January 17, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
MONDAY, 17 JANUARY 1944
(CBI) BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):
In Burma, A-36's and P-51's support ground forces in the Shaduzup-Ngamaw Ga
area and near Taro; others bomb supply dumps, warehouses, and rolling stock
at Sahmaw; and P-40's hit Myitkyina Airfield. Transfer: HQ 7th Bombardment Group
from Pandaveswar to Kurmitola.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Nine B-25s from Abemama bomb and strafe Mille Airfield, hitting the runway, AA positions, radio tower, warehouse area, lagoon dredges and possible
oil dumps. Also, four P-40's from Makin bomb and strafe
Mille Airfield.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Fighters escort U.S. Navy (USN) 48 SBDs and 18 TBF Avengers on a strike against Japanese ships in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. The Avengers armed with 2,000 pound bombs make glide bombing attacks from 150' to 200' aiming at the waterline of shipping and sink Hakkai Maru, Kanshin Maru, Kosei Maru (1,920 tons), and Tanshin Maru (1,500 tons). Damaged is Lyons Maru (7,000 tons) and other ships were damaged, They claim 18 Japanese planes shot down. In air combat the 44th FS claim six victories and five probables.
Ten Allied fighters are lost including eight P-38s 44th FS lost three planes and pilots including: P-38J pilot 2nd Lt. John M. Munson (MIA), P-38J 42-67785 pilot 2nd Lt. George W. Snell (MIA), P-38J 42-67611 pilot 2nd Lt. Theodore Schoettel (MIA). 339th FS lost four planes and three pilots including: P-38J 42-67179 pilot 2nd Lt. Charles E. Black (MIA), P-38H 42-66680 pilot 1st Lt. Gifford G. Brown (MIA), P-38H 42-66897 pilot 1st Lt. Glen E. Hart (rescued), P-38J 42-67171 pilot 2nd Lt. John E. Langen (MIA). Also lost is F6F 26031 pilot Ensign Kenneth P. Babkirk (MIA), SBD-5 28316 pilot 1st Lt. Robert E. Bishop (MIA) and TBF-1C 24363 pilot 1st Lt. Harold H. Millar, Jr. (MIA). Damaged are TBF-1 24489 and SBD-5 35933. Also lost is F-5A 42-12984 pilot Lt. Tommie G. Martin (rescued). During the night of January
17, 1944 to January 18, 1944 a few B-24s in two flights, bomb the Rabaul area.
IJN: At Rabaul, Zeros scramble to intercept incoming U.S. aircraft striking Rabaul including A6M Zeros from 204th Kōkūtai (204 Air Group) at Lakunai Airfield and 16 Zeros from 252 Kōkūtai (252 Air Group) at Tobera Airfield.
RNZAF: During the night of January
17, 1944 to January 18, 1944, two PV-1 Venturas
bomb the Kalakapisi coast watcher station on Choiseul.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 47 B-24's and
B-25's bomb the Hansa Bay area; B-25's bomb Nubia;
P-39's strafe the Rai Coast; and B-24's bomb Bandanaira, Celebes. B-24J "Paper Doll" 42-73187 (MIA / POW) flies a reconnaissance mission over Manokwari and Noemfoor.
References
South Pacific Air War (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 523 (January 17, 1944)
|
