Second Cairo conference (SEXTANT) opens and lasts until
6
December 1943. President Roosevelt, Mr Churchill, and
Inonu attend. Mr Churchill discusses possibility of Turkey
entering the war. Plan for amphibious assault in Bay of Bengal
is cancelled. A tentative timetable is set up for Pacific
offensive. Unified Command is established in the Mediterranean
effective
10
December 1943.
Ninth Air Force. Ninth Air Force directive establishes Operation
CROSSBOW for IX Bomber Command and provides a list of targets
to be attacked immediately. IX A Support Command, constituted
on
29 November
1943, is assigned to Ninth Air Force, activated, and stationed
at Aldermaston Court in England with Colonel Clarence E Crumrine
as Commanding Officer. 203 B-26 Marauder medium bombers dispatched
to attack Chievres and Lille, Vendeville airfields must abort
mission due to bad weather.
Twelfth Air Force. Weather grounds Twelfth Air Force elements
of Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF).
Fifteenth Air Force. All missions are cancelled by bad weather.
Tenth Air Force. 5 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers mine Rangoon River while 12 others
mine the Sal Nveen River at Moulmein during 4-
5
December 1943.
Fourteenth Air Force. 11 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and 12 P-40 fighters bomb Changte,
which was taken by the Japanese earlier in the day. 11 more
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and 24 P-40 fighters follow with
2 more attacks on Changte. Other P-40 fighters drop ammunition
to Chinese troops on Tehshan Mountains.
Fifth Air Force. Nearly 50 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
bombers hit Cape Gloucester airfield and attack shore targets
from Rottock Bay to Rein Bay. 12 A-20 Havoc light bombers
hit villages and supply dumps in Finschhafen area. 30 P-40
fighters sink an oil laden lugger and 2 barges off Bogia and
bomb bridge near Bogadjim.
Thirteenth Air Force. XIII Fighter Command completes move
from the New Hebrides to Guadalcanal. 21 B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers attack Chabai. 17 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers follow
with strike on same target.
Seventh Air Force. 34 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers from Ellice and Canton Islands
bomb Mille. Over 20 others abort due to bad weather. 8 B-24
Liberator heavy bombers from Funafuti attack Nauru.
Eleventh Air Force. 3 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
bombers return early from an armed sea search, due to weather.
Go To: 5th
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
