January, 1944

Sunday, 2 January, 1944
Elements of the US 32d Infantry Division make an amphibious landing at Saidor, New Guinea following a preparatory naval bombardment; Bad weather prevents preparatory air strikes, but more than 80 B-24's and A-20's pound positions in coordination with the landings; the harbor and airfield are captured. Other B-24's bomb Pombelaa, Celebes Island and Amboina Island, Moluccas Islands. B-25's and B-26's bomb Madang, New Guinea. P-40's strafe the airfield, AA positiona, barges, and supply dump at Cape Hoskins on New Britain Island.

Monday, 3 January, 1944
More than 50 B-24's and B-25's bomb the Alexishafen area in New Guinea. Over 20 A-20's hit positions at Borgen Bay, New Britain Island. 388th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Port Moresby to Gusap, New Guinea with P-40's; first mission is 13 January; they will transition to A-20's in February.

Tuesday, 4 January, 1944
In New Guinea, over 100 heavy and medium bombers bomb the Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadjim areas and hit troops and supplies between Finschhafen and Saidor. On New Britain island, B-25's attack artillery positions in the Cape Gloucester area. B-24's and B-25's hit shipping at Koepang, Timor Island and in nearby waters. 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, arrives at Milne Bay, New Guinea from the US with P-70's; first mission is 29 February.

Wednesday, 5 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24's and medium bombers bomb the Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadjim areas and attack barges from Finschhafen to Saidor; and P-39's hit barges and gun positions during a sweep from Sio to Bogadjim.

Thursday, 6 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24's and B-25's bomb the Alexishafen and Bogadjim areas; A-20's attack targets along the road from Bogadjim to Yaula; B-25's attack targets of opportunity on the Huon Peninsula and others hit the Borgen Bay area; and P-39's strafe barges at Borgen and Rein Bays. 389th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Port Moresby to Gusap, New Guinea with P-40's; first mission is 14 January; they transition to A-20's in February.

Friday, 7 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24's, B-25's, P-39's, and P-47's bomb the Alexishafen-Madang area, hit Erima, Bogadjim, and targets along the Bogadjim Road, attack positions from Weber Point to Vincke Point, and strafe huts and barges near Sidor. On New Britain Island, B-24's bomb the Cape Gloucester area and A-20's hit forces near Arawe. B-24's also hit Lorengau, Manus Island and Boela, Ceram Island.

Saturday, 8 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24's, medium bombers, and a few fighters, attack the Madang area, bomb Uligan Harbor, and hit Bogadjim and the Bogadjim Road. On New Britain Island, fighters strafe the Sag Sag sawmill in the Cape Gloucester area and B-25's and A-20's hit positions near Arawe. B-24's bomb Kendari and other targets on Celebes Island.

Sunday, 9 January, 1944
In New Guinea, fighters and bombers attack Alexishafen, Madang, Bogadjim, Uligan Harbor, and the area East of Saidor; and Cape Beechey is strafed by P-40's. Transfers in New Guinea: 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Nadzab to Finschhafen with P-47's. 498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Port Moresby to Dobodura with B-25's.

Monday, 10 January, 1944
In New Guinea, more than 100 heavy, medium, and light bombers, and fighters attack the Madang, Alexishafen, and Bogadjim areas and the coastline from Madang to Sio. P-39's strafe scattered villages and barges on New Britain Island. B-25's bomb Koepang, Timor Island. The 33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), from Dobodura with B-25's all transfer to Nadzab, New Guinea and the squadron will be redesignated 33d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 3 February and make transition to B-24's. 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, from Port Moresby with C-47's  transfers to Nadzab, New Guinea.

Tuesday, 11 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-25's, P-39's, and P-40's hit Uligan Harbor, barges and the road near Bogadjim, the Hansa Bay area, and the town of Alexishafen.

Wednesday, 12 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24's and B-25's attack the Alexishafen area and A-20's hit Warai. B-24's attack Balikpapan, Borneo; Makassar, Celebes Island; and Dili, Timor Island.

Thursday, 13 January, 1944
HQ V Fighter Command transfers from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea and Major General Paul B. Wurtsmith becomes Commanding General, V Fighter Command. In New Guinea, over 130 B-24's, B-25's and P-40's attack Alexishafen. B-24's bomb Gasmata Island off New Britain Island. B-24's and B-25's strike Kaukenau and Timoeka, New Guinea and score hit on a freighter off Tanimbar Island, Moluccas Islands.

Friday, 14 January, 1944
In New Guinea, more than 50 B-24's, B-25's, and P-40's hit the Alexishafen and Erima area. On New Britain Island, B-24's bomb Cape Busching; B-25's attack targets of opportunity along the North coast, and A-20's strike villages along the South coast.

Saturday, 15 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24's and B-25's pound Uligan Harbor; P-40's, P-47's, and B-25's hit the Madang, Alexishafen, Erima, and Bogadjim area. Enemy positions along the South coast of New Britain Island are attacked by B-25's and P-39's. 499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura, New Guinea with B-25's.

Sunday, 16 January, 1944
In New Guinea, the Madang, Erima, and Bogadjim areas are hit by B-25's, A-20's, and P-40's; P-39's strafe the area from Sio to Bogadjim; and B-25's bomb the area North from Cape Croisilles. B-24's and B-25's attack positions near Arawe, New Britain Island. B-24's carry out a light raid on the harbor of Amboina Island, Moluccas Islands.

Monday, 17 January, 1944
In New Guinea, 47 B-24's and B-25's bomb the Hansa Bay area; B-25's bomb Nubia; P-39's strafe the Rai Coast; and B-24's bomb Bandanaira, Celebes Islands.

