World War II in real time

Day 1558 of World War II, December 18th 1943

Air War over Europe

B-26s of the US Fifteenth Air Force bombed Var River bridges, destroying a highway bridge and damaging a railroad bridge; other B-26s had less success against the Antheor viaduct, although there were several near misses.

Italian Campaign

Monte Lungo fell to units of the US 5th Army. The Germans responded with heavy counterattacks. The US 36th Division entered San Pietro, the leading role in this attack was played by the 1st Italian Motorized Brigade, the first substantial Italian ground unit to fight for the Allies. The Germans continued to withdraw due to the pressure of the US VI Corps.

In Italy, P-40 fighter-bombers attacked positions in Tollo, Canosa Sannita, and Orsogna, and strafed a schooner off Trogir; A-36s hit defended areas near Cassino and at Viticuso, a supply dump and gun emplacement near Tenacina, and positions at Monte Trocchio.

United Kingdom/United States relations

Winston Churchill informed President Franklin Roosevelt that the British War Cabinet favored Bernard Montgomery for commander of the land forces in the invasion of Europe. General Henry H "Hap" Arnold sent to Air Chief Marshall Sir Charles F Portal (RAF) an announcement of the US air officers for top commands in Europe in 1944. The list included Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker, Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO); Lieutenant General John K Cannon, Twelfth Air Force; Lieutenant General Nathan F Twining, Fifteenth Air Force; General Carl Spaatz, US Strategic Air Forces (USSAFE); Lieutenant General James H Doolittle, Eighth Air Force; and Lieutenant General Lewis H Brereton, Ninth Air Force.

Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 14 B-24's bomb Mille Atoll. The 46th and 72d Fighter Squadrons, 15th Fighter Group, transfer from Canton and Wheeler Field respectively to Makin with P-39's. The 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Seventh Air Force, transfers from Canton to Makin with A-24s.

CHINA

In China, 27 B-24's, supported by 28 P-40's, pound the airfield at Namsang; some of the P-40's strafe Laihka Airfield; 2 B-25's on a sea sweep claim damaging hits on a freighter and a tanker in the Hainan Straits; 5 B-25's bomb SW part of Nanhsien. Japanese planes attack Kunming in preparation for an offensive against India.
Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek gives Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell full command of Chinese troops in India and in the Hukawng Valley of Burma. Stillwell is Commander-in-Chief US China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-Shek, Commander-in-Chief Northern Area Combat Command and Deputy Commander in Chief South-East Asia Command.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville in the Solomon , 10 B-24's bomb the Kahili supply area, 5 more hit the Bonis supply area, and 19 others hit targets in the Chabai-Porton area; 5 B-25's carry out low-level strike on troop concentrations at Poroporo and 11 bomb Korovo; B-24's, operating individually and in small flights, on armed reconnaissance attack Kahili, Kieta, and Poporang; fighters strafe targets of opportunity at Numa Numa, Cape Pui Pui, and the E coast of Buka.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): On New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago, 70+ B-24's, B-25's, and B-26's bomb Cape Gloucester; 20+ B-25's bomb the Borgen Bay area; and nearly 40 B-24's hit Hoskins Airfield. 33 A-20's bomb and strafe dumps and bivouacs N of Finschhafen.

PACIFIC

Submarine Aspro (SS-309) attacks Japanese convoy, damaging fleet tankers Sarawak Maru and Tenei Maru at about 24°10'N, 124°40'E, and escapes counterattacks by destroyer Shiokaze.

Submarine Cabrilla (SS-288) lays mines off Saracen Bay, Cambodia, French Indochina.

Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Gyokurei Maru east-northeast of Naha, Okinawa, 26°30'N, 128°19'E, and escapes counterattacks by destroyer Numakaze.

Day 1560 of World War II, December 20th 1943

Eastern Front

Spanish dictator Francisco Franco ordered the “Blue Division” disbanded and returned from the Russian front to Spain. Over 40,000 Falangists (Spanish Fascists) fought beside their German comrades during their two years in the Soviet Union.

Air War over Europe

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 159: The port area at Bremen, Germany was hit again. 357 of 407 B-17s, 103 of 127 B-24s and 12 of 12 PFF aircraft hit the target and claimed 21-14-23 Luftwaffe aircraft; 21 B-17s and 6 B-24s were lost; 3 B-17s were damaged beyond repair; 213 B-17s and 34 B-24s were damaged. Window-metal foil strips which, when dropped from an airplane, provided an echo which confused radar locating equipment, was used for the first time on an Eighth Air Force mission. This mission was escorted by 26 P-38s, 418 P-47s and 47 Ninth Air Force P-51s who claimed 19-3-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47s and 4 P-51s were lost; 1 P-47 was damaged beyond repair and 5 P-47s were damaged. The Luftwaffe sent fighters from JG 1, JG 11, JG 26, JG 54, ZG 26, JG 2, JG 3, JG 27 and EKdo. 25. The first pass by the Germans was just at the IP southeast of Delmenhorst and bombers were hit by flak over the target. A second fighter attack began just after bombs away. Flak was heavy and accurate. I. and III./ZG 26 were very active with WR 21cm rockets, protected by single-engined fighters. The chaos was so great that B-17 crews reported that He 111s had attacked them as Bf 110G-2s were sitting out of bomber gunner range, lobbing rockets then closing in on the cripples. The 445th Bomb Group suffered it's first combat loss when 2Lt 'Buck' Patterson's aircraft was downed.

