January 17, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 17 JANUARY 1943

SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force) P-39s pound mortar positions near Allied lines on Guadalcanal. Ground supply lines to the Mount Austen battle area reopen after three days of being closed because their extension outran the capacity of the native carriers. During the three days, B-17s from Henderson Field airlift rations, water, and ammunition to the troops, using what improvised cargo parachutes are available and in may cases wrapping the supplies in burlap or canvas and pushing them out. The 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group with B-17s transfers from Bomber 1 to Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force) A-20s strafe Mambare River delta and hit positions between Bakumbari and Salamaua. B-25s again pound supply stroes at Lae. B-24s, operating individually, attack Finschhafen and Madang wharf areas, Malahang Airfield and a vessel southeast of Rambutyo. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb landing grounds and shipping in Rabaul. B-24s, operating individually, attack the airfield on Gasmata. Returning from a night mission, B-17E "Tugboat Annie" 41-2599 ditched off Buna.

RAAF: Lost is Wirraway A20-492 (MIA) crashed inland from Sanananda.

USMC: 8th Marines, 2d Mar Div, upon clearing ravine W of Hills 80 and 81 and moving forward to positions abreast 6th Marines, withdraws from line to perimeter defense.

U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal the coastal attack, which has gained almost a mile beyond Point Cruz since 13th, is to be continued by 182d Inf on left and 6th Marines on right. 182d Inf (less 3d Bn) moves into CAM Div line. After ineffective broadcast calling for The Gifu garrison to surrender, 2d Bn of 35th Inf, 25th Div, pulls back while 2 1/2 hour arty concentration is placed on the strongpoint, then returns to previous positions. Since darkness is approaching rapidly, ground attack is withheld. 27th Inf, 25th Div, which is to conduct holding action during corps' coming offensive while 161st Inf makes main effort, begins forward movement. Co C, with light machine gun section attached, takes up positions on ridge southwest of Hill 66 (Snake).

Australian Army: Advance elements of Aus 17th Brig are flown to Wan. Brig M. J. Moten, CG Aus 17th Brig, takes command of Kanga Force. Aus 18th Brig continues to clear coastal region between Wye Pt and Giruwa. Sanananda Village and Pt are overrun, but enemy retains positions W and S of Sanananda and in outskirts of Giruwa.

U.S. Army: In New Guinea on the Soputa-Sanananda Track, 163d Inf probes enemy defenses north of Fisk. 127th Inf, replacing 1st Bn with 2d, continues W along coastal road toward Giruwa, handicapped by extremely difficult and skillfully defended terrain. 3d Bn pushes S along Konombi Creek and encounters enemy outpost.

IJN: At 12:40pm 24 G4M1 Betty bombers escorted by 20 A6M Zeros bombed Milne Bay dropping 230-250 x 100kg bombs over Turnbull Field (No 3 Strip) destroyed are B-17F "Fire Ball Mail" 41-24551, B-17F 41-24540, B-24D 41-23824, P-39D 41-38499, P-39D at Gurney. Damaged are Hudson A16-299, Hudson A16-206, Hudson A16-239, Hudson A16-154. Hudson A16-163, Hudson A16-185, Hudson A16-189, Hudson A16-200, Hudson A16-213, Hudson A16-214, Hudson A16-239, Hudson A16-244.

References
The Lae Convoy (2012) by Richard Dunn
South Pacific Air War (2024) by Richard Dunn Chapter 6 The Lae Convoy pages 128-129 (January 17, 1943)