This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

[syscom3]

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, Fifth Air Force B-24s bomb the harbor at Arawe on the western tip of the island while B-17s and B-24s hit shipping and the airfield at Gasmata on the southern coast. A Japanese netlayer is sunk by the B-24s and a transport is sunk by the B-17s.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the reconnaissance aircraft over Kiska finds shipping there unchanged. Weather cancel all other missions.

HAWAII: (Seventh Air Force) The detachments of the 370th, 371st, 372d and 424th Bombardment Squadrons, 307th BG that have been operating from Midway Island with B-24s return to their bases in the Territory of Hawaii.

BURMA: The Japanese advances in two areas of the Chin Hills are repelled by Allied troops.

NEW GUINEA: After an artillery preparation in Papua New Guinea, the Urbana Force, employing the U.S. 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, begins a drive toward the sea through Government Gardens, where Japanese defenses are organized in depth and concealed by high kunai grass. Progress is very slow.
A platoon of Company L discovers a weak spot and drives through to a line of coconut trees near the coast; is surrounded there and suffers heavy casualties before escaping by a circuitous route. As a diversion, elements move to the Mission side of creek from Musita Island and from shallows between Buna Village and Buna Mission, but withdraw because of intense opposition.
The Warren Force opens an attack on Old Strip after an artillery preparation. The Australian 2/10th Battalion, 18th Brigade, 7th Division, disposed along the northern edge of the strip, is supported by three Australian-manned U.S. M3 Stuart light tanks while making their main effort. The 1st Battalions of the U.S. 126th and 128th Infantry Regiments attack in parallel columns along the southern edge of the strip; later the 1st Battalion of the 128th Infantry Regiment follows the 1st Battalion of the 126th.
The attack gains some 450 yards, but Japanese fire prevents movement onto the strip and knocks out the three tanks.
In Papua New Guinea, Fifth Air Force A-20s strafe troops near Kel Kel and along the northern bank of the Amboga River and trail. B-24s, operating singly, bomb Lae and a schooner in Vitiaz Strait.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, the 3d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment Americal Division, followed by the 1st Battalion in reserve, moves west without incident to Hill 31, west of the summit of Mt Austen; upon attacking south toward Hill 27, they are stopped short by fire from a Japanese strongpoint, called Gifu, between Hills 31 and 27. The Gifu position, with fixed defenses and interconnecting pillboxes, is held by about 500 Japanese troops.

NEW GEORGIA: Nine USMC SBDs and four F4Fs and nine USAAF P-39s and four P-38s attack the airstrip at Munda on New Georgia Island.; the Americans claim ten Zekes as they are taking off. The SBDs destroy ten Zekes on the ground. There are no US losses.

 

[syscom3]

BURMA: Advance units of the British 123rd Brigade reach Rathedaung, Burma.
They report the Japanese have evacuated, a Japanese relief column is in fact advancing on Rathedaung.

ALASKA: a B-24 takes photographs of Kiska and Attu Islands and unsuccessfully bombs five barges between Gertrude Cove and Kiska Harbor. The B-24 then sights eight float Zekes; three Zekes unsuccessfully attempt to attack the B-24. HQ 344th Fighter Squadron, 343d FG with P-40s transfers from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage to Ft Randall, Cold Bay.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Army Forces in South Pacific Area) In the Bismarck Archipelago, six B-17s, of the eleven dispatched, bomb Rabaul Harbor on New Britain Island. Two aircraft score three hits on a large cargo ship, while four bomb wharves and airfields. There are no US losses. HQ 394th Bombardment Squadron, 5th BG (Heavy) with B-17s is established on Fiji upon arrival from Hawaii.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, a B-17 attacks a submarine in Wide Bay off New Britain; one B-24 attacks runways at Cape Gloucester Airfield. A B-24 bombs Lae.

 

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

Thank you!

And I like Bob Hope.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Heinz]

PAPUA:

On 26 December 1942, Pilot Officer John Archer, 4 Squadron RAAF, shot down a Japanese fighter, believed at the time to be a Mitsubishi 'Zero', from his Wirraway. Archer's Wirraway is now in the Bradbury Aircraft Hall at the Australian War Memorial.
RAAF:

As soon as he had landed at Popondetta airstrip in Papua on 12 December 1942, Pilot Officer J S Archer leapt from his Wirraway aircraft, A20-103, to tell the Control Officer that he had shot down a Japanese 'Zero'. Despite the Control Officer's disbelief, Archer described the incident and soon phone calls from observers all around the Gona area confirmed his story. He and his observer, Sergeant J F Coulston, had been flying a tactical reconnaissance mission over a Japanese ship which had been wrecked in the sea off Gona. When they sighted the 'Zero' 1000 feet below, Archer dived on the Japanese aircraft and fired a long burst from the Wirraway's two Vickers .303 machine-guns. The 'Zero' crashed into the sea.