650 RAF aircraft - 390 Lancasters, 257 Halifaxes, 3 Mosquitos attacked Frankfurt at night. The German control rooms were able to plot the bomber force as soon as it left the English coast and were able to continue plotting it all the way to Frankfurt. There were many combats on the route to the target. The Mannheim diversion did not draw fighters away from the main attack until after the raid was over but the return flight was quieter. 41 aircraft - 27 Halifaxes, 14 Lancasters - were lost, 6.3 per cent of the force. The bombing at Frankfurt did not go according to plan. The Pathfinders had prepared a ground-marking plan on the basis of a forecast giving clear weather but they found up to 8/10ths cloud. The Germans lit a decoy fire site 5 miles south-east of the city and also used dummy target indicators. Some of the bombing fell around the decoy but part of the creepback fell on Frankfurt causing more damage than Bomber Command realized at the time. Part of the bombing somehow fell on Mainz, 17 miles to the west, and many houses along the Rhine waterfront and in southern suburbs were hit. Luftwaffe night-fighter Major Wilhelm Herget claimed 8 victories in 50 minutes during the battle. 44 RAF Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos of 1 and No 8 Groups carried out a diversionary raid on Mannheim but most of the bombing fell outside the city. No aircraft were lost.

8 RAF Lancasters of 617 Squadron and 8 Pathfinder Mosquitos attempted to bomb an armaments factory near Liege but the Mosquito marking was not visible below the clouds and the Lancasters did not bomb; 1 Lancaster was lost. 6 Mosquitos to Rheinhausen and 5 to Leverkusen, 8 RCM sorties, 2 Beaufighters on Serrate patrol, 23 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians, 38 OTU sorties. 1 Stirling minelayer lost.

Italian Campaign

Photo: Long shot of 40mm anti-aircraft gun position and crew. Venafro Sector, Italy. 20 December, 1943



Battle of the Atlantic

Convoy JW.55B departed Loch Ewe with 19 ships intent on making for the Kola Inlet. The convoy escort was comprised of the destroyers HMS 'Onslow', HMS 'Onslaught', HMS 'Orwell', HMS 'Scourge', HMS 'Impulsive', HMCS 'Haida', HMCS 'Iroquois', HMCS 'Huron', HMS 'Whitehall', and HMS 'Wrestler', minesweeper HMS 'Gleaner', and corvettes HMS 'Honeysuckle' and HMS 'Oxlip'.

The unescorted 'Phemius' (Master Thomas Arthur Kent OBE) was torpedoed by 'U-515' about 30 miles south of Accra, Gold Coast and sunk by a Gnat coup de grâce. Three crew members, one gunner and 19 passengers were lost. The radio officer was taken prisoner by the U-boat. The master, 67 crew members, ten gunners and 14 passengers were picked up by FFL 'Commandant Drogou' (J 3040) and landed at Takoradi.

'U-850' was sunk in the mid-Atlantic west of Madeira, Portugal, by depth charges and Fido homing torpedoes from 5 Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-19) of the American escort carrier USS 'Bogue'. 66 dead (all hands lost).

United Kingdom

Photo: Photograph of British S class destroyer HMS Savage (G20)



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): Twenty nine B-24s from the Ellice Islands and Baker Island bomb barracks, hangars, and wharf areas on Mili and Maloelap Atolls; they claim seven fighters shot down. P-39s from Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands strafe Mili Atoll, destroying three airplanes and firing an oil dump; two P- 39s are lost.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-25's and 6 P-40's from Kweilin pound the Yoyang railroad yards; P-40's from Hengyang also provide support for the B-25's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon, 13 B-25's, with fighter cover, bomb Korovo village and docks on Shortland. 8 others, with fighter escort, hit Buka on Buka. Afterwards the fighters strafe Kieta and Tenekow. Other fighters and RNZAF Ventura's on armed reconnaissance, patrol, and night snooper missions attack numerous targets of opportunity throughout Bougainville.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): On New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago, A-20's hit the Arawe area and P-38's in the area claim 10 enemy along S coast; B-24's on armed reconnaissance bomb a merchant ship off Cape Pomas. In New Guinea, B-26's and B-25's hit bivouacs in the Finschhafen area and bomb the town of Alexishafen.

PACIFIC

USN submarine USS Grayback sinks Japanese destroyer Numakaze about 45 nautical miles ENE of Naha, Okinawa, in position 26.30N, 128.26E.

Day 1562 of World War II, December 22nd 1943

Eastern Front

14,284 Spanish soldiers were repatriated to Spain; 3,000 volunteered to continue fighting with the Nazis in the Legion Azul [Blue Legion].

Air War over Europe

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 161: Marshalling yards at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany were targeted; 22 US bombers were lost. Heavy cloud conditions along with a malfunction of Pathfinder equipment resulted in a large number of heavy bombers failing to attack targets. 147 of 225 B-17s, 87 of 121 B-24s and 2 PFF aircraft hit Osnabruck and claimed 18-8-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17s and 12 B-24s were lost; 2 B-17s and 1 B-24 were damaged beyond repair; and 21 B-17s and 11 B-24s were damaged. 164 of 177 B-17s, 30 of 43 B-24s and 3 PFF aircraft hit Munster; 3 B-17s and 2 B-24s were lost, 1 B-17 was damaged beyond repair, and 29 B-1's were damaged. The bombers were escorted by 40 P-38s, 448 P-47s and 28 Ninth Air Force P-51s. They claimed 15-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-38s and 2 P-47s were lost and 1 P-47 was damaged. Among the pilots lost by the Luftwaffe were Egon Falkensamer (9 kills) of JG 11 and Hptm. Harry Koch (30 kills) of 6./JG 1.

9 RAF Mosquitos flew to Frankfurt and 2 to Bonn, 2 RCM sorties, 16 aircraft minelaying off Biscay ports, 21 OTU sorties. No losses.

