April 24, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
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FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 1942

AVG: A USAAF C-47, which had just delivered a load of fuel and ammunition for the AVG at Lashio Airfield, was intercepted on its return flight by a fighter identified as a "Zero". Captain Don Olds, the co-pilot, took the transport down to treetop height to frustrate the Japanese pilot's attacks, while Colonel Caleb B. Haynes went back down the fuselage to help other members of the crew attempt to ward off the attacks with sub-machine gun fire and escaped without damage.

During a sortie between 09:50 until 12:30 Squadron Leader Tex Hill, Vice-Squadron Leader Ed Rector, Flight Leader John Petach and Peter Wright of the 2nd AVG Squadron, intercepted and between them, claimed to have shot down a 'Type 98' bomber over Loilem.

P-43A pilot Wu Zhenhua, vice-commander of the 24th PS crashed during a flight between Karachi and Kunming.

(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Photographic Squadron, 5th Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces), transfers from Melbourne to Brisbane with F-4 Lightnings. Their first mission was April 16, 1942. Lost on a ferry flight are: B-25C "Tojo's Nitemare" 41-129?? (MIA/KIA), B-25C "Chattanooga Choo Choo" 41-129?? (survived) and B-25C "Salvo Sadie" 41-129?? (survived).

In the morning, twelve A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group) conduct a fighter sweep over Port Moresby, six dog fighting with RAAF P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron and six intercepting other aircraft and bombers. They claimed nine shot down (five P-40s, one P-39, two B-26s) and damaged a PBY. In fact, they destroyed two B-26s including B-26 "Hell's Angel" 40-1428. Also destroyed is PBY Catalina A24-5 and three P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron were shot down: P-40E Kittyhawk A29-43 pilot P/O Oswald J. Channon (KIA) and P-40E Kittyhawk A29-76 pilot FSgt Robert William Crawford (survived).

RAAF: USAAF A-24 Tail 14 piloted by 1st Lt. Virgil A. Schwab took off on a mission escorted by P-40E Kittyhawk piloted by John Piper from No. 75 Squadron to rescue Squadron Leader John F. Jackson from Navos. While returning was intercepted by a Zero but manages to land safely at 3 Mile Drome.

U.S. Navy: A new specification for color of naval aircraft went into effect. The color of service aircraft remained non-specular light gray with non-specular blue-gray on surfaces visible from above. Advanced trainers were to be finished in glossy aircraft gray with glossy orange yellow on wing and aileron surfaces visible from above while primary trainers were to be finished glossy orange-yellow with gray landing gear.

USS Trout (SS-202) torpedoes Japanese merchant transport Tachibana Maru, Susami Kii, 33°31'N, 135°29'E.