For his actions, Pilot Officer John Archer received the United States Silver Star from Brigadier General Ennis C Whitehead, the Commanding General of Allied Air Forces in New Guinea in a ceremony at Buna in 1943.


AUSTRALIA:

USAAF:
A USAAF B-24 Liberator of the 400th Bomber Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group, most probably #41-11867 "Heavenly Body", crashed during take-off on a bombing mission from the Iron Range "Gordon" air strip on 26 December 1942 at approximately 10.00pm. All ten crew members were killed in the crash. The aircraft crashed on the side of the runway narrowly missing one of the Anti Aircraft Gun emplacements of "E" Battery of the 197th Coastal Artillery (AA) Regiment. As the bombs exploded there was a large fire.


TIMOR:

RAN:

The Fremantle-based USS TAUTOG, (submarine) torpedoed and sank the Japanese freighter BANSHU MARU, off Timor

 

[syscom3]

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Six USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24s and nine P-38s attack Holtz Bay on northeast Attu Island but do not find the eight Rufe seaplane fighters seen there yesterday. The P-38s strafe
Attu installations at minimum altitude. while the B-24s bomb Sarana Bay. Antiaircraft fire downs a P-38 and damages another. Later, six B-25s and four P-38s over Kiska Island and Gertrude Cove abort due to low ceiling.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Fifth Air Force heavy bombers carry out single-bomber attacks against Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain Island and attack shipping off the island.

BURMA: B-25s of the USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force bomb Lashio.

CHINA: A large force of Japanese aircraft attempt to raid Yunnani Airfield. They are intercepted by P-40s of the USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force and eight fighters and three twin-engine bombers are shot down.

NEW GUINEA: On the Urbana front in Papua, New Guinea, the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, renews an attack to open the corridor to the sea. Company C is prevented by stubborn opposition from reaching Companies A and F near the coast, but a patrol gets through. In the Buna area, Warren Force, assisted by an Australian 25-pound (87.6 millimeter) gun emplaced at the southeastern end of Old Strip, succeeds at last in forming a continuous line across the strip. Advance elements on the flanks push to the northwestern end and begin the reduction of Japanese positions there. Under cover of darkness during the night of 26/27 December, additional Allied tanks and troops are landed at Oro Bay.
In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force heavy bombers carry out single-bomber attacks against Finschhafen and Madang. Japanese aircraft from Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, attack Dobodura but are driven off by U.S. P-40s with the loss of seven Zeke fighters

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, after artillery and air preparation, the 3d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, renews an attack to the south, making limited progress against strong opposition from the Gifu strongpoint. The 3d and 1st Battalions, the latter on the east, dig in for the night on a line between Hill 31 and Gifu.
Brigadier General Francis P Mulcahy, USMC, arrives on Guadalcanal with the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and assumes operational control of all aircraft on the island, including those of the USAAF and USN.
USMC SBD Dauntlesses and F4Fs and USAAF P-38s from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, attack Japanese transports at Wickham Anchorage, New Georgia Island, sinking two merchant cargo ships. In the afternoon, a USAAF P-39 and a USMC F4F pilot shoot down a Zeke fighter and three Rufe seaplane fighters over Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island.

THAILAND: Twelve B-24s of the USAAF Tenth Air Force's India Air Task Force bomb the railroad station, dock area, arsenal, and power plant at Bangkok.

 

[Heinz]

RAN

Commander D.H. Harries RAN becomes C.O of HMAS Shropshire.

PAPUA:

AIF:
By experience allied troops have learned to take no chances with enemy tree top snipers. Every tree top that could house snipers was sprayed with hundreds of rounds from automatic weapons. One Bren gunner varied the treatment when he sighted a sniper. Using this extremely accurate Australian-made weapon he fired several bursts at the top of a coconut tree concentrating his fire at a spot six feet from the top. The weight of the sniper caused the tree top to break and he was killed when he hit the ground 60 feet below

AUSTRALIA:

RAAF:

The RAAF's seaplane units the Seaplane Training Flight was expanded to form No. 3 Operational Training Unit on 28 December 1942. These consisted of two Supermarine Seagull, Consolidated Catalina and a selection of Vought Kingfishers.

 

[syscom3]

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island and sink a merchant cargo ship.

