The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Lockheed Ventura
and Bostons bombers raided airfields at Caen and Le Havre,
Cherbourg and Flushing docks also bombed. The British Royal
Air Force (RAF) bombers carried out a night raid on Ruhr and
surrounding areas.
Russian Front. Soviet troops occupied Voroshilovsk (Stavropol)
in Caucasus.
Combined Chiefs of Staff. Casablanca Directive is issued.
It broadly outlines the operations of the Bomber Commands
of the United States and Britain located in United Kingdom
as having primary object of destruction of German military,
economic, and industrial systems and undermining of morale
of German people. Primary targets listed in order of priority
are submarine construction yards, aircraft industry, transportation,
oil plants, and other war industries. It largely relieves
VITI Bomber Command of supporting North African operations.
Eighth Air Force. General Eaker completes paper called The
Case For Day Bombing which he presents to General Arnold at
Casablanca Conference Eaker then discusses these ideas on
the merits of daylight bombing with Mr. Churchill in attempt
to convince him of its effectiveness. Mr. Churchill later
concurs. This paper leads to development of Combined Bomber
Offensive (CBO) program.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb highway and railroad bridge just
North of Pont-du-Fahs. B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit 2
freighters Northeast of Cap Bon, sinking 1 and damaging the
other. Fighters fly bomber and C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft
escort and fly sweeps and reconnaissance, attacking and destroying
large number of trucks on Gabes-Ben Gardane road. A-20 Havoc
light bombers and fighters escort bomb and strafe tank and
truck concentration near Ousseltia in support of elements
of United States 1st Armoured Division which begins Allied
assault in effort to push enemy back in Ousseltia Valley into
which new enemy offensive under new Axis Commanding General,
Colonel General von Arnim, has advanced in 4-day push.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers bomb Tripoli harbour. B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers attack targets along Surman-Az Zawiyah road.
P-40 fighters fly fighter-bomber missions against ground targets
as British Eighth Army overcomes resistance in area. Enemy
strengthens Tarhunah area at expense of Homs front, causing
General Montgomery to decide to make main effort along coast.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17
Flying Fortress heavy bombers bomb airfields and shipping
in Rabaul. In Northeast New Guinea B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
hit supply dumps and airfield. A single B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers attacks cruiser at Amboina harbour.
Thirteenth Air Force. Headquarters moves from New Caledonia
to Espiritu Santo. B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, B-26
Marauder medium bombers, and P-39 fighters pound bivouac and
other targets in Munda. B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers
also attack shipping East of Kieta.
Eleventh Air Force. Weather reconnaissance aeroplane flies.
An attack run over Kiska and patrol over Amchitka are called
off due to weather. Air searches for 2 B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers missing since
18
January 1943 continues.
R119
R-boat
Launched 21 and January 1943
Go To: 22nd
January
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