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 163: 1 B-17 dropped two 2,000 pound (907 kf)general purpose bombs and 1 Photoflash on Cologne, Germany at 2020 hours; no casualties.

A new unit was established to test the Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Moskito. Based at Erfurt, the unit was designated Truppen Erprobungskommando 154 (EKD 154).

RAF light bombers attacked numerous NOBALL (V-weapons) targets in France in conjunction with the Osnabruck-Munster raids. 51 RAF aircraft - 29 Stirlings, 11 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitos, 3 Halifaxes - were sent to attack 2 flying-bomb sites between Abbeville and Amiens. 1 site was bombed accurately but the other could not be located. No aircraft lost. 210 B-26s sent to bomb special targets in France were recalled because of bad weather.

Orders were issued for General Carl Spaatz to take command of US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSAFE). Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker, Eighth Air Force Commanding General, was to Command Allied Air Forces in the MTO, after remaining in the UK until mid-Jan to advise Spaatz and Lieutenant General James H Doolittle, the new Commanding General, Eighth Air Force.

Italian Campaign

The 2nd Canadian Brigade of the British 8th Army has entered Ortona. Heavy street fighting broke out from house to house between the German 1st Parachute Division and the 1st Canadian Division.

Major General Paul L Williams re-assumes command of the XII Troop Carrier Command (Provisional).

In Italy, P-40s and Spitfires of the Twelfth Air Force, RAF, SAAF, and RAAF hit strong points in the Tollo-Miglianico-Chieti areas; P-40s blasted bridge, locomotives, trucks, and railroad tracks at and near Tortoreto and Benedello; P-47s strafed targets of opportunity in the area around Zara, Yugoslavia.

Battle of the Atlantic

Photo: The Royal Navy escort carrier HMS Atheling (D51) (ex-USS Glacier (CVE-33)) underway on 22 December 1943. She has a deck load of U.S. Navy aircraft types in British markings, including: ten North American "Harvard" trainers (T-6 Texan), 18 Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers, and seven Grumman Hellcat fighters



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) underway on 22 December 1943



Photo: A U.S. Navy Brewster SB2A-3 Buccaneer (BuNo 00885) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 22 December 1943. Note the open bomb bay



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force):Eleven A-24 Dauntlesses from the Gilbert Islands dive-bomb cargo ships in Mili Atoll lagoon and sink a transport; escort is provided by 32 P-39 Airacobras and USN F6F Hellcats. The P-39s strafe the ships and antiaircraft guns and gasoline dumps on the island and the vessel is left burning.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-25's, with fighter escort, bomb Hwajung; 2 others claim 3 direct hits on a freighter 105 miles S of Hong Kong. 65 Japanese bombers and fighters attack Kunming Airfield; 10 P-40's and a P-38 from Kunming and several fighters from Yunnani engage the enemy force in a 50-minute running battle, claiming 12 airplanes shot down; 2 US aircraft are destroyed on the ground; damage to airfield is not serious. 7 P-40's intercept a force of 58 airplanes heading toward Chengkung, shooting down 3 of them and preventing an attack on the airfield.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Bougainville, USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25s carry out strikes against Numa Numa, the Kahili supply area, the Chinatown area on Buka Island, and scattered targets of opportunity; fighter aircraft. B-24s attack barge concentrations and hide-outs at Sohano Island, the Chabai-Porton area, Anewa Bay, and Ambitle Island, and several targets of opportunity throughout Bougainville while B-24s, operating individually and in pairs, attack targets of opportunity near Bonis, near Porton, and at Sohano Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): 30+ B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's continue bombardment of Cape Gloucester; a Japanese air raid on Arawe causes minor damage. Nearly 40 B-25's, with P-38 escort, bomb Wewak and Boram; the P-38's, B-25's, and some P-47's on sweep claim at least 13 aircraft shot down. Lost are K-61 piloted by Motoyama, Ki-61 piloted by Tahata and Ki-61 piloted by Akira Takatsuki. B-25's and P-39's bomb airfield and barges at Madang and the town of Alexishafen; and A-20's and B-26's pound occupied area N of Finschhafen. The 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th FG, transfers from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with P-47's. The 408th Bombardment Squadron, 22d BG (Heavy), transfers from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-25's.

PACIFIC

Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) damages German cargo ship Havelland east of Kashinosaki, 33°30'N, 135°57'E; the ship never returns to active service.

Navy F6Fs and SBDs and USAAF P-39s raid Mili Atoll, Marshalls, sinking Japanese transport Nankai Maru, 06°05'N, 171°43'E.

USAAF aircraft sink Japanese merchant cargo vessel Ginrei Maru, 20°12'N, 113°40'E.

Day 1564 of World War II, December 24th 1943

YouTube (Stalin's Christmas Surprise - Major Offensives to Come)



Eastern Front

The Russian 1st Ukraine Front under Vatutin, launched a massive assault west of Kiev. The defending German 4.Panzerarmee would be penetrated deeply due to overstretched German units and the lack of reserves. The aim was to destroy the German salient on the Dnieper and open Galicia and Romania. Berdichev was captured.

Air War over Europe

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 164: 23 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area of France were hit. 478 of 526 B-17s 192 of 196 B-24s hit the targets and 2 B-24s were damaged beyond repair and 85 B-17s were damaged. This was the largest number of aircraft carrying out attacks of any Eighth Air Force mission to date and the first of its major strikes against missile sites. The heavies were escorted by 40 P-38s, 459 P-47s and 42 Ninth Air Force P-51s; 2 P-38s were damaged beyond repair and 2 P-51s were damaged; no casualties. 60+ B-26s attacked NOBALL (V-missile sites) targets in Pas de Calais area of France. 30+ B-26s aborted due to bad weather.