BURMA: The Indian 14th Division continues an unopposed drive on Akyab astride the Mayu River and range. East of the river, the Indian 123rd Brigade reaches the vicinity of Rathedaung. In the coastal sector, the Indian 47th Brigade arrives at Indin and gets a patrol to Foul Point, at the tip of the Mayu Peninsula. The advance then halts for various administrative reasons, one being the difficulty of bringing reinforcements and supplies forward.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Japanese under Major General Yamagata Tsuyuo at Napapo are ordered to move to Giruwa by sea. On the Urbana front, Company B, U.S. 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, breaks through to Companies A and F near the coast, and Company C engages in clearing bunkers north of the gardens. The Japanese defense of Old Strip slackens as a withdrawal is begun. The Warren Force finishes clearing the runway except for stubborn a bunker position to the rear of the dispersal bay. Additional Allied tanks and cargo are unloaded at Oro Bay, during the night of 27/28December. Regimental Combat Team 163, U.S. 41st Infantry Division, arrives at Port Moresby from Australia.
In Papua New Guinea, Fifth Air Force B-26s hit targets in the Gona area while a single B-24 hits the runway at Finschhafen in Northeast New Guinea. B-17s pound shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island.
In their first significant action in the Pacific, a dozen P-38s of the 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group engage some 24 Japanese aircraft, claiming nine Zekes and two Vals shot down for one P-38 damaged. Pilots included 2nd Lt. RIchard Bong and Capt. Tommy Lynch, Lt. Ken Sparks and 2nd Lt. John Mangas. This was the first aerial combat by the P-38 Lightning in the South West Pacific. Seven enemy planes were immediately shot down, with Mangas officially credited with one. Two other four-plane flights of the 39th FS joined the melee thereafter, claiming another six.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, while the 3d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, conducts a holding attack that gains little ground, the 1st Battalion, to the east, moves south to locate the Japanese flanks, elements running into the Gifu strongpoint instead of outflanking it.

 

[Heinz]

AUSTRALIA:
RAAF:

Beaufighter A19-71 of 31 Squadron RAAF, crashed at Cape Helvetibg on Bathurst Island

Townsville W/T Station became known as 12 Signals Unit from 29 December 1942

AIF:

103 Australian Anti-Tank Regiment stopped at Alice Springs No.9 Staging Camp on route to Darwin. Maintenance on its 2-pounder tank attack guns was performed before moving on.

BUNA:

2/6th Armoured Regiment:

The 2/6th Armoured Regiment made another attempt on 29 December also failed and it was not until reinforcements for the 18th Brigade arrived that the Allies were able to silence the Japanese defences and secure the Buna area. At least 1390 Japanese were killed and only 50 prisoners were taken, testament to the determination of the enemy soldiers not to surrender. Allied casualties were 2870, with more than 300 Australians killed and hundreds of others evacuated wounded or sick.

While the 2/10th Bn

After a disastrous day at Buna, the Australians settled down for their night routine. The Japanese struck at the weary Australians in full darkness. However, the determined 2/10 Bn was prepared. Illumination from Australian 2 inch mortars flooded the Japanese attackers with light a mere 20 metres from the Australian positions. Well sited Australian machine guns decimated the assault which was finished off by a barrage of hand grenades. Over 40 enemy dead were counted next day.

 

[syscom3]

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS:In the Aleutians, icing conditions and low visibility prevent all flying.
The USN high speed minesweeper USS Wasmuth is escorting a convoy through a heavy Alaskan storm when two depth charges are wrenched from their tracks by the pounding sea, fall over the side, and explode beneath the ship's stern. The blasts carry away part of the stern and she begins to founder. In the gale, the pumps cannot make headway against the inexorably rising water below.
Despite the heavy sea, the oiler USS Ramapo (AO-12) comes alongside the crippled and foundering Wasmuth and for 3.5 hours, the oiler remains with the sinking ship, transferring the latter's officers and men (134) and two passengers. After completing the rescue, Ramapo pulls away; Wasmuth sinks tomorrow about 35 nautical miles off Scotch Cap on the southwest coast of Unimak Island.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, B-24s bomb Rabaul and Gasmata.

CHINA: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek radios U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt that although the Chinese army in Yunnan will be ready for an offensive by spring of 1943 as planned, the offensive cannot be undertaken unless there are additional naval forces for the Bay of Bengal.
The USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force B-25s, with fighter support, hit Magwe.

