17 Jan 1944
Australian New Guinea

Australian New Guinea
- US aircraft attacked Rabaul, New Britain. The Japanese shot down 8 P-38, 1 F6F, 1 F4U, 1 SBD, and 1 TBF aircraft. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | Rabaul, New Britain | CPC]
- Destroyer USS Saufley departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands as an escort for a convoy of supply ships bound for Bougainville. ww2dbase [Saufley | Tulagi, Solomon Islands | DS]
- US 45th Fighter Squadron, flying P-40 fighters, was transferred from Baker Island of Ellice Islands to Makin, Gilbert Islands. ww2dbase [Makin | CPC]
- After a routine overhaul, submarine USS Spearfish was ready for sea. She departed Pearl Harbor on her tenth war patrol. ww2dbase [Spearfish | Pearl Harbor, Oahu | DS]
- British X Corps attacked the western end of the German Gustav Line in Italy. ww2dbase [Battle of Monte Cassino | TH, CPC]
- An Italian motor torpedo boat raid on Allied-held Naples, Italy was aborted. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Shokaku departed Yokosuka, Japan to join Zuikaku in the Inland Sea. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]
- Light carrier Ryuho entered the drydocks at Innoshima, Hiroshima, Japan. ww2dbase [Ryuho | Innoshima, Hiroshima | CPC]
- USS Whale claimed sinking a Japanese freighter in the Philippine Sea, hiting her with 3 of 9 torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Whale | Philippine Sea | CPC]


17 Jan 1944 Interactive Map
Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Please help us spread the word: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
Search WW2DB
News
- » Wreck of M-49 Found (10 Apr 2025)
- » Japanese Emperor Visited Iwoto (Iwo Jima) (8 Apr 2025)
- » Race, Holocaust, and African-American WW2 Histories Removed from the US Naval Academy Library (7 Apr 2025)
- » US Government Plans to Purge WW2 Information (17 Mar 2025)
- » See all news
Random Photograph
B-29 bomber attacking Japanese-controlled industrial targets in China, possibly Anshan Ironworks or Showa Steelworks in Liaoning Province, China, 29 Jul 1944Current Site Statistics
- » 1,167 biographies
- » 337 events
- » 44,606 timeline entries
- » 1,243 ships
- » 350 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 376 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 261 facilities
- » 470 book reviews
- » 28,505 photos
- » 365 maps
Famous WW2 Quote
"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?"Winston Churchill, 1935
Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!