Ninth Air Force. Ninth Air Force comes under operational control
of Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF). New directive for
tactical bomber operations lists reduction of enemy fighters
forces as basic objective. A Ninth Air Force planning staff,
composed of officers who have had service with Chief of Staff,
Supreme Allied Commander (COSSAC), is set up in London.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb airfields at Mostar, and A-36 Apache dive bomber
and P-40 fighter-bombers attack vessels, vehicles, and parked
aircraft North and East of Peljesac Peninsula, near Mostar,
and at Zemonico landing ground. B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
and A-20 Havoc light bombers bomb roads at Pontecorvo and
North of Frosinone. Fighter-bombers blast gun positions along
United States Fifth Army front.
Fifteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, with P-38 Lightning fighters
and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters escorts, bomb marshalling yards
at Bolzano and Innsbruck. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, with
P-38 Lightning fighters escort, attack Avisio viaduct. All
targets suffer considerable damage.
Eastern Air Command (EAC). Eastern Air Command (EAC), a combined
United States British Command, is formed under General Stratemeyer,
with AVM Williams as Assistant Commander. Headquarters, at
New Delhi, will control all operational air units in Assam
and Burma which presently make up Tenth Air Force and The
British Royal Air Force (RAF) Bengal Air Command. Major components
of Eastern Air Command (EAC) are to be Third Tactical Air
Force under AM Baldwin, Strategic Air Force under General
Davidson, Troop Carrier Command under General Old, and Photo
Reconnaissance Force under Group Captain Stewart G Wise. Strategic
Air Force and Troop Carrier Command are activated on this
date, the former having Headquarters at Belvedere Palace,
Calcutta, and the latter at Comilla.
Fourteenth Air Force. 25 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-40 fighters strafe parked aircraft, trucks, and several
buildings at Pailochi. At least 3 enemy aeroplanes are destroyed.
2 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers on sea sweep over Gulf of Tonkin
claim 1 ocean going tug sunk. 16 P-40 fighters on armed reconnaissance
strafe towns of Owchihow and Shihshow. 6 others attack town
of Luchiangpa and villages in the area.
Fifth Air Force. As a preliminary to main invasion of New
Britain, United States forces under command of General Cunningham
land on West coast of Arawe peninsula about 0700 following
naval and air bombardment B-25 Mitchell medium bombers pound
villages in Arawe area. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb
Cape Gloucester while P-39 fighters strafe barges at Reiss
Point. B-25 Mitchell medium bombers hit 2 freighters on Timor.
Thirteenth Air Force. 21 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers strike Sohano Island. 6 B-25
Mitchell medium bombers hit installations in Numa Numa-Arigua
area. 23 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and 16 fighters attack
Buka, causing heavy damage in Chinatown area. P-40 fighters
destroy bridge at Runai. Numerous targets are attacked by
Army Air Force aircraft, operating individually and in small
flights, on armed reconnaissance over Bougainville and other
North Solomons areas.
Seventh Air Force. 20 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers from Nanumea hit Maloelap. 10,
staging from Canton Island through Baker Island, bomb Wotje.
1 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers is lost on Maloelap raid. 2
enemy fighters are claimed destroyed.
Go To: 16th
December
Articles:
The Second Great War.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
The War Illustrated.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
2194 Days Of War.
ISBN-10: 086136614X
For a complete list of
sources