JAPAN: General Sugiyama Hajime, Chief of the Army General Staff, and Admiral NAGANO Osami, Chief of the Navy General Staff, tell Emperor Hirohito of the intent by Imperial General Headquarters to order a withdrawal from Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Japanese garrison of Buna is ordered to withdraw to Giruwa, assisted by a detachment at Giruwa, which is to attack through the U.S. left flank. The Urbana Force's U.S. 127th Infantry Regiment gains a broad corridor from the Entrance Creek to the line of coconut trees. Company K makes a futile attempt to establish a bridgehead on the Mission side of Entrance Creek; some elements attempting to land from boats are turned back by fire; others begin crossing the bridge between Musita Island. and the Mission, but the bridge becomes unusable before many are across.
Volunteers from Company E enter the Triangle in the evening and find strong defenses there deserted.
Warren Force overcomes all organized resistance at Old Strip and swings north toward the coast. The Australian 2/10th Battalion, 18th Brigade, 7th Division, continues to cleanup Japanese positions around Old Strip while the Australian 2/12th Battalion, 18th Brigade, arrives at Oro Bay from Goodenough Island, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, during the night of 28/29 December.
Fifth Air Force B-24s bomb Lae, Northeast New Guinea. HQ, 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group with C-47s, moves from Australia to Port Moresby.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, patrols of the 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, probe the Gifu line but are unable to find gaps. Since effective strength of the assault battalions now totals only 1,541, the 132d Infantry Regiment commanding officer is promised a fresh 2d Battalion.

UNITED STATES: Concerned about sharing the secrets of atomic research, President Franklin D. Roosevelt confirms the policy of noncooperation with the British that his advisers have been recommending. He orders that no information should be given to the British unless it happens to be in an area in which British scientists are directly involved.

 

[Heinz]

AUSTRALIA:

RAN:

After completing final acceptance trials in December 1942 HMAS WARRAMUNGA departed for Brisbane on the 30th of December, where she was occupied for a month in working up trials

After taking part in the BUNA campaign and on completion of more than eighteen months service, HMAS LITHGOW was put into Brisbane for refitting.

USAAF in AUSTRALIA:

RA-20A-1 Boston, #40-3150 of the 4th Air Defense Group, 5th Air Force, APO-922 crashed on 30 Dec 1942 during a test flight after a major overhaul. The aircraft took off and hit a power pole and 5 minutes later it attempted an emergency landing on a beach near Townsville. The aircraft cart wheeled and Major Walter R. Ford, (030271) was killed.

Major Ford, a Protestant by religion, was buried in the US Cemetery in Townsville on 31 December 1942

 

[syscom3]

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A B-24 flies a negative reconnaissance over Rat and Amchitka Islands. A scheduled attack on Japanese-held Kiska Island and the reconnaissance mission over Amchitka Island are cancelled by bad weather.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: B-24s carry out single-bomber attacks on the airfield at Gasmata on the south coast of New Britain Island.

BURMA: Twelve USAAF Tenth Air Force B-24s attack shipping in the vicinity of Rangoon.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, Japanese Major General Yamagata Tsuyuo, charged with rescue of the Buna garrison, arrives at Giruwa.
On the Urbana Force front, Company B, U.S. 127th Infantry Regiment, drives from the line of coconut trees to the sea southeast of Buna Mission, completing a corridor from Entrance Creek to the coast and cutting off the Japanese at Buna Mission from those at Giropa Point. A patrol wades the shallows between spits extending from Buna Village and Buna Mission without opposition.
The Warren Force attacks northward toward the coast in the area between Simemi Creek and Giropa Point with Australians operating four U.S. made M3 Stuart light tanks and a company of the 2/9th Battalion, 18th Brigade, 7th Division, spearheading. Little headway is made because of poor tank-infantry co-ordination and determined opposition; positions are consolidated at edge of coconut trees.
Japanese counterattacks during the night are repulsed. Six hundred fifteen men of the Australian 2/12th Battalion, 18th Brigade, arrive at the front.
At Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Australian Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring General Officer Commanding New Guinea Force and General Officer Commanding I Australian Corps, outlines his plans. As soon as Buna is captured, he intends to resume intensive operations against the Sanananda-Cape Killerton area with the Australian 7th Division and the Buna Force committed against Sanananda. Attached to the Australian 7th Division will be the 14th, 18th and 30th Brigades and the U.S. 163d Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division.
The Buna Force will consist of the U.S. 126th, 127th and 128th Infantry Regiments, 32d Infantry Division. Additional guns will be moved to the Sanananda Track and eight more guns moved by sea from Port Moresby.
In Papua New Guinea, USAAF A-20s strafe forces and occupied areas at Lokanu and along the west bank of the Amboga River while B-24s carry out single bomber attacks on Lae Airfield.

