Air Operations, Europe
2 Finnish Fokkers destroy a formation of 7 Ilyushin bombers over Utti, northeast of Helsinki.
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]Battle of the Atlantic
- The British tanker Liberty (8485t) sinks in a British minefield 2 miles northeast of the Dyck Light Vessel with the loss of her entire crew of 24.
- During the night the Germans destroyers Friecrich Eckholdt, Erich Steinbrinck and Friedrich Ihn are involved in a minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary. The British destroyer Grenville and 6 merchant ships of 21,617 tons are lost in the field.
- The British motor trawler Eta (81t) sinks on a mile 6 miles northwest of the Outer Gabbard Light Vessel. This is a result of the German minelaying operation that is taking place this night. All of the crew are rescued.
| ]Finland - Winter War
Day 38
On the Ladoga Karelia a new counter-offensive is begun by the Finnish IV Army Corps north of the lake. The temperature at the time is -29 degrees Celsius. In northern Finland the Russian commander of the 44th Div on the Raate road orders his troops to break out to the east. Just before midnight they make their final unsuccessful attempt and the Finns record a crushing victory.
Viipuri is heavily bombed causing serious damage in the city. In southern Finland Lt Jorma Sarvanto in his Fokker fighter shoots down 6 Soviet planes from a formation of 9 who were returning from a bombing run over Kuopio. The action in the skies between Utti and Kotka lasts about 5 minutes.
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