January 4, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 4 JANUARY 1944

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Eighteen B-24's, staging through Tarawa bomb Emidj. HQ 30th Bombardment Group transfers from Nanumea to Abemama.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): B-24's bomb Sohano concentrating on Buka Seaplane Base and supply area. B-25's pound gun positions at Tonolai and bomb Chabai. P-39's, (RNZAF) Ventura's and night fighters, operating individually or in small flights, hit targets on Bougainville, including barges at Mutupina Point and along the Jaba River, and areas around Buka, Bonis, Poporang, Papas, and Banin. 40+ Allied fighters attack the Rabaul area and claim at least ten airplanes shot down. The 868th Bombardment Squadron (868th BS) fly their first mission in the South Pacific (SoPAC).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 100+ heavy and medium bombers bomb Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadjim areas and hit troops and supplies between Finschhafen and Saidor. B-25's attack artillery positions in the Cape Gloucester area. B-24's and B-25's hit shipping at Koepang and in nearby waters. 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, arrives at Milne Bay from the US with P-70's; first mission is 29 Feb.

USN: USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) carrier aircraft attack Kavieng. Lost is F6F Hellcat 26100 (MIA).

Kriegsmarine: U-532 departs Penang on her third war patrol in the Indian Ocean.