January 12, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 12 JANUARY 1944

(CBI) BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ B-25's and P-38's hit the marshalling yard at Letpadan, damaging warehouses, engine sheds, and other buildings; the fighters also strafe Myohaung, setting 3 buildings afire. 27th Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force (attached to the Troop Carrier Command, Eastern Air Command), arrives at Sylhet, India from the US with C-47's.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 B-24's bomb the Bangsue marshalling yard at Bangkok. HQ 69th Composite Wing transfers from Kunming to Tsuyung.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 21 A-24s from Makin dive-bomb AA positions and the storage area on Mille and 20 supporting P-39's strafe the runways at Mille Airfield.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): In the early morning, 13 B-25's of the 42d Bombardment Group on their first mission against the Rabaul area, bomb Vunakanau Airfield. Sixteen B-24's hit Lakunai Airfield during the night of 12/13 Jan; 19 B-24's, with an escort of about 50 fighters, pound other targets and Tobera Airfield. Three flights of P-39's bomb and strafe Teop, Inus Point, Numa Numa, and Piano Mission; other aircraft on armed econnaissance and sweeps hit several targets of opportunity throughout the Bougainville area. Lost is B-25C 42-32319 pilot 2nd Lt Thomas O. Thompson. Jr. (POW/MIA).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24's and B-25's attack Alexishafen area and A-20's hit Warai. B-24s attack Balikpapan; Makassar and Dili. Lost is P-39Q 42-19949 pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas "Tommy" H. Roberts (MIA) on a local flight.

RAAF: Damaged in for landing is Spitfire A58-178 pilot FSgt Dudley Albert Grinlington (WIA, survived).

USMC: Lost is FG Corsair 13212 pilot 2nd Lt. E. R. Searight (MIA).