No aircraft ever landed on Howland Island, but during WWII there was plenty of aerial activity in the area. A PBM Mariner flying boat was damaged upon landing on the ocean near Howland and was beached there to avoid sinking.
The airstrip on Baker Island, 40 miles south of Howland, built in September 1943, played a key role in Operation Galvanic, the invasion of Tarawa in November 1943. P-40 Warhawks were based on Baker. During November 13-19, 1943 U.S. Army and U.S. Navy aircraft from Task Force 57 (TF-57) commanded by Rear Admiral J. H. Hoover attacked Japanese bases in the Gilbert and Marshalls. During December 1943 until January 1944, B-24s staged through Baker for combat missions against Japanese targets including Maloelap and Majuro and Mili, Wotje and Maloelap. (
https://pacificwrecks.com/airfields/usa/baker/index.html)
On October 23, 1943 P-40s from Baker claimed a Japanese flying boat shot down 70 miles south of Baker.