GUADALCANAL: At the conference at the command post of Major General Alexander Patch, Commanding General Armerical Division on Guadalcanal, the decision is made to continue the attack on Mt Austen. A patrol of the 1st Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment, finds a safe route to Hill 27, south of Gifu.

NEW GEORGIA: Six P-39s and USMC SBDs attack cargo vessels in the New Georgia group. Despite Allied bombing raids, the Japanese complete Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island.

 

[syscom3]

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: B-25s and 14 P-38s approach Japanese-held Kiska Harbor at minimum altitude for a bombing and strafing attack. Two ships and three submarines, newly arrived, are covered by Zeros. Four of the Zeros engage the approaching P-38s in a dogfight; two P-38s are shot down and four Zeros are listed as probables.
The B-25s meanwhile attack the ships with unobserved results; one B-25 is shot down off Little Kiska Island. A USN PBY Catalina picks up survivors, but fails to return to base. Kiska Harbor is then attacked once more by five B-24s, four B-25s and four B-26s. They claim hits on both vessels observing explosions on the smaller ship. A B-24 photographs Amchitka while a weather reconnaissance of Near Island is cancelled due to weather. Aerial reconnaissance observes for the first time Japanese use of a smoke screen at Kiska Harbor.

AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister John Curtin complains to the press about "buggers in Australia who won't work. Coal mines are idle, and everyone is thinking about holidays just at a time when a few extra tons in our war effort would have a crucial effect. We are like people who have just got contagion out of the house, and just over the back fence. Apparently we are not worrying about how dirty the yard is."

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul on New Britain Island and sink a merchant cargo ship.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Urbana Force maintains pressure against Buna Mission from the southeast and prepares to envelop it by attacking eastward from Buna Village and Musita Island.
Warren Force regroups. Advance elements of the 163d Infantry Regiment (1st Battalion and headquarters) , U.S. 41st Infantry Division, are flown to Dobodura and Popondetta from Port Moresby.
In Papua New Guinea, Fifth Air Force A-20s strafe forces in the Duvira Creek area while B-24s carry out single-bomber attacks on the airfield at Lae, Madang Village, and troops and vehicles at Wewak. A B-17s strafes a schooner in Jacquinot Bay.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In preparation for renewing their attack on Hill 27 on Guadalcanal, the 2d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, begins a movement to forward positions. The 1st and 3d Battalions continue to patrol.

 

[syscom3]

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Six B-24s covered by nine P-38s, attack Japanese-held Kiska Island Harbor, and damages a Japanese merchant cargo ship off Kiska.; one of six intercepting Japanese aircraft is probably shot down. A B-25 searching for the Navy PBY Catalina missing since yesterday also flies reconnaissance over Semisopochnoi, Segula, Little Sitkin, Gareloi and Amchitka.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Islands, Fifth Air Force B-24s operating singly, bomb Gasmata Airfield and attack shipping in Wide Bay and Saint George Channel. Aircraft flying over Rabaul on New Britain Island note 21 Japanese warships and 70 merchant vessels in the harbor, the largest concentration of Japanese ships ever seen in the area.

BURMA: USAAF Tenth Air Force P-40s on armed reconnaissance hit railroad targets of opportunity from Naba to Pinbaw.

JAPAN: Emperor Hirohito is presented with the finalized plan to withdraw from Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands. He informs General Sugiyama Hajime, Chief of the Army General Staff, and Admiral Nagano Osami, Chief of the Navy General Staff, that he will issue an Imperial Rescript to acknowledge the heroic sacrifices of his soldiers and sailors.

NEW GUINEA: The Urbana Force begins envelopment of Buna Mission. Company E, 127th Infantry Regiment, and Company F, 128th Infantry Regiment, cross the shallows east of Buna Village before dawn and, although the Japanese offer strong opposition upon being alerted, advance about 200 yards (183 meters) along the spit extending from Buna Mission. Other elements of the Urbana Force maintain pressure on the Japanese from the southeast and finish clearing Government Gardens, but the Japanese retain positions in the swamp north of the gardens. Patrol contact is made between the Urbana Force and Warren Force.
The Warren Force finishes regrouping. The fresh Australian 2/12th Battalion, 18th Brigade, 7th Division, is disposed on the left, 3d Battalion of the U.S. 128th Infantry Regiment in the center, and the Australian 2/10th Battalion, 18th Brigade, on the right. With the arrival of additional cargo at Oro Bay by sea, supplies moved in this manner since the first vessel arrived on 11 December total some 4,000 tons.
Fifth Air Force A-20s strafe forces in the Sanananda and Giruwa area and along the Amboga River. B-26s pound forces on the north shore of the Markham River near its mouth, while A-20s strafe parked aircraft at Lae.

