February 23, 1942
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 by Sarah Sundin
80 Years Ago—Feb. 23, 1942: US Fifth Air Force B-17s based in Townsville, Australia, make first attack on Rabaul; one crash-lands in New Guinea swamp—Swamp Ghost now in Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.
Japanese sub I-17 fires at Bankline Oil Refinery at Ellwood near Santa Barbara CA; little damage; first attack on US mainland in the war.
US Army Air Forces approves “winged star” emblem in shape of a V for victory.