Large-scale daylight raids carried out on airfields and oil
installations in Northern France.
In Libya. The British Eighth Army occupied Castel Verde, 35
miles East of Tripoli.
Russian Front. Soviet troops occupied Salsk Southeast of Rostov
and Mikoyan in Caucasus.
In Australasia. With mopping-up at Sanananda, Japanese resistance
ended in Papua.
Twelfth Air Force. Another step is taken toward amalgamation
of United States and The British Royal Air Force (RAF) air
strength in Allied Air Force. Air support for United States
and British land forces in North Africa is coordinated by
formation of a new combined Headquarters, Allied A Support
Command, subordinate to Allied Air Force and under command
of General Kuter. The command consists of XII A Support Command,
242 Group (The British Royal Air Force (RAF)), a photo reconnaissance
unit, and other units that might be assigned to it. B-17 Flying
Fortress heavy bombers, operating in 2 forces, bomb El Aouina
airfield in the morning. B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit
the airfield shortly after noon and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
attack later in the afternoon. Other B-26 Marauder medium
bombers, on shipping strike, severely damage a freighter in
Straits of Sicily. Fighters fly escort for bombers and for
C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft and carry out numerous reconnaissance
and patrol missions. P-39 fighters and P-40 fighters support
allied ground assault in Ousseltia Valley which has been halted
by strong opposition. The fighters silence several machine-gun
positions.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb road junction near Tripoli. P-40
fighters fly cover and fighter-bomber missions as British
Eighth Army's 22d Armoured Brigade passes through 51st Infantry
Division at Homs and drives beyond Castelverde. Forces to
South advance to within 17 miles of Tripoli.
Tenth Air Force. 9 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-40
fighters bomb and strafe Nsopzup and hit target South of town.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Lae terrace area. B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers bomb Simpson Harbour and shipping and searchlights
at Rabaul, and attack vessel off Amboina. A-20 Havoc light
bombers strafe small boats in Baden Bay and at Woiba Island.
On this date Papua Campaign ends with collapse of organised
resistance on Sanananda front. A decisive victory has been
won by the Allied forces, the first of the war against the
Japanese on land.
Thirteenth Air Force. XIII Fighter Command moves from New
Caledonia to Espiritu Santo.
Eleventh Air Force. Weather reconnaissance aircraft finds
Kiska closed in and flies negative search mission for 2 missing
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. For first time weather aeroplane
draws antiaircraft fire through overcast at Kiska, suggesting
that the Japanese have fire-control radar.
Go To: 23rd
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
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