December 27, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 27 DECEMBER 1943

Burma: Brig Gen Lewis A. Pick opens military road to Shingbwiyang, in Hukawng Valley. Commander of 3d Bn, 112th Inf, Ch 38th Div, is killed and the bn is later withdrawn to main body. 65th Regt of Ch 22d Div, reinf, is given mission, previously held by 3d Bn of 112th, of clearing Taro Plain plus task of pushing back into Hukawng Valley to threaten enemy's flank.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 10 P-40's strafe buildings on Pailochi Airfield and sink a nearby river boat; 2 locomotives N of Yoyang are also destroyed. 36 Japanese airplanes attack Suichwan Airfield, destroying 1 B-25, the alert shack, and 3 fuel dumps; US interceptors claim 4 of the attackers shot down; 1 P-40 is lost. In French Indochina, 4 P-40's bomb Phu Tho Airfield, and strafe the airfield at Dong Cuong.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20+ B-25's bomb the Buka Passage Seaplane Base, strafe AA puns SE of Ramandata, bomb Kahili supply dumps, and attack a Kieta bivouac and other targets in the area. A few RNZAF Ventura's hit barges at Ambitle and Anir; and 16 P-38's join 70+ USN dive bombers in strikes on Buka AA positions. About 40 Allied fighters sweep the Rabaul area, claiming 17 aircraft shot down.

CinCPOA published a preliminary draft planning the Central Pacific operations for 1944. The timetable of operations for the POA and SWPA was as follows: Kwajalein, 31 January 1944; Kavieng and Truk (air attacks), 20 March 1944; Manus, 20 April 1944; Eniwetok, 1 May 1944; Mortlock, 1 July 1944; Truk, 15 August 1944; Tinian, Saipan, and Guam. 15 November 1944.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): A-20's attack positions in the Cape Gloucester battle zone; B-25's hit villages and tracks from Rottock Bay to Riebeck Bay and strafe barges along the southern coast of New Britain and B-24's bomb Hoskins Airfield. In New Guinea, B-25's bomb Madang and hit coastal targets along the Huon Peninsula; B-24s bomb Alexishafen; and P-47's strafe a road near Bogia. Lost on a ferry flight is P-39Q 42-19943 pilot Lt. Richard "Dick" J. Shipway, Jr. (survived). Sixteen P-47D Thunderbolts from 341st Fighter Squadron flew a combat patrol over Cape Gloucester lost are P-47D 42-22702 (pilot rescued by PT-190) and P-47D 42-8099 (MIA).

IJN: A Japanese formation of 15 D3A2 Vals from 552 Ku and 582 Ku escorted by 38 A6M Zeros took off from Rabaul on a mission against Cape Gloucester but due to bad weather diverted to Arawe to attack shipping including PT-190 and PT-191. After 45 minutes, P-47D Thunderbolts from 341st Fighter Squadron arrived and engaged the Japanese planes. Lost is P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22702 pilot 1st Lt. James E. Lynch, Jr. (rescued by PT-190) and P-47D Thunderbolt 42-8099 pilot 1st Lt Wilburn S. Henderson (MIA).

Lost attacking Arawe was D3A2 Val pilot Ishisugi (MIA). Also lost were two D3A2 Vals from 582 Kokutai.

USN: PT-190 "Jack O' Diamonds" and PT-191 "Bambi" conduct a daylight reconnaissance of the coast of West New Britain. Returning, the pair are attacked by Japanese D3A2 Val dive bombers and A6M Zeros for 45 minutes. Afterwards, PT-190 rescues 1st Lt. James E. Lynch, Jr.

USMC: 1st Mar Div expands Cape Gloucester beachhead despite torrential monsoon rainfall and difficult terrain. 1st Marines drives 3 miles W toward airfield without enemy interference. Japanese of the 2d Battalion, 53d Infantry, repeatedly attacked the center of the perimeter in the sector held by Combat Team C (7th Marines) badly crippling its strength. Combat Team B (1st Marines) captured Hell's Point, a Japanese stronghold defending Cape Gloucester Airfield.

U.S. Army: Company G of 158th Infantry arrive at Arawe, in response to General Cunningham's request for reinforcements against agressive Japanese attacking the perimeter.

On Bougainville, the relief of the 3d Marine Division by the Americal Division, begins with the 164th Infantry Regiment, replacing the 9th Marines on the front lines and assumes responsibility for the eastern sector of the U.S. perimeter around Torokina.

USMC: F4U Corsairs from VMF-214 and VMF-216 conduct a fighter sweep over Rabaul. Lost is F4U Corsair 17734 pilot 2nd Lt. Frank G. Putnam (MIA). Also lost on a flight is R4D Dakota 12432 (MIA).

USN: Two cruisers and four destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth bombard the Kieta area on eastern Bougainville.

Coastal transport APc-15 is damaged by dive bomber, New Britain, 06°12'S, 149°03'E.

USS Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Kyuei Maru, 21°25'N, 118°05'E.

USS Gurnard (SS-254) damages Japanese transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Gokoku Maru, 34°23'N, 138°24'E.

USS Ray (SS-271) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Kyoko Maru (ex-Dutch Semiramis) west of the Celebes, 05°00'S, 121°22'E.

USS Tautog (SS-199) damages Japanese seaplane carrier Kimikawa Maru off Shionomisaki, 33°25'N, 135°33'E.

At 2:00am PB4Y-1 Liberator 31996 pilot Commander McElroy and PB4Y-1 31983 pilot Eady from VD-1 took off from Carney Field on a mission bound for the Mortlock Islands (Nomoi Islands). Despite bad weather enroute, the pair arrived at 8:00am with Eady taking vertical photographs from 20,000' and McElroy oblique photographs from 7,000' and spot completed Satawan Airfield defended by anti-aircraft guns on Satawan Island. Without enemy resistance the pair completed the mission then returned to land at Munda Airfield then returned to Carney Field at 5:00pm and 6:01pm.

U.S. freighter Jose Navarro, bound for Calcutta, India, is torpedoed by German submarine U-178 at 08°20'N, 73°35'E. A volunteer crew returns to the ship after she is abandoned in hopes of saving her but go over the side before U-178 finishes off the freighter in a second attack. There are no fatalities among the 46-man merchant complement, the 34-man Armed Guard, or the 86 embarked troops (only one man of that aggregate total is injured) (see December 28, 1943).