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

FRIDAY, 28 JANUARY 1944

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 9 B-25's, 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.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): AAF and USN fighters support a USN dive-bomber attack on targets in the Rabaul area; 5 P-38's are lost including P-38J 42-67783; Allied aircraft claim about 30 aircraft shot down; at Lakunai Airfield, one of the targets, 20-30 parked aircraft are destroyed and several AA positions are destroyed or damaged; and 25 B-25's, covered by 12 P-38's, pound Tobera Airfield. 16 P-39's strafe the Shortland area. HQ 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-20's attack in the Cape Gloucester area; P-40's hit Hoskins Airfield; and P-39s strafe barges in Rein Bay. 417th Bombardment Group HQ, 672d, 673d, 674th and 675th Bombardment Squadrons arrive at Cape Sudest from the US with A-20's; first mission is March 27, 1944. Lost is B-25G 42-64881 (MIA).