GUADALCANAL: On Guadalcanal, the 2d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment. Americal Division, reaches Hill 11, east of the Gifu strongpoint, the line of departure for the enveloping movement.

NEW GEORGIA: B-26s of the 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th BG (Medium), escorted by P-38s and P-39s, attack the airfield at Munda.

UNITED STATES: The USN commissions the aircraft carrier USS Essex ( CV-9 ) at Norfolk, Virginia. The USN now has five aircraft carriers in commission.
In San Francisco, California, the midnight curfew puts a damper on New Years' Eve celebrations. The usual revelers are missing from the traditional gathering spot at Market and Powell Streets. Curfew regulations drove most of the revelry into hotels equipped with blackout curtains.
The military lifted off-limits sanctions against eight San Francisco bars and taverns which may again serve liquor to men in uniform. Each bar owner signed an agreement to limit liquor sales to military personnel to between 1700 and 2400 hours. Beer may be sold between 1000 and 2400 hours.

 

[syscom3]

Well, its been a full year of posting the events of the Pacific war. 365 of them.

And to think that I still have 2 years and 9 months to go!

If anything, I hop the readers of this thread appreciate the scale of events. The vastness of this theater and how the allies needed time just to build up their bases to begin the 1943 offensives. Its easy to say "it took 10 months for a bomber unit to begin operations". But then when you think of it being 300 days... you begin to realize the time scale of it all.

 

[Heinz]

AUSTRALIA:

USAAF IN AUS:

A USAAF B-25D Mitchell #41-29733, "Hell's Belles", of the 13th Bomb Squadron of the 3rd Bomb Group, based in Charters Towers, failed to arrive at Charters Towers on 31 December 1942 on a flight from Port Moresby. It is believed to have gone down somewhere in the Coral Sea during some bad weather.

There were no survivors. It is believed that there were 12 -14 personnel on board the aircraft. The pilot was Captain George S. Thomas and another crew member was Captain A. Leonard "Doc" Hymes. 1st Lt. Malcolm E. Petersen (#0-397451)of the 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron of the 374th Troop Carrier Group was also a passenger on this aircraft . Malcolm joined USAAC in California. He is buried at Plot C, Row 0, Grave 1223, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu. Hawaii. He was awarded the Silver Star.


TIMOR:

RAAF:

On New Year's Eve, 1942 some Beaufighters of 31 Squadron RAAF were sent to attack the Japanese at Betano on the south coast of Timor. They hit very bad weather conditions. Cy Greenwood's crew returned OK, but two other Beaufighters did not return to base at Coomalie Creek airfield in the Northern Territory. The two crews were "Tiny" Wilkins and his navigator Bill Byrnes and Pilot Officer Gabb ("Gabby") and his navigator Sergeant Webb ("Webby").

Over the target at Betano, "Tiny" Wilkins' Beaufighter was hit in the tailplane area by some machine gun fire from the ground. This cut the cable controlling the elevators. They were only a few feet off the deck when this happened. Wilkins immediately lost vertical control of the aircraft. Realising what had happened he used the trim tab control and throttles to gain some altitude. Unfortunately as the aircraft climbed, the airspeed fell away until a stall was imminent. Wilkins then throttled back to allow the nose to drop.

They gained speed while the plane slowly started to dive. As they lost altitude, the trim tab controls took some time to regain control and by that time they were dangerously low again just skimming the water. Wilkins repeated the process and opened the throttles again and gained altitude using the trim tab controls.

The Beaufighter was not a very stable aircraft at the best of times, requiring the pilot to fly it the whole time. Wilkins was unable to adjust the trim tab to achieve level flight, so they continued their roller coaster ride for about 2 hours back towards Darwin.

They finally sighted Cape Fourcroy which is at the western tip of Bathurst Island. As it was not safe to either ditch in the sea or attempt a forced landing on the shores of Bathurst Island they decided to bail out as close as possible to the Cape Fourcroy lighthouse. They had to synchronise their exit from the Beaufighter at the time that they were near the peak of one of their upward sessions in the roller coaster ride. The navigator's parachute was pinned to the chest and the pilot's was attached such that he sat on it in the aircraft.

When they opened the the hatch at the bottom of the aircraft, this created an amount of drag which caused the aircraft to drop its nose. Once the navigator had dropped out through the hatch, Wilkins had to drag himself up out of his seat and over his backrest and position himself over the hatch and jump through it, all the while trying to control the parachute strapped to his bum.

The Beaufighter crashed and burnt on impact. Wilkins landed in a swamp on Bathurst Island near the beach and Bill Byrnes landed in the ocean some distance from the shore. Bill, who could not swim, spent over 5 hours in the water supported by his Mae West.

