Eighth Air Force. 658 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
heavy bombers, escorted by P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers and
P-38 Lightning fighters, attack oil plant at Ludwigshafen.
23 heavy bombers are lost on mission.
Ninth Air Force. About 100 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-26 Marauder medium bombers bomb Saint-Omer airfield and
V-weapon
sites on French North coast. About 100 others abort missions
because of bad weather.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Zara, hitting junction, railway
station, repair shops, warehouse, and harbour. A-20 Havoc
light bombers hit Atina. P-40 fighters and A-36 Apache dive bomber support
ground forces, hitting targets in Chieti, Miglianico area.
Vessels are hit at Crkvice, railway sidings near Frosinone,
gun positions near Arce and West of Minturno, and town areas
of Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, Ferentino, and Atina are bombing.
Fifteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers bomb marshalling yards
at Rimini and Padua. 2 heavy bombers are lost on the Rimini
mission. The heavy bombers and escorting P-38 Lightning fighters
and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters claim destruction of 9 fighters
during air battles in Padua, Vicenza area, off coast East
of Ravenna, and South of Aquila. B-26 Marauder medium bombers
hit Borgo San Lorenzo M'Y and viaduct, marshalling yard at
Viareggio, and road junction near Roccasecca.
Tenth Air Force. 20 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers pound Monywa, hitting railway facilities
and the area in general.
Fourteenth Air Force. 8 Japanese fighters strafe Suichwan
airfield while 12 others provide cover. 2 United States aeroplanes
are destroyed on the ground. 8 P-40 fighters intercept the
formation after the attack and shoot down 3 aircraft.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) A-20
Havoc light bombers hit positions in Cape Gloucester area
as United States Marines completely secure airfield. B-24
Liberator heavy bombers and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers bomb
Alexishafen and Madang areas, Sio, and targets along coast
of Huon Peninsula. P-39 fighters strafe barges along Huon
Peninsula. P-47 Thunderbolt fighters strafe Madang area and
huts between Sio and Vincke Point.
Thirteenth Air Force. 16 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and 35 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
bomb Kahili and bivouac and supply areas in the vicinity.
19 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, with 25 fighters covering,
attack shipping at Ftabaul and also hit Tobera airfield. The
escorts encounter aggressive fighters opposition and claim
12 shot down. 6 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers bomb Korovo area.
Seventh Air Force. 17 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, flying from Tarawa, bomb Kwajaleill.
9 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers from Tarawa hit town of Jabor
on Jaluit Atoll. A-24 Banshee dive bomber from Makin, escorted by 24 P-39 fighters,
dive-bomb gun positions on Mille. Advance Headquarters, Seventh
Air Force, is moved from Funafuti to Tarawa, where it remains
until completion of main campaign in Gilbert and Marshall
Islands.
Go To: 31st
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
