January 25, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 25 JANUARY 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) P-38s are dispatched too late to engage two floatplanes bombing Amchitka. A reconnaissance is flown over Kiska, Buldir, Semichi, Attu and Agattu. One B-24 and two P-38s fly two patrol missions over Amchitka. An attack mission to Kiska is turned back by weather. B-25s unsuccessfully search for missing aircraft.

CENTRAL PACIFIC (Seventh Air Force) Six B-24s carry out a photographic reconnaissance missions over Wake and drop 60 bombs. They claim one fighter shot down.

CBI (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, five B-25s of the India Air Task Force bomb the bridge (which the enemy is striving to rebuild) at Myitnge. The southern approach to the bridge is destroyed and repair work on the bridge suspended. Three B-25s add to the destruction at the Mandalay Marshaling Yard, tearing up tracks, wrecking about 75 railroad cars, and setting the freight house aflame. Three other B-25s inflict similar damage on the marshaling yard at Naba. Six B-24s pound the Rangoon dock area.

IJN: Nine G4M1 Bettys and A6M2 Zeros from 582 Kokutai strike Guadalcanal. They are escorted by A6M2 Zeros from 252 Kokutai and 204 Kokutai. Lost is A6M2 Zero Tail 114x and X

SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force) The final phase of the Guadalcanal offensive begins with orders to begin pursuit of the enemy along the northwestern coast toward Cape Esperance. The enemy retreat is to be cut off by the landing of a US battalion just southwest of Cape Esperance. B-26s and P-38s hit Munda Airfield and bomb the wharf at Repirepi, demolishing it. Other P-38s bomb installations in the Rekata Bay area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force) A-20s strafe areas in northeastern Papua where there appears to be some enemy movement. B-25s blast supply dumps and AA and machine gun positions around Lae. Single B-24s attack a beached ship at Finschhafen. Single B-24s attack runways on Gasmata and at Cape Gloucester.