Some RAAF personnel saw what happened and Corporal A.E. Woodnutt, used Wilkin's inflatable dinghy to bring Bill Byrnes back to shore. The rescuers then contacted the Navy by radio who then picked them up in a small boat.

Corporal Woodnutt was later awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for the part that he took in their rescue.

( PS little late with this one, Syscom its a credit to you and Njaco for keeping both threads up and running, well done! )

 

[Wildcat]

Well, its been a full year of posting the events of the Pacific war. 365 of them.

And to think that I still have 2 years and 9 months to go!

If anything, I hop the readers of this thread appreciate the scale of events. The vastness of this theater and how the allies needed time just to build up their bases to begin the 1943 offensives. Its easy to say "it took 10 months for a bomber unit to begin operations". But then when you think of it being 300 days... you begin to realize the time scale of it all.

Keep em coming Sys I read the thread at every chance. I just wish I had the time to dig up my own info to contribute every day.

 

[syscom3]

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Fifth Air Force B-17s and B-24s bomb the airfields at Gasmata and Rabaul on New Britain Island.

BURMA: Six Tenth Air Force B-25s attack the railroad bridge near Myitnge, claiming several hits on the target. The nearby airfield is also bombed.

FIJI ISLANDS: The USN fleet tug USS Grebe grounded at Vuanta Vatoa on 6 December 1942 while attempting to float the U.S. freighter SS Thomas A. Edison. Salvage operations are broken up by a hurricane that destroyed both ships during the night of 1/2 January 1943.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Urbana Force attacks toward Buna Mission from the southeast and from the spit after heavy preparatory fire, but makes little progress. In the evening the Japanese are seen swimming from the Mission. Company B, U.S. 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, moves east toward Giropa Point to assist the Warren Force, which encircles the Japanese between Giropa Point and Old Strip. On the left, the Australian 2/12th Battalion, 18th Brigade, 7th Division, supported by six tanks, drives to the coast at Giropa Point and turns southeast, clearing the coastal strip to Simemi Creek; the 1st Battalion, U.S. 128th Infantry Regiment, mops up bypassed pockets.
On the right, the 3d Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, and Australian 2/10th Battalion, 18th Brigade, make slow progress in a two-pronged attack to clear the Japanese entrenched in dispersal bays off the northwestern end of Strip.
Fifth Air Force bombers attack Lae, Northeast New Guinea.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The last Japanese food available in the Gifu position on Mount Austen, on Guadalcanal is distributed. It amounts to two crackers and a piece of candy per man. From Hill 11 on Guadalcanal, the 2d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, marches slowly south and west over
precipitous terrain to the southeastern slope of Hill 27, arriving too late in
the day to open an assault as planned. Regimental Combat Team 27, 25th
Infantry Division, arrives on the island.

UNITED STATES: Ground Controlled Approach equipment (GCA) is called into emergency use for the first time when a snowstorm closed down the field at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, a half hour before a flight of PBY Catalinas is due to arrive. The GCA crew locates the incoming aircraft on their search radar, and using the control tower as a relay station, "talks" one of them into position for a contact landing. This recovery was made only nine days after the first successful experimental demonstration of GCA.

 

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Papua:

AIF:

2/9th, 2/10th and 2/12th Infantry Battalions take Buna on 2 January 1943, and organised resistance from the Japanese ended on 23 January 1943. Most had withdrawn from Papua by the end of January. It is estimated that the Japanese suffered losses of more than 7,000 killed during the Papuan campaign.

 

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ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Three B-25s, three B-25s and eight P-38s heading for Kiska Island are forced back by bad wether. The weather aircraft cannot see into Kiska Harbor or Gertrude Cove. Two B-24s fly photographic reconnaissance over Amchitka Island and encounter poor weather. A USN PBY Catalina
unsuccessfully searches the islands east of Segula Island for a missing PBY.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Fifth Air Force B-24s bomb the airfield at Gasmata on New Britain Island.

BURMA: Fighters of the USAAF Tenth Air Forces's China Air Task Force continue to hit transportation targets, strafing a truck convoy on the Burma Road. The strikes begin near Loiwing and cover 30 miles of highway. At least five trucks are destroyed and others damaged. Six B-25s bomb Monywa Airfield.