Tuesday, 18 January, 1944
In New Guinea, the Hansa Bay area is bombed by 40 B-24's. More than 70 B-25's pound the Madang and Bogadjim areas and positions around Shaggy Ridge; 55 P-38's and P-40's engage a like number of Japanese fighters over Wewak, losing 3 P-38's and claiming 12 shot down.Other B-24's bomb Laha, Celebes Islands. HQ 345th Bombardment Group transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura, New Guinea.

Wednesday, 19 January, 1944
57 B-24's bomb Boram, New Guinea; 17 more bomb Amboina Island, Moluccas Islands, and Halong, Celebes Islands; and 2 others score hits on freighter near Aitape, New Guinea. 65 B-25's, along with RAAF airplanes, pound positions in the Shaggy Ridge, New Guinea area. 2 P-39's bomb barges in the Cape Raoult, New Britain Island area. 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group begins transfer from Brisbane, Australia to Lae, New Guinea with F-5's.

Thursday, 20 January, 1944
In New Guinea, 37 B-25's and a B-24 bomb and strafe the Hansa Bay area; over 60 B-25's hit positions on Shaggy Ridge; and P-39's strafe troops at Weber Point. 25 A-20's hit positions between Borgen Bay and Rein Bay, New Britain Island, and hit barge hideouts and enemy held areas on Gasmata Island. Transfers in New Guinea: HQ 71st Reconnaissance Group from Port Moresby to Nadzab; "A" flight of the 110th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, based at Port Moresby, begins operating from Gusap with P-39Q's.

Friday, 21 January, 1944
In New Guinea, B-25's, A-20's, and P-39's bomb the Madang area, and strafe villages near Saidor and troops from Reiss Point to Erima. On New Britain Island, B-25's and P-39's strafe barges from Cape Raoult to Rein Bay and hit targets of opportunity along the the North coast; single B-24's on armed reconnaissance blast a control tower at Hoskins airfield, and hit ships near Kavieng, New Ireland Island and at Lorengau, Manus Island. 2 B-24's bomb Waingapoe, Sunda Island.

Saturday, 22 January, 1944
B-25's strafe villages, bridges, and barges from Cape Gourdon to Cape Croisilles, New Guinea, and hit shipping at Papitalai, Los Negros Island, sinking a small vessel and a barge and severely damaging a jetty. A-20's, P-40's and RAAF aircraft hit numerous scattered targets of opportunity on New Britain Island.

Sunday, 23 January, 1944
In New Guinea, 35 B-24's, with fighter escort, bomb Wewak; 50 Japanese fighters intercept; in the ensuing air battle US aircraft claim 12 of the fighters shot down; 5 US fighters are lost; P-39's strafe barges and AA positions at Uligan Harbor and on the Rai Coast. In New Britain, A-20's hit forces and AA positions near Cape Raoult and Gasmata Island. B-24's hit Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands. 25th Liaison Squadron, V Bomber Command attached to 5212th Photographic Wing (Provisional), begins moving from Brisbane, Australia to Lae, New Guinea with L-5's.

Monday, 24 January, 1944
In New Guinea, over 40 B-24's bomb airfields at Wewak and Boram; more than 50 B-25's and P-47's hit Madang and troops in the vicinity and bomb the Hansa Bay area; 38 other B-25's attack shipping and harbor installations on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands. HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 19th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) transfer from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-26's. They are transitioning to B-24's and will be redesignated a Heavy unit on 3 February.

Tuesday, 25 January, 1944
In New Guinea, over 50 B-24's pound the Hansa Bay area; 37 B-25's bomb Alexishafen and Madang; and P-39's strafe barges on the Rai Coast. P-40's and A-20's hit Gasmata Island off New Britain Island. more than 50 B-25's bomb Lorengau, Manus Island and Momote, Los Negros Island.

Wednesday, 26 January, 1944
42 B-24's bomb Momote, Los Negros Island and Lorengau, Manus Island. In New Guinea, more than 140 B-24's, A-20's, P-39's, and P-40's hit the Alexishafen-Madang area. 18 B-25's bomb Bogia village. On New Britain Island, A-20's hit the Cape Raoult area and P-40's strafe barges along the North coast. 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, transfers from Brisbane, Australia to Dobodura, New Guinea with F-5's; first mission is 10 February.

Thursday, 27 January, 1944
41 B-24's bomb Lorengau, Manus Island. Almost 70 B-25's, A-20's, and P-39's, along with several RAAF aircraft attack the Madang and Bogia areas of New Guinea. B-24's hit a freighter and the town area at Dili, Timor Island, and shipping at Sorong and MacCluer Gulf. 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, transfers from Nadzab to Gusap, New Guinea with P-47's.

Friday, 28 January, 1944
B-25's attack targets of opportunity from Bogia to Cape Croisilles, New Guinea. On New Britain Island, A-20's attack in the Cape Gloucester area; P-40's hit the airfield at Hoskins; and P-39's strafe barges in Rein Bay. HQ 417th Bombardment Group (Light) and 672d, 673d, 674th and 675th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) arrive at Cape Sudest, New Guinea from the US with A-20's; first mission is 27 March.

Saturday, 29 January, 1944
Over 40 B-25's bomb Bogia and Nubia landing grounds, New Guinea. 45 A-20's hit positions in the Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island area.

Sunday, 30 January, 1944
34 B-25's bomb the Hansa Bay area and Nubia landing strip, New Guinea. On New Britain Island, A-20's fly a barge sweep along the N coast and P-39's strafe barges and fuel dumps at Rein Bay. 90th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with A-20's.

Monday, 31 January, 1944
In New Guinea, A-20's attack Uligan Harbor and P-39's strafe Bogadjim, Bostrem Bay, and landing strip at Alexishafen. B-24's hit a motor vessel off Ceram Island. 89th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with A-20's.

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