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

FRIDAY, 28 JANUARY 1944

Burma: 65th Regt, Ch 22d Div, crosses Ahawk Stream.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Nine B-25s 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.

IJN: In the morning Japanese scramble 63 Zeros from airfields in the Rabaul area to intercept an incoming U.S. air raid and drop aerial phosphorous bombs to break up the formation. The second wave of the attack was intercepted by Zeros from Ryuhō Air Group and claim eight P-38s shot down in air combat (in fact, five are lost). Nine intercepting Zeros were shot down in air combat.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): In the morning, a formation of 18 TBF Avengers and 42 SBD Dauntless dive bombers bomb Tobera Airfield and Lakunai Airfield where 20-30 parked aircraft are destroyed and several AA positions are claimed destroyed or damaged. The bomber formation is escorted by 40 F4U Corsairs from VF-17 flying as roving high cover at 30,000' and F4U Corsairs from VMF-215 plus close cover by P-40 Kittyhawks. In total, the U.S. planes claim 26 Zeros shot down including 14 1/2 by Corsairs from VF-17 including one shared with VMF-215. F4U Corsair pilot Captain Daniel Aldrich from VMF-215 claimed four but was damaged and after landing was written off. Two other F4U Corsairs from VMF-215 returned badly damaged. Kittyhawks claimed two victories. The bombers claim two kills and five probables. Seven SBDs and four TBFs return with slight damage from anti-aircraft fire and fighters.

The second wave of the attack was 23 B-25 Mitchells from 42nd BG armed with parafrag bombs on a bombing mission against Tobera Airfield and release 276 parafrag bombs and strafe firing 30,000 rounds of ammunition. The bomber formation was escorted by fourteen P-38 Lightnings from 339th FS flying top cover above the bombers at 15,000', below their optimal combat altitude. Arriving over the Gazelle Peninsula, intercepted by roughly 60-80 Zeros (in fact 63 Zeros) including Zeros from Ryuhō Air Group that dove from above. During the air combat, the P-38s claimed five shot down including two by 2nd Lt. Kenneth I. McCloud while the Zeros from Ryuho claimed eight P-38s shot down. Five P-38s were lost with two pilots quickly rescued and returned to duty and P-38J 42-67783 pilot 2nd Lt. Kenneth I. McCloud ditched and was rescued nine days. Lost is P-38J 42-67173 pilot 2nd Lt. Garland C. Schrock (MIA) and P-38H 42-66860 pilot 1st Lt. Adam Serwat, Jr. (MIA). Meanwhile, 16 P-39s strafe the Shortland area.

Headquarters, 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-20s strike the Cape Gloucester area; P-40's hit Hoskins Airfield; 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 their first mission is March 27, 1944. Lost is B-25G 42-64881 pilot 1st Lt. Donald T. Renshaw (MIA).

U.S. Navy: Second day of conference between representatives of the South, Southwest, and Central Pacific Commands met at Pearl Harbor to discuss, coordinate, and integrate their planning. The conferees reviewed the following two alternative schedules for operations in the Pacific: (a) Truk, 15 June; Marianas, 1 September; Palaus, 15 November and (b) Truk, bypass; Marianas, 15 June; Palaus, 10 October.

USS Bowfin (SS-287) damages Japanese oiler Kamoi off Makassar at Lat 3°25'S, Long 118°15'E.

B-24 Liberator from 13th Air Force and USN PBYs sink Japanese transport Neikai Maru towing HA-49 Type B Midget Submarine south of Kavieng at roughly Lat 03°45'S, Long 150°38'E.

References
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 527-528 (January 28, 1944)