Eighth Air Force. 3 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-47
Thunderbolt fighters squadrons (2 squadrons carrying bombs)
attack Gilze Rijen airfield.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-40
fighters and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters attempt to support
Yugoslav partisans resisting German invasion of Korcula Island
off Peljesac Peninsula, but bad weather prevents location
of targets.
Fifteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-26 Marauder medium bombers hit viaduct at Antheor and railroad
bridge and marshalling yard at Imperia. Ventimiglia railroad
bridge is attacked. Bridge is not hit but overpass, tunnel,
tracks, and transformer station nearby are damaged.
Fourteenth Air Force. 29 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, escorted by 7 P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers
and 23 P-40 fighters, pound White Cloud airfield in Canton
area. The heavy bombers and fighters claim 11 interceptors
downed. 14 P-38 Lightning fighters dive-bomb and strafe Huang
Shan Kou. 2 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers claim l gunboat sunk
in Formosa Straits.
Tenth Air Force. 19 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers on night raid bomb railroad terminal
at Bangkok. Heavy explosions and large fires result.
Fifth Air Force. 61 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers bomb Cape Gloucester during the day.
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers follow during 23-
24
December 1943 with harassing attacks with small bombs, hand
grenades, and beer bottles. P-39 fighters hit barges between
Borgen Bay and Rein Ray, and P-40 fighters bomb Gasmata and
strafe Cape Hoskins. 80 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, B-26
Marauder medium bombers, and A-20 Havoc light bombers attack
coastal target is from Wewak to Hansa Bay, wide areas of Huon
Peninsula, and airfields at Alexishafen. B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers bomb Nabire.
Thirteenth Air Force. 17 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers attack gun positions and other
targets at Sohano Island, and 6 hit positions at Malevoli
in Choiseul Bay. 6 B-34 Lexington bomber attack radar station and lighthouse
on Cape Saint George. 16 P-39 fighters on patrol bomb and
strafe targets on Shortland Island. 18 B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers bomb Taharai airfield in llabaul area. Vunakanau also
is hit. Fighter escorts claim 30 aircraft shot clown over
Rabaul area. This begins a Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOLS)
all-out offensive against Rabaul area that continues until
the end of March 1944.
Seventh Air Force. During 23-
24
December 1943, P-39 fighters are airborne over Makin to intercept
enemy bombers. 2 bombers are shot down. 1 P-39 fighters is
lost. During the day, 19 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, staging
through Tarawa from Nanumea, bomb Kwajalein. 9 others, staging
through Baker from Canton Island, hit Wotje and Maloelap.
10 A-24 Banshee dive bomber, escorted by 20 P-39 fighters, attack Mille, hitting
shore installations and cargo vessel (wrecked by previous
day's raid) in lagoon.
R235
R-boat
Launched 23 December 1943
Go To: 24th
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