No RAF bombing raids were carried out on Christmas Eve but 35 Halifaxes were sent minelaying in the Frisians and returned without loss.

Over Fassberg No. 605 Squadron RAF shot down their 100th enemy aircraft. They were on a night intruder mission equipped with the de Havilland Mosquito VI.

Italian Campaign

In Italy, 100+ B-26s dispatched to bomb the Pisa, Italy marshalling yard failed to locate the target due to overcast. 24 B-26s bombed the marshalling yard at Cecina.

Battle of the Atlantic

Whilst reinforcing US TG.21, HMS 'Hurricane' (from escort group B.1) was torpedoed by 'U-415' and rendered dead in the water, but in no danger of sinking. Later she was scuttled on the instructions of CinC Western Approaches to avoid attracting more U-boats into the area.

Escort carrier USS 'Card (CVE-11)'s screen continued to battle concentration of U-boats. Destroyer USS 'Schenck' (DD-159) sank the German submarine 'U-645', in the North Atlantic NE of the Azores -55 dead (all hands lost) -, but USS 'Leary' (DD-158 ) was hit by 3 torpedoes and sunk by 'U-275' and 'U-382', 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre, Spain. 97 of her crew of 149 were lost.

The HMS 'Dumana' (Master Archibald Richard George Drummond), escorted by the British armed trawlers HMS 'Arran' and 'Southern Pride', was torpedoed and sunk by 'U-515' west of Sassandra, Ivory Coast. The vessel sank in a short time, dragging some of the lifeboats down with her before they could be released. Three officers, seven crewmembers, 20 lascars, two gunners and seven RAF personnel were lost. The master, 107 crewmembers, seven gunners and 15 RAF personnel were picked up by the escorts and landed at Takoradi on 25 December.

Battle of the Mediterranean

German merchantman 'Nicoline Maersk' was intercepted by destroyer FS 'Le Fantasque' in the Western Mediterranean and was run aground by her crew near Tortosa, Spain.

Weather severely hampered Twelfth Air Force operations. P-40s failed to locate the target, a vessel at Ugljan Island, Yugoslavia, but shot down 1 airplane in the Adriatic Sea.

United Kingdom

Photo: The officers of HM Submarine Seraph on her return to Portsmouth after operations in the Mediterranean, 24 December 1943



Pacific War

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO

On New Britain Island, the pre-invasion bombing effort against Cape Gloucester reaches its peak as nearly 190 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators, B-25s, and A-20s attack the area in a day-long bombardment; P-39 Airacobras hit a disabled destroyer offshore; and Japanese forces in Arawe area are hit by A-20s.

On New Britain Island, 18 USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-24s bomb Vunakanau Airfield at Rabaul; six others hit Lakunai; fighter cover for the strike fights a fierce air action with interceptors, claiming 25 shot down; seven Allied fighters are lost.

USN F6Fs, USAAF P-38s and New Zealand (P-40) Kittyhawk fighter pilots shoot down 27 Japanese Zero fighters over Rabaul, New Britain Island, during the day; seven Allied fighters, including five New Zealand Kittyhawks, are lost.

BURMA

In the Hukawng Valley, the 1st Battalion, 114th Regiment, Chinese 38th Division, after artillery preparation, attacks to relieve the beleaguered 1st Battalion of the 112th Regiment in the Yupbang Ga area and succeeds in joining it, although the Japanese retain positions west of the river blocking the crossing at Yupbang Ga.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s bomb Atamboea Airfield on Timor Island in the Netherlands East Indies.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 18 B-24's, staging through the Gilbert from the Ellice , bomb Wotje Atoll in the Marshall . The 396th and 820th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 41st BG (Medium), transfer from Hickam Field to Tarawa Atoll with B-25's. They will fly their first mission on 19 Jan 44 and 28 Dec respectively.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 18 B-24's bomb a Tien Ho satellite airfield. The B-24's and 18 escorting fighters claim 20 interceptors shot down. 1 B-24 is lost over the target.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): During the night of 23/24 Dec, single aircraft carry out harassing strikes against Buka on Buka, Kieta and Faisi. During the day, 24 B-25's attack seaplane anchorage at Bonis. On New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago, 18 B-24's bomb Vunakanau; 6 others hit Lakunai; fighter cover for the strike fights a fierce air action with interceptors, claiming 25 shot down; 7 Allied fighters are lost. RNZAF Ventura's on armed reconnaissance bomb barges and troops on N Bougainville and claim 2 fighters shot down E of Cape Saint George.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): The pre-invasion bombing effort against Cape Gloucester reaches its peak as nearly 190 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's pound the area in a day-long bombardment; P-39's hit a disabled destroyer offshore; and Japanese forces in Arawe area are hit by A-20's. A-20's also sweep the NE New Guinea coastline.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

In Northeast New Guinea, the Australian 2/13th Battalion, 20th Brigade, 9th Division, enters Wandokai without opposition. The Japanese had intended to defend the town but they evacuated last night fearing an Australian landing in their rear.

Photo: 155mm Howitzer of Bty C, 192nd FA, ready for action. This outfit is part of the island defense on New Ga and was active during the recent campaign for Munda. 24 December, 1943



USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s sweep the Northeast New Guinea coastline.

HAWAII

Photo: USS Oklahoma- Salvage, Aerial view from overhead and forward after refloating, 24 December 1943



PACIFIC

During a five hour attack, the USN destroyer escort USS Griswold sinks Japanese submarine HIJMS I-39 about 6 nautical miles ENE of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, in position 09.23S, 160.09E. All crewmen on the submarine are lost.

