SATURDAY, 2 JANUARY 1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Three B-25s, three B-26s and eight
P-38s bound for Kiska are
forced back by bad wether. The weather aircraft cannot see into Kiska Harbor or Gertrude Cove. Two B-24s fly photographic reconnaissance over Amchitka and encounter poor weather. An OA-10 unsuccessfully searches the east of Segula for a missing OA-10.
CBI (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, China Air Task Force fighters continue to hit
transportation targets, strafing a truck convoy on the Burma Road. The strikes
begin near Loiwing and cover 30 miles of highway. At least five trucks are destroyed
and others damaged. Six B-25s bomb Monywa Airfield.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force) A-20s, B-24s, B-25s and B-26s hit the airfield
and targets of opportunity at Lae and Gasmata. On the ground, Buna Mission is finally overrun by Australian
and US forces.
U.S. Army: In New Guinea, NEW GUINEA--Urbana Force overruns Buna Mission in concerted assault. Organized resistance ends at 1632. Top Japanese commanders, Capt. Yasuda and Col Hiroshi Yamamoto, commit suicide. With Mission clear, Co C of 127th Inf joins Co B in attack along coast toward Giropa Pt, and by 1930 makes junction with Warren Force. Warren Force, in final attack, finishes clearing region from Giropa Pt eastward. Japanese move forward from Giruwa to rescue survivors of Buna garrison. I Corps (Lieutenant General Robert Eichelberger) captures Buna, New Guinea.
Japanese have lost at least 1,400 men at Buna: 500 W of Giropa Pt and 900 E of it. Casualties of U.S. 32d Div and Aus 18th Brig total 2,817 (620 killed, 2,065 wounded, 132 missing). In preparation for stepping up action on Sanananda front, where stalemate has existed for some time, Gen Herring orders 25-pound arty from Buna to that area. 1st Bn and Hq, U.S. 163d Inf, take responsibility for Huggins and Kano blocks on trail to Sanananda, gradually relieving Australians, 2-4 January. Huggins is renamed Musket.
SOUTH PACIFIC (13th AF) B-17s with P-38s bomb destroyers
30 miles south of Shortland without loss. SBDs and F4Fs and B-26s, and P-38s bomb ten Japanese destroyers with supplies under the command of Rear Admiral Koyonagi Tomiji west of Rendova. SBDs damage destroyer Sukukaze.
U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal, General Harmon activates XIV Corps, consisting of Americal and 25th Divs, former reinf by 147th Inf. 2d Mar Div and other Marine ground forces are attached to corps. Gen Patch is placed in command of corps, and Gen Sebree succeeds him as commander of Americal Div. After heavy artillery bombardment, 132d Inf of Americal Div continues offensive against The Gifu strongpoint. 2d Bn, taking enemy by surprise, advances quickly to crest of Hill 27 south of The Gifu and digs in then defends the area against a number of counterattacks. 3d and 1st Bns establish lines along N and E sides of The Gifu, respectively, but gaps remain between the three assault Battalions.
USN: Eleven PT Boats attack Japanese destroyers off Cape Esperance without success. Damaged PT-43 is abandoned.
USS Argonaut (SS-166) sinks Japanese guardboat Ebon Maru, Bismarck Sea, 04°30'S, 151°30'E.
USS
Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese army cargo ship Akagisan Maru off New Ireland 03°30'S, 151°30'E.
