January 18, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 18 JANUARY 1944

(CBI) BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-38's hit Meiktila Airfield and satellite field at Meiktila; 18 B-24's and 9 B-25's bomb the encampment area at Kyaukchaw; 17 A-36's and P-51's hit troops, dumps, and workshops at Sawnghka; 11 P-40's attack troops and stores at Shaduzup; 3 transport aircraft are lost to Japanese fighters during a supply dropping mission SE of Sumprabum.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 2 B-25's bomb the railroad yard and wharf at Campha Port and oil storage facilities at Mon Cay.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Twelve B-25s from Abemama attack barracks area, runway and gun position on the north part of Mille; 25 A-24s and 8 P-40's from Makin pound the oil storage area on the south side of Jabor; the P-40's also strafe a radio station in the target area.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 34 B-25's supported by 70+ fighters, pound Tobera; and single B-24's on armed reconnaissance bomb the Maliai, Vunakanau, and Lakunai areas. Lost is P-38J 42-67155 (MIA).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): Hansa Bay area is bombed by 40 B-24s and 70+ B-25s pound the Madang and Bogadjim areas and positions around Shaggy Ridge; 55 P-38's and P-40's engage a like number of Japanese fighters over Wewak, claiming 12 shot down. Lost are P-38H 42-66534 pilot 2nd Lt. John R. Weldon, Jr. (MIA), P-38H 42-66545 pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph A. Robertson (MIA) and P-38H 42-66554 pilot 1st Lt. William T. Ritter (MIA). Other B-24's bomb Laha. HQ 345th Bombardment Group transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura.

Qantas: S.33 "Clifton" Call Sign VH-ACD crashed while landed at Rose Bay.