Navy Department Communique No. 257

JANUARY 21, 1943

South Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

1. On January 19th an air striking group of U. S. planes bombed Japanese positions at Munda on New Georgia Island. Results were not reported.
2. On January 20th:
• (a) During the early morning “Flying Fortress” heavy bomber (Boeing B-17), scored one bomb hit on a Japanese destroyer off Cape Friendship at the easternmost tip of Bougainville Island.
• (b) “Flying Fortresses” with fighter escort attacked two enemy ships and two destroyers in the Shortland Island area. A number of enemy “Zeros” and float-type biplanes intercepted the attack and eight of these planes were shot down. No hits on the enemy ships were observed. One U. S. fighter was lost and several “Fortresses” were damaged.
3. On January 21st, during the morning, Marauder medium bombers (Martin B-26), dropped bombs on Japanese positions at Munda. Results were not observed.
4. Maj. Gen. Alexander M. Patch, U. S. A., has recently assumed command of the U. S. forces stationed on Guadalcanal. Major General Patch relieved Maj. Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, U. S. Marine Corps, who had been in command since the initial occupation of positions on the island by U. S. Marines in early August 1942. The Marines have been operating jointly with Army troops in this area for several months during which period most of the Marines, who made the original landing on Guadalcanal, were replaced by Army personnel.