January 12, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 12 JANUARY 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Two B-24s cover a small U.S. Army and U.S. Navy force landing unopposed at Amchitka. Two B-25s and four P-38 escorts alson on the cover mission turn back due to weather. Weather reconnaissance is flown over Attu, Agatuu, Semichi and lastly, over Kiska Harbor, where four ships are observed.

SOUTH PACIFIC (Army Forces in South Pacific Area) B-26s, P-38s, P-39s and P-40s attack Munda with the loss of two B-26s. Other P-39s hit targets on Guadalcanal. Lost on training flight in New Caledonia are P-39K-1 42-4393 and P-39L 42-4637. Two aircraft collided on the ground C-47 41-38667 (repaired) and C-47 "The Jayhawk" 41-18598.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force) B-24s, in single-plane actions, bomb Finschhafen and Madang.

U.S. Army: 27th Inf, 25th Div, continues attack on Galloping Horse on Guadalcanal, replacing 3d Bn with 2d, and makes limited progress toward Hill 53. Co C, 35th Inf, starts W toward corps objective along ridge SW of Sea Horse but is soon halted by enemy fire. Efforts of 2d Bn to break through The Gifu are stopped by strong resistance. Captain Charles W. Davis volunteered to bring messages to companies that were pinned down by enemy fire and remained at the front lines overnight. In an attempt to neutralize enemy positions that had held off the American advance, he volunteered to lead a group of four soldiers to attack a fortified knoll east of Hill 53 that formed the "neck" of the Galloping Horse.

Australian Army: After artillery bombardment preparation, two battalions from the 18th Brig, with M3 Stuart tank support, attack enemy positions at trail junction; 163d Inf supports assault with feints from Musket and Rankin. Japanese AT fire soon disables tanks: M3 Stuart 2561 became bogged off the side of the track, M3 Stuart 2565 disabled by a mine and M3 Stuart withdrew with a wounded driver. Meanwhile, Australian infantry continues to progress forward at a great cost.

Japanese Army: During the night, the Japanese begin withdrawing from the junction of the Trail towards Sanananda.