Navy Department Communique No. 251

JANUARY 14, 1943

South Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

1. During the night of January 10th-11th U. S. motor torpedo boats attacked a number of Japanese destroyers near Guadalcanal. Two torpedo hits were scored on one of the enemy destroyers and one hit on a second destroyer. Two possible hits were reported on a third destroyer. The enemy force retired to the northwest.
2. On January 13th a force of “Marauder” medium bombers (Martin B-26), with “Airacobra” (Bell P-39) and “Lightning” (Lockheed P-38) escort, bombed enemy installations at Rekata Bay. Results were not reported.
3. U. S. ground forces on Guadalcanal Island supported by air forces continued their advance.