Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack a ship at Arawe.
• 1 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24 attacks a transport off Gasmata.

Air Operations, CBI

• 22nd Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack Lashio.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

During the night, 26 B-24s of the VII Bomber Command’s 307th Heavy Bomb Group stage through Midway from Hickam Field, Oahu to attack Wake Island with 135 500-pound bombs and 21 incendiary bombs.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Wellingtons are sent on cloud-cover raids to Emden; 4 aircraft bomb the estimated location through the clouds. 6 Mosquitos make attacks on rail communications in Belgium, Holland, northwest Germany; 2 planes hit railway target.
• 1 Mosquito is lost.

• 4 Oboe Mosquitos are sent to Hamborn and Rheinhausen; there are 4 OTU sorties; and there are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Japanese Army ground troops near Buna.

Britain, Home Front

It is announced that the Roll of Honor of British war dead is to be deposited in Westminster Abbey, London.

Burma

Gen W. L. Lloyd orders his 47th Bde to advance down both sides of Mayu Peninsula while the 123rd Bde is to send the bulk of his force toward Rathedaung. A small detachment is to move farther inland in the direction of Kyauktaw. These dispositions are less than ideal because of the dispersion they bring about.

Eastern Front

The Soviet advances are very rapid and they retake several towns, including Morozovsk, Nilolkoe and Fydorovka. Recognizing that his Army Group B may be cut off from the rest of the German army if the Russians defeat von Manstein on the Don front, von Kleist begins the withdrawal from his most advanced positions in the Caucasus, where the Russians, 6 armies strong and completely reorganized, are attacking vigorously southeast of Nalchik. They are gaining ground on the Don front, and at any moment may surround not only von Paulus' 6th Army but also the whole of von Manstein's Don Army Group in the Stalingrad sector. In the central sector the Russians launch a powerful attack towards Velikiye Luki.

Leading units of the XVII Tank Corps closes upon Millerovo while elements of the 1st Guards Army encircle Chertkovo, isolating 10,000 Axis troops. The Germans try to break out over the next few days while the 19th Panzer Divisin launches an unsuccessful relief attempt.

The XLVIII Panzer Corps is forced to pull back from the Chir in order to cover the rear of Group Hollidt, the Tatskinskaya airbase and the northern approaches to Rostov. As the Germans fall back the XXIV Tank Corps closes upon Tatskinskaya.

Retreat of Army Group A from the Caucasus

German Army Group A begins a retreat from the Caucasus oil fields to the Don River after a limited Soviet offensive to prevent the breakout of German troops trapped around Stalingrad. The advance into the Caucasus region during the summer of 1942 had been largely successful until it bogged down in November due to weather, increased Soviet resistance and a lack of supplies. Unlike Stalingrad, Hitler allowed for the troops holding the Caucasus to begin to retreat in the face of Soviet pressure, even though the area was strategically important because of its oil supply. Like the rest of the German army in the Soviet Union, Army Group A was beginning what would be a long and painful journey back to Germany.

Hoth launches a final attack toward 6th Army. Bitter fighting rages as the 2nd Guards throw in its armor to halt the German thrust. Following this last effort Hoth had shot his bolt, his force being exhausted and at the mercy of the stonger Soviet forces opposing it.

New Guinea

Gen Oda takes over