Army Air Force (AAF). Orders are issued for General Spaatz
to take command of United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe
(USSAFE). General Eaker, Eighth Air Force Commanding General,
is to command Allied Air Forces in Mediterranean Theatre of
Operations (MTO), after remaining in United Kingdom until
mid January to advise General Spaatz and General Doolittle,
the new Commanding General, Eighth Air Force.
Eighth Air Force. 439 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers and B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers bomb marshalling yards at Osnabruck and Munster. Heavy
cloud conditions along with malfunction of Pathfinder equipment
result in a large number of heavy bombers failing to attack
targets. 2 aircraft are lost on this mission. The British
Royal Air Force (RAF) light bombers attack numerous NOBALL
targets in France in conjunction with Osnahruck, Munster raids.
Ninth Air Force. 210 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-26 Marauder medium bombers sent to bomb special targets
in France are recalled because of bad weather.
Twelfth Air Force. General Williams reassumes command of XII
Troop Carrier Command (Provisional). P-40 fighters and Spitfires
of Twelfth Air Force, The British Royal Air Force (RAF), South
African Air Force (SAAF), and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
hit strong points in Tollo, Miglianico, Chieti East P-40 fighters
blast bridge, locomotives, trucks, and railroad tracks at
and near Tortoreto and Benedello. P-47 Thunderbolt fighters
strafe targets in area around Zara.
Fifteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
Operations are again limited to weather reconnaissance.
Fourteenth Air Force. 7 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, with fighters escort, bomb Hwajung.
2 others claim 3 direct hits on freighter 105 miles South
of Hong Kong. 65 Japanese bombers and fighters attack Kunming
airfield. 10 P-40 fighters and a P-38 Lightning fighters from
Kunming and several fighters from Yunnani engage the enemy
force in a 50 minutes running battle, claiming 12 aeroplanes
shot down. 2 United States aircraft are destroyed on the ground.
Damage to airfield is not serious. 7 P-40 fighters intercept
a force of 58 aeroplanes heading toward Chengkung, shooting
down 3 of them and preventing attack on the airfield.
Fifth Air Force. 130 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, B-25 Mitchell medium bombers,
and A-20 Havoc light bombers continue bombardment of Cape
Gloucester. Japanese air raid on Arawe causes minor damage.
Nearly 40 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, with P-38 Lightning
fighters escort, bomb Wewak and Boram. The P-38 Lightning
fighters, B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, and some P-47 Thunderbolt
fighters on sweep claim at least 13 aircraft shot down. B-25
Mitchell medium bombers and P-39 fighters bomb airfields and
barges at Madang and town of Alexishafen. A-20 Havoc light
bombers and B-26 Marauder medium bombers pound occupied area
North of Finschhafen.
Thirteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers carry out strikes against Numa
Numa, Kahili supply area, Buka's Chinatown area, and scattered
targets. Fighter aircraft and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
attack barge concentrations and hide outs at Sohano Island,
Chabai, Porton area, Anewa Bay, and Ambitle Island, and several
targets throughout Bougainville. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers,
operating individually and in pairs, attack targets near Bonis,
near Porton, and at Sohano Island.
Seventh Air Force. 11 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
A-24 from Makin dive-bomb cargo ships in Mille lagoon. Escort
is provided by 32 P-39 fighters and F6F Hellcat fighter. The
P-39 fighters strafe the ship and antiaircraft and gasoline
dumps on the island. The vessel is left burning.
Go To: 23rd
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
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