March 22, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 22 MARCH 1942

Burma: Japanese planes strike Magwe Airfield, forcing the AVG and RAF aircraft to withdraw to Loiwing on the Chinese frontier and Akyab, respectively. Troops defending Burma are thus denied close air support. Gen Stilwell, upon arriving at front, begins planning for counterattack in support of Ch 200th Div at Toungoo. Chinese continue to withstand pressure against Toungoo from the south.

At 13:00 a reconnaissance aircraft was again reported approaching Magwe and two Hurricanes, of the three that remained serviceable, took off but failed to intercept. When they returned to land, an hour later, a further raid followed them in. This attack comprised 27 Ki-21s of the 12th Sentai, 26 of the 98th, 18 Ki-43s of the 64th Sentai and 23 Ki-27s from the 12th Flying Daitai. Following this latest raid, Magwe was left shattered; the runways were rendered unserviceable and the remaining communications cut. Nine Blenheims and three P-40s were destroyed or irreparably damaged, while AVG pilot Frank Swartz was severely wounded as he dashed to his aircraft and later died from his wounds.

AVG: Magwe is evacuated with the AVG ground party loading five damaged P-40s onto trucks and departed, to follow their air party to Loiwing.

USA: President Roosevelt sends a message to General Douglas MacArthur in Australia expressing his desire that Gen Wainwright control all forces in the Philippines; Gen MacArthur concurs.

RAAF: S23 "Corinthian" G-AEUF crashed while landing at Darwin Harbor.

RAAF: Nine P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron led by S/L John F. Jackson strafe Lae Airfield with six strafing and three flying top cover. Meanwhile, Hudson A16-134 and Hudson A16-169 perform a reconnaissance over Lae Airfield. Meanwhile, two Zeros flying top cover dive down to intercept. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-16 pilot F/O Bruce H. Anderson (POW/MIA pilot captured, later executed) and P-40E Kittyhawk A29-6 pilot F/O Wilbur L. Wackett (survived). Intercepting, two Zeros were shot down by Hudson gunners including A6M2 pilot Yamazaki (WIA, survived) and A6M2 pilot Kikuchii (KIA).