Task force of three cruisers and four destroyers (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill) bombards Buka-Bonis area, Solomons.

Allied aircraft sinks Japanese auxiliary minelayer Koa Maru, Marcus Bay, New Britain.

Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) sinks Japanese transport Seizan Maru 27 nautical miles east of Miki cape, 33°57'N, 136°19'E, and auxiliary minesweeper Naruo Maru, 34°17'N, 136°55'E.

Submarine Raton (SS-270) torpedoes Japanese transport Heiwa Maru in Kaoe Bay, Halmahera, 02°57'N, 127°32'E; Heiwa Maru is intentionally run aground in shallow water to prevent her sinking.

USAAF B-24 aircraft damage Japanese cargo ship Kensho Maru, Kwajalein.

Day 1568 of World War II, December 26th 1943

Eastern Front

The 1st Ukrainian Front captured Radomyshl and over 150 other places in the Kiev salient.

Italian Campaign

German defenders were cleared from Monte Sammucro. B-26s bombed marshalling yards at Prato, Empoli, and Pistoia, Italy.

Battle of the Caribbean

U.S. tanker Chapultepec en route from Aruba, N.W.I., to Cristobal, C.Z., is torpedoed by German submarine U-530 at 10°33'N, 79°10'W. While there are no fatalities among the 53-man merchant complement or the 28-man Armed Guard, two of that aggregate total are injured. The ship reaches her destination under her own power and discharges her cargo of fuel oil. Subsequently, U.S. tanker Esso Buffalo, en route from Aruba, N.W.I., to the Canal Zone (ultimate destination: Melbourne, Australia), most likely accidentally rams U-530 at 10°25'N, 78°28'W. There are no casualties among the 47-man merchant complement or the 28-man Armed Guard.

Arctic naval operations - Battle of the North Cape

YouTube (Battle of the North Cape)



'Scharnhorst' and her escorting destroyers searched for Convoy JW-55B, north of Norway. Visibility was poor throughout the morning, the seas were heavy and 'Scharnhorst's radar was out of order. They find the British cruisers providing distant escort under Admiral Burnett. Admiral Bey breaks off to circle north for the convoy and detaches the destroyers into a scouting line.

At 0834 'Scharnhorst' was detected by the heavy cruiser HMS 'Norfolk' from a distance of 30,000 meters (32,800 yards). Shortly afterwards the light cruisers 'Belfast' and 'Sheffield' of "Force I" (Vice-Admiral Burnett) also obtained contact.

At 0924, the 'Belfast' opened fire on 'Scharnhorst' from 11,900 meters (13,000 yards), and was followed by 'Norfolk' at 0930. 'Scharnhorst' replied with her after turret but obtained no hits. 'Scharnhorst' was hit by two 20.3cm projectiles from HMS 'Norfolk'. One shell struck the battery deck but failed to explode. The other hit the foretop and disabled the radar apparatus (FuMo 27). 'Scharnhorst' turned away southeast at 30 knots and then north again. Visibility improved somewhat near noon and action with the British cruisers resumed. Shortly after 1200, 'Scharnhorst' ran once again into the cruisers of "Force I", this time re-inforced by four destroyers from the convoy escort, 'Musketeer', 'Martchless', 'Oppirtune' and 'Virago', and opened fire at about 1230 with her main and secondary batteries. In this second engagement, the HMS 'Norfolk' was hit twice by 28cm shells. Turret "X" was put out of action after a hit in the barbette, while another shell disabled the radars and killed seven men. The 'Sheffield' was hit by splinters.

At 1241, believing she was receiving fire from a battleship, 'Scharnhorst' turned away south and ceased fire. At 1617, the battleship 'Duke of York' of Force II (Admiral Fraser) obtained radar contact with 'Scharnhorst' from 42,500 meters (46,480 yards), and after closing the range to 10,900 meters (11,920 yards) opened fire at 1648. Being without radar Bey was surprised. Almost immediately the 'Scharnhorst' was hit by a 35.6cm projectile in turret "Anton" which was put out of action. Another shell from 'Duke of York' demolished the hangar.

At 1657, 'Belfast' and HMS 'Norfolk' opened fire. 'Scharnhorst' was repeatedly hit but managed to increase the distance with "Force II" to 19,600 meters (21,435 yards). At 1820, a 35.6cm projectile passed through 'Scharnhorst's upper belt and reached the No.1 Boiler room (section IX) that became a total loss. The speed dropped to 22 knots.

At 1850, the destroyers of "Force II" closed on and obtained one torpedo hit on 'Scharnhorst's starboard side and three more on the port side. Speed dropped to 20 knots. 'Duke of York' and 'Jamaica' opened fire again at 1901 from 9,600 meters (10,500 yards) obtaining numerous hits. 'Scharnhorst' still fired back with turrets "Bruno" and "Cäsar" but obtained no hits.

At 1912, the cruisers of "Force I" opened fire. Thereafter cruisers 'Jamaica' and 'Belfast' launched all their torpedoes, and destroyers 'Musketeer', 'Opportune' and 'Virago' 19 more. The 'Scharnhorst' finally capsized and sank at 1945. Only 36 of her crew of 1968 survived.

