Eighth Air Force. Window metal foil strips which, when dropped
from an aeroplane, provide an echo which confuses radar locating
equipment is used for the first time on an Eighth Air Force
mission, when more than 470 heavy bombers attack port area
at Bremen
Ninth Air Force. 35 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-26
Marauder medium bombers attack
V-weapon
sites in North France. More than 150 others abort because
of weather.
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). Mediterranean Allied
Air Forces (MAAF) is established, retroactive to
10
December 1943. Commanded by Air Chief Marshal Tedder,
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) is comprised of all
Allied air elements (The British Royal Air Force (RAF), United
States Army Air Force (USAAF), French, and other) which are
operating in Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO). These
elements previously were part of Mediterranean Air Command
and Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF), which are disbanded.
United States Army Air Forces, North African Theatre of Operations
(USAAFNATO) is established with General Spaatz as commander,
to facilitate administration of Army Air Force units of Twelfth
and Fifteenth Air Forces.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-40
fighters and The British Royal Air Force (RAF), South African
Air Force (SAAF), and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter-bombers
blast vehicles and heavily defended areas near Chieti and
Orsogna, and hit fuel dump near Manoppello. A-36 Apache dive bomber bomb Terracina
and hit water towers, a train, and a railway station South
of Rome.
Fifteenth Air Force. 30 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb marshalling yard at Sofia,
and more than 100 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers hit Eleusis
airfield. Heavy bombers and escorting fighters claim over
30 fighters destroyed in combat. 9 of the escorts are lost.
Fourteenth Air Force. 11 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and 6 P-40 fighters from Kweilin
pound Yoyang railroad yards. P-40 fighters from Hengyang also
provide support for the medium bombers.
Fifth Air Force. Enemy bivouac is blasted by more than 90
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers.
A-20 Havoc light bombers hit Arawe area and P-38 Lightning
fighters in the area claim 10 enemy fighters shot down. P-40
fighters strafe target along South coast of New Britain. B-24
Liberator heavy bombers on armed reconnaissance bomb merchant
ship off Cape Pomax. B-26 Marauder medium bombers and B-25
Mitchell medium bombers hit bivouacs in Finschhafen area and
bomb town of Alexishafen.
Thirteenth Air Force. 13 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, with fighters cover, bomb Korovo
village and docks on Shortland Island. 8 others, with fighters
escort, hit Buka. Afterwards the fighters strafe Kieta and
Tenekow. Other fighters and B-34 Lexington bomber on armed reconnaissance,
patrol, and night snooper missions attack numerous targets
throughout Bougainville.
Seventh Air Force. 16 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers flying out of Baker and Nanumea
bomb Maloelap. 3 heavy bombers are shot down. United States
gunners claim 8 fighters destroyed.
Go To: 21st
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