INDIAN OCEAN: German auxiliary cruiser HK Michel, known to the British as Raider H, sinks the 7,040 British freighter SS Empire March south of the Cape of Good Hope. The freighter was sailing from Durban, South Africa,. to Trinidad (located off the coast of Venezuela) with a crew of 29 and a cargo of iron, tea, peanuts and jute. Michel opened fire, knocking out the bridge and the radio room and turning the freighter into "an inferno from stem to stern, but still moving." To dispatch the blazing wreck quickly, the captain of the Michel fires two torpedoes, one of which misses. Twenty six crewmen of the freighter are picked up, with another man being found the next day when Michel returned to search
for anyone who might have been missed. This is the last ship sunk by Michel on her first cruise. On 8 January, the auxiliary cruiser is ordered to proceed to Japan and while en route, the prisoners were handed over to the Japanese at Singapore. On this first crew, the German raider spent 354 days at sea and sank 15 ships totaling 99,386 tons.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Urbana Force overruns Buna Mission in a concerted assault and organized resistance ends at 1632 hours local. The top Japanese commanders, Captain Yasuda Yoshitatsu and Colonel Yamamoto Hiroshi, commit suicide. The Japanese withdrawal from the Kokoda trail enables the Allies to plan the encirclement of important Japanese positions in the Buna, Sanananda and Gona beachhead. Buna is the second of the three to fall to the Allies after weeks of heavy fighting. With the Mission clear, Company C of the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, joins Company B in an attack along the coast toward Giropa Point, and by 1930 hours, makes a junction with the
Warren Force. The Warren Force, in a final attack, finishes clearing the region from Giropa Point eastward. The Australian 2/9th Battalion, 18th Brigade, 7th Division, clears the Japanese troops from the east bank of Simemi Creek and the 2/12th Battalion, 18th Brigade, heads for Giropa Point. Japanese forces move forward from Giruwa to rescue the survivors of the Buna garrison.
The Japanese have lost at least 1,400 men at Buna: 500 west of Giropa Point and 900 east of it. Casualties of the U.S. 32d Infantry Division and Australian 18th Brigade total 2,817 (620 killed, 2,065 wounded, 132 missing).
In preparation for stepping up action on the Sanananda front, where a stalemate has existed for
some time, Australian Lieutenant General Edmund Herring, General Officer Commanding I Australian Corps, orders 25-pound (87.6 mm) artillery pieces from Buna to that area.
The 1st Battalion and Headquarters, U.S. 163d Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, take responsibility for the Huggins and Kano blocks on the trail to Sanananda, gradually relieving the Australians, between 2 and 4 January. Huggins is renamed Musket.
Fifth Air Force A-20s, B-25s and B-26s hit the airfield and targets of opportunity at Lae, Northeast New Guinea.
While surveying the Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, the Australian minesweeper HMAS Whyalla and survey vessels Stella and Polaris, are attacked by 18 Japanese aircraft.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, Major General Millard Harmon, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, activates XIV Corps, consisting of the Americal and 25th Infantry Divisions, the former reinforced by the 147th Infantry Regiment. The 2d Marine Division and
other Marine ground forces are attached to the corps.
Major General Alexander Patch is placed in command of XIV Corps, and Brigadier General Edmund Sebree succeeds him as commander of Americal Division. After a heavy artillery preparation, the 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, continues its offensive against the Gifu strongpoint. The 2d Battalion. taking the Japanese by surprise, advances quickly to the crest of Hill 27, south of the Gifu strongpoint, and digs in and holds firm under a number of counter attacks. The 3d and 1st Battalions establish lines along the northern and eastern sides of the Gifu, respectively, but gaps remain between the three assault battalions.
In the air, B-17s, with P-38s, and USMC SBDs, with F4Fs, bomb ten supply-carrying Japanese destroyers west of Rendova Island; the SBDs damage the destroyer HIJMS Sukukaze. The F4Fs shoot down two Zero's and an SBD rear gunner shoots down a third Zero. Eleven PT boats attack the force off Cape Esperance without success.

 

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AUSTRALIA:

RAN:

The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS BUNBURY, (LEUT J. S. Bell RANR(S)), was commissioned. Mrs F. A. Cooper, (Wife of the Treasurer of Queensland), performed the launching ceremony. BUNBURY was laid down on 1 November 1941, in Evans Deakin Yard, QLD, and launched on 16 May 1942

RAAF:

34 Squadron reforms at Parafield in South Australia on 3 January 1943. By then it had 11 Officers, 85 Airmen and 8 aircraft


BUNA:

AIF:

In New Guinea, P-40s strafe troops in the waters off Buna as US and Australian ground forces are mopping up in the nearby BUna Missions area. B-26s, along with a single B-24, bomb Madang and an A-20 hits Salamaua. In the Bismarck Archipelago, a lone B-24 strafes the airfield on Gasmata Island