Map: Contemporary map of the Battle of North Cape on 26 December 1943



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 16 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll bomb Wotje Atoll. P-39's fly reconnaissance and strafing missions over Mille Atoll. The 19th Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, transfers from Stanley Field to Kualoa Field, Territory of Hawaii with P-47's.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): The 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, transfers from Kweilin to Suichwan, China with P-40's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): 7 B-25's, with 34 fighters, attack the Cape Saint George area; 25 B-25's pound the bivouac and supply area at Kahili. RNZAF Ventura's on reconnaissance bomb Chivaroi and Faisi.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): The US 1st Marine Division lands at Cape Gloucester at 0746 hours; 270+ B-25's. B-24's, and A-20's plaster the area between the Cape and Borgen Bay from 0714 to l614 hours; enemy aircraft attacking the landing force sink a destroyer and cause considerable damage to other ships, P-38's, P-40's, and P-47's claim 60+ airplanes shot down over the invasion area. Lost is A6M2 Zero 8224. Twelve P-38s of the 80th Fighter Squadron, lead by Major Edward Craig shoot down 9 aircraft: BW Adams got 2 Vals, Ed Cragg got an Oscar, Ken Ladd got 2 Val's, CB Ray got a Val, Jay Robbins got 2 Zero's and "Corky" Smith got an Oscar. Lost are P-38H "Porky II" 42-66506 (MIA) P-47D 42-8095 (MIA), P-47D 42-22640 (MIA) P-47D piloted by Heckerman (rescued). Also two Michells are lost due to friendly fire: B-25D "Crabb 2nd" 41-30517, B-25D "Here's Howe" 41-30279. Also lost is B-17E "R.F.D. Tojo" 41-2627 after take off from 14-Mile Drome. Japanese losses include: A6M2 Zero 8224.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

After preparatory naval gunfire and aerial bombardment, during which Japanese observation from Target Hill, commanding the landing beach, is masked by smoke, Task Force BACKHANDER, commanded by Major General William H. Rupertus, Commanding General 1st Marine Division, and consisting of the 1st Marine Division (--), reinforced, begins the main invasion of New Britain at Cape Gloucester at 0746 hours.

Map: Japanese dispositions around Cape Gloucester. Individual positions are signified with military unit symbols, denoting individual units and command levels



The Marines are landed by the Seventh Amphibious Force under Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey. Forested, swampy terrain is more formidable than the surprised Japanese, who offer only light opposition. The 7th Marine Regiment establishes a beachhead, clearing. Target Hill, and is passed through by the 1st Marine Regiment. General Rupertus establishes his command post ashore. Successful secondary landings are made by the reinforced 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, at Tauali, southwest of the airdrome, and by elements of the 2d Engineer Special Brigade on Long Island. A Japanese force reaches positions northwest of the Arawe main line of resistance.

Photo: A pre-landing airstrike on Cape Gloucester airfield



Photo:"Marines hit three feet of rough water as they leave their LST to take the beach at Cape Gloucester, New Britain"



During retaliatory Japanese air strikes on Cape Gloucester, USN destroyers USS Lamson, Shaw, and Mugford are damaged by dive bombers; and tank landing ships USS LST-66 is damaged by a horizontal bomber. USN destroyer USS Brownson is escorting landing craft during the landings at Cape Gloucester. At about 1442 hours local, Brownson is hit by two bombs from a Japanese "Val" dive bomber.

The bombs strike to starboard of the centerline, near number two stack. A tremendous explosion follows and the entire structure above the main deck as well as the deck plating, is gone. The ship lists 10 to 15 degrees to starboard and settles rapidly amidships with the bow and stern canted upward.

The wounded are placed in rafts and at 1450 hours the order to abandon ship is given. The amidships section is entirely underwater at that time. There is a single ripple like depth charge explosion and the ship sinks at 1459 hours about 6.5 nautical miles N of Cape Gloucester in position 05.20S, -148.25E. One hundred eight of her crew are lost.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Brownson (DD-518) exploding off Cape Gloucester, New Britain, on 26 December 1943



Supporting the landings, over 270 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s. B-24s, and A-20s attack the area between the Cape and Borgen Bay from 0714 to 1614 hours.

P-38s, P-40s, and P-47s claim over 60 Japanese aircraft shot down over the invasion area. Captain Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., flying a P-38H, shoots down three "Val" dive bombers over the invasion beaches. He cuts cards with a second pilot for the credit for shooting down a fourth "Val" and loses. McGuire now has 16 victories.

Photo: A Vultee Vengeance dive bomber aircraft (code NV-H, RAAF s/n A27-243) of No. 23 Squadron RAAF coming in to land at Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, after a raid on New Britain, December 26, 1943

Day 1570 of World War II, December 28th 1943

Eastern Front

The Soviet advance south of Kiev continued to gain ground. First Ukrainian Front continued its advance capturing Korostyshev and Kateyvka.

Air War over Europe

10 RAF Mosquitos were sent to Duisburg, 9 to Düsseldorf, 1 to Cologne, 11 OTU sorties. No losses.

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 167: A B-17 dropped two 2,000 pound (907 kg) bombs and a Photoflash bomb on Dusseldorf, Germany in an Oboe test. US VIII Bomber Command Mission 168: 6 B-17s dropped 2.84 million leaflets on Hannover, Osnabruck, Hildsheim, Germany; Zwolle, The Netherlands; and Amiens, France. No losses.

The 20th Fighter Group (P-38 ) became operational, making a total of 11 operational fighter groups in the Eighth Air Force. The US VIII Fighter Command has flown over 17,500 sorties and destroyed more than 200 aircraft. The US VIII Bomber Command was charged with forming and training a special organization (the Radio Counter Measure Unit) to use radio countermeasures against enemy defenses; 24 specially equipped B-17s were to operate in support of both night and day raids.

