richard I. Bong, 2nd Lt. Hyland and 2nd Lt. Carl G. Planck escort B-25 Mitchells from 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG), B-26s Marauders from 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) plus six A-20s from 89th Bombardment Squadron (89th BS), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG) bomb and strafe Lae Airfield. Over the target at 12:15pm, the A-20s strafed parked planes and claimed to leave several smoking and disabled and encountered light but innacurate anti-aircraft fire. Meanwhile, the B-25s and B-26s were in intercepted by eight "Zekes" actually Ki-43-I Oscars from 11th Hiko Sentai (11th Flying Regiment) that were quickly engaged by the P-38 escort. In total, the P-38s claimed a total of ten enemy "Zeros" shot down (in fact, only one was lost). Damaged in a collision was P-38F Lightning 42-12652.

JAAF: In the early morning, eight Ki-43 Oscars from 11th Hiko Sentai (11th Flying Regiment) escort four G4M1 Betty Bombers transporting ground crews from 11th Sentai are flown to Lae Airfield. At 12:15pm while parked in the open strafed by A-20s at low level with two badly damaged and written off. In the air, Ki-43 Oscars intercept B-25s and B-26s bombing Lae Airfield and are engaged by twelve P-38 Lightnings. The Oscars claimed four P-38s shot down but in fact none were lost. The Japanese lost two planes: Ki-43-I Oscar pilot Shishimoto (survived) who bailed out and returned to duty. Damaged Ki-43-I Oscar pilot Hasegawa force lands at Gasmata Airfield.

Japan: Imperial Headquarters holds a meeting in Tokyo to discuss the evacuation of the remaining Japanese Army on Guadalcanal. Four days later, Imperial Headquarters issues an order authorizing "Operation Ke".

U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal, 2d Bn, 132nd Infantry Regiment reaches Hill 11, east of the Gifu strong point, the line of departure for enveloping movement.

References
Protect and Avenge (1995) page 102 (December 31, 1942)
Harvest of the Grim Reapers:The Illustrated History of the 3rd and 27th Bomb Groups During World War II Volume I: Prewar to December 1942 (2021) pages 437-438 (December 31, 1942)