January 28, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 28 JANUARY 1944

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 9 B-25's, staging through Makin bomb Taroa. Lost is B-25G 42-64924 (MIA). B-24's, staging through Tarawa and Makin and taking off at varying intervals, carry out several hours of strikes against Wotje, Kwajalein, Maloelap, and Jaluit.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): AAF and USN fighters support a USN dive-bomber attack on targets in the Rabaul area; 5 P-38's are lost including P-38J 42-67783; Allied aircraft claim about 30 aircraft shot down; at Lakunai Airfield, one of the targets, 20-30 parked aircraft are destroyed and several AA positions are destroyed or damaged; and 25 B-25's, covered by 12 P-38's, pound Tobera Airfield. 16 P-39's strafe the Shortland area. HQ 307th Bombardment Group transfers from Carney Field to Munda. Also the 424th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Carney Field with B-24's begins operating from Munda.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25's attack targets of opportunity from Bogia to Cape Croisilles. A-20's attack in the Cape Gloucester area; P-40's hit Hoskins Airfield; and P-39s strafe barges in Rein Bay. 417th Bombardment Group Headquarters (HQ), 672d Bombardment Squadron, 673d Bombardment Squadron, 674th Bombardment Squadron and 675th Bombardment Squadron arrive at Cape Sudest from the US with A-20's; first mission is March 27, 1944. Lost is B-25G 42-64881 pilot 1st Lt. Donald T. Renshaw (MIA).