Italian Campaign

With the Canadian 1st Division close to Highway 16 northwest of Ortona, Italy, German defenders withdrew from the city. Canadian troops fought their way through a wall of fire to oust a German division from the Adriatic seaport. Flame-throwers were rushed to the 200,000 Germans estimated to be fighting to save Rome. Like so many Italian towns in the wake of warring armies, Ortona was a ruin. But the shattered and burntout wreckage of buildings was ideal for the German defenders - in this case hardened Nazi Waffen-SS men who had to be winkled out one by one by infantrymen with tank support. However, Ortona finally fell. The remaining Germans retreated to hill positions north-west of the town. The town was a key objective in the Eighth Army's drive along the eastern coast of Italy. It was the eastern anchor of Field Marshal Kesselring's defensive Gustav Line. The fight bcame big news and was dubbed "Little Stalingrad" in the media. The 1st Canadian Infantry would not forget the 2600 lost there when the bells of the Saint Thomas of the Apostle Church finally chimed the end of the Battle for Ortona. But the Allied advance was slow. Each valley running from the Apennines to the sea has to be fought for. There were hundreds of valleys, and the few roads available have been heavily mined by the retreating Germans. Heavy rain and snowstorms were other problems.

Battle of the Atlantic

PB4Y (VB 105) on patrol over Bay of Biscay sights five German destroyers and six torpedo boats returning from attempt to rendezvous with blockade runner Alsterfurer, sunk the day before by an RAF No. 311 (Czech) Squadron Liberator. Of 15 PB4Ys dispatched as a strike force, six (five from VB 105 and one from VB 103) contact the enemy force and attack it. Contact reports by Navy planes, meanwhile, draw British light cruisers HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise to the scene, resulting in the sinking of German destroyers Z 27 and torpedo boats T 25 and T 26, the survivors of which are rescued by the British ships, an Irish steamer, and four Spanish destroyers.

Illustration: The action depicted is the battle between HMS 'Glasgow' (1936) and HMS 'Enterprise' (1927) and a group of German destroyers: 'Glasgow' is leading the British line. The Royal Navy had the best of this fight, sinking the German destroyers 'Z27', 'T25' and 'T26'



Battle of the Indian Ocean

U.S. freighter Robert F. Hoke, en route from Abadan, Iran, to Mombasa, Kenya, is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-26 at 20°05'N, 59°58'E, and abandoned by all but the 27-man Armed Guard, who remain at their guns and fire upon the I-boat's periscope to keep the enemy down. I-26 abandons any further attacks and retires while Robert F. Hoke remains afloat. The crew reboards the ship but is not able to get the ship underway and she is abandoned a second time. An RAF crash boat rescues all hands (41 merchant sailors and the Armed Guard) and the abandoned freighter is later towed to Aden by British rescue tug HMS Masterful. Robert F. Hoke is later towed to Suez but never returns to active service and is written off as a total loss.

Indian Navy minesweeper RINS Rajputana rescues the survivors of U.S. freighter Jose Navarro, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-178 the day before, and transports them to Cochin.

Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 15 B-24's from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice and Canton in the Phoenix, staging through Tarawa Atoll and Baker, hit Maloelap and Majuro and Mille. 18 A-24s from Makin with an escort of 20 P-39's, attack Mille; this attack is followed by another against the atoll carried out by 9 B-25's from Tarawa, supported by 12 Makin-based P-39's.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

At Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island, Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, Commanding General Sixth Army, releases the reserve, the 5th Marine Regiment, reinforced, to Major General William Rupertus, Commanding General 1st Marine Division. The 1st Marine Regiment reduces the prepared Japanese trail block about 1,000 yards E of the airfield. The Japanese attack on the Arawe beachhead is repulsed.

BURMA

The Chinese 38th Division, attacking with the 1st and 2d Battalions of the 114th Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the 112th Regiment, clears several Japanese strongpoints along the Tarung River.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-25's and 4 P-51's attack Yangtze River shipping at Chihchow; 1 cargo ship is claimed sunk, 2 others damaged, and an armed motor vessel set aflame. 7 P-40's bomb a building on the railroad siding at Yun-chi.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville in the Solomon , 14 B-24's bomb supply areas at Bonis and 22 B-25's hit the Kahili supply area. Another large fighter sweep of the Rabaul, New Britain area results in claims of 20+ airplanes shot down.

On Bougainville, the Army's Americal Division takes command of the eastern sector of the beachhead, relieving the 3d Marine Division.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): HQ 58th Fighter Group and it's 310th and 311th Fighter Squadrons transfer from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to Dobodura with P-47's. They will fly their first mission on 24 and 2 Feb 44 respectively. Over New Britain Island, 45 Allied fighters sweep over Rabaul in the morning; USMC F4U Corsair pilots claim 20 "Zeke" fighters and six "Tony" fighters and a USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt pilot claims a "Kate" torpedo bomber. Fifth Air Force fighters cover the Arawe and Cape Gloucester beachheads while 19 A-20 Havocs bomb and strafe Japanese ground positions ahead of the Marine ground forces.

ALASKA

Photo: U.S. Navy ground crewmen secure a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (BuNo 34016) during a storm on Amchitka Island, Alaska (USA), 28 December 1943



PACIFIC

Amphibious Training Base, Kamaole, Maui, T.H., is established.

Submarine Muskallunge (SS-262) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese convoy at 08°50'N, 147°20'E.

Navy PV-1 attacks Japanese net tender Katsura Maru off Kwajalein.

USAAF B-25s and P-40s sink Japanese merchant cargo vessels Heizan Maru, Unyo Maru and Koka Maru in Yangtze River, 30°40'N, 117°30'E.

Day 1572 of World War II, December 30th 1943

Eastern Front

Vatutin's forces smashed German defenses south of Kiev advancing 30-60 miles along a 180-mile front. Kazatin fell to the Red Army in the Kiev sector.

Air War over Europe

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 170: 5 B-17s dropped 1 million leaflets on Antwerp, Ghent, Lens, Belgium and Cambrai, France at 2319-2340 hours; no losses. In France, about 100 B-26s bombed Saint-Omer Airfield and V-weapon sites on the French N coast. About 100others aborted missions because of bad weather.

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 169: The port area and oil refinery at Ludwigshafen, Germany were hit. 502 of 530 B-17s 145 of 168 B-24s, and 11 of 12 PFF aircraft attacked the target and claimed 12-4-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 14 B-17s and 9 B-24s were lost, 4 B-17s and 1 B-24 were damaged beyond repair and 106 B-17s and 11 B-24s were damaged. The mission was escorted by 79 P-38s, 463 P-47s and 41 Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claimed 8-3-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 11 P-47s and 2 P-51s were lost, 1 P-47 was damaged beyond repair and 5 P-47s were damaged.

Italian Campaign

In Italy, B-17s bombed the marshalling yards at Rimini and Padua; 2 B-17s were lost on the the Rimini mission; The B-17s and escorting P-38s and P-47s claimed the destruction of 9 fighters during air battles in the Padua-Vicenza area, off the coast E of Ravenna, and S of Aquila; B-26s hit the Borgo San Lorenzo marshalling yard and viaduct, the marshalling yard at Viareggio, and a road junction near Roccasecca. A-20s hit Atina; P-40s and A-36s supported ground forces, hitting targets in the Chieti-Miglianico area; vessels were hit at Crkvice, Yugoslavia, railway sidings near Frosinone, gun positions near Arce and W of Minturno, and the town areas of Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, Ferentino, and Atina were bombed.

Photo: Men from No. 9 Commando, British Army, the morning following a night raid near the Garigliano river



Photo: Men of the 1st Royal Fusiliers operate a captured German Marder 75mm self-propelled gun, 30 December 1943



Battle of the Mediterranean

B-25s bombed Zara, Yugoslavia, hitting a junction, railway station, repair shops, warehouse, and harbor.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-618' saved 21 survivors from the sunken German destroyer Z-27. After the war these men became honorary members of the crew and took part in their annual meetings.

'U-545' fired four torpedoes at the convoy ON-217 and heard four detonations. Mannesmann thought that he had hit four ships, but the only ship hit was 'Empire Housman'. 'U-545' observed one ship sinking on 1 January. On 30 December, 'U-744' attacked also the convoy ON-217 and reported one ship damaged, it is possible that the already damaged 'Empire Housman' was hit.

10 RAF Lancasters of RAF No. 617 Squadron and 6 Pathfinder Mosquitos attempted to destroy a V1 site which had been missed on an earlier raid, but the markers were 200 yards from the target and, with the Lancasters' bombs well grouped around these, the site was again undamaged. No aircraft lost.

Photo: The U.S. Navy seaplane tender USS Albemarle (AV-5) underway in the Atlantic Ocean, with a Consolidated PBY Catalina on her seaplane deck, 30 December 1943



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 17 B-24's, flying from Tarawa Atoll, bomb Kwajalein Atoll and 9 B-25's from Tarawa hit the town of Jabor. A-24s from Makin, escorted by 24 P-39's, dive-bomb gun positions on Mille. Advance HQ, Seventh Air Force, is moved from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice to Tarawa, where it remains until the completion of the main campaign in the Gilbert and Marshalls.

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): 20 B-24's pound Monywa, Burma, hitting railway facilities and the area in general.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 8 Japanese fighters strafe Suichaan Airfield while 12 others provide cover; 2 US airplanes are destroyed on the ground; 8 P-40's intercept the formation after the attack and shoot down 3 aircraft.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Bougainville, Piva South (Piva Uncle) airstrip is completed; the field is located just inland from Torokina, on the coast of Emperess Augusta Bay. The Fiji patrol, composed of Fijians, having advanced along the Numa Numa trail, establishes outposts near the coast at Ibu village, where it can observe Japanese movements. An airstrip for use of Piper Cubs is cleared there. After aircraft attack Japanese positions on Pearl Ridge for 40 minutes, the Australian 25th Battalion, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division, begins an advance at 0800 hours local behind artillery and machine gun fire. Companies A and D meet heavy resistance and dig in by 1600 hours but Companies B and C reach their objectives. During the night, the Japanese mount strong counterattacks but are driven off.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville in the Solomon , 16 B-24's and 35 B-25's bomb Kahili and the bivouac and supply areas in the vicinity and 6 B-25's bomb the Korovo area. 19 B-24's, with 25 fighters covering, attack shipping at Rabaul and also hit Tobera airfield. The escorts encounter aggressive fighter opposition and claim 12 shot down.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Cape Gloucester Airfield (Tuluvu), located on the western tip of New Britain Island's northern coast, is declared secure; it has been taken by the Marines at very light cost. Heavy rains delay its improvements, and American aircraft do not start operating from the strip until February 1944.

In Northeast New Guinea, the Australian 2/7th Commando Squadron, 2/6th Commando Regiment, occupies Walum village. Walum is about 45 miles

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): A-20's hit positions in the Cape Gloucester area as US Marines completely secure the airfield. B-24's and B-25's bomb the Alexishafen and Madang areas, Sio, and targets of opportunity along the coast of the Huon Peninsula; P-39's strafe barges along the Huon Peninsula; and P-47's strafe the Madang area and huts between Sio and Vincke Point.

PACIFIC

Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) sinks Japanese oiler Ichiyu Maru, Java Sea, 02°45'S, 109°10'E.

U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboat Ukui Maru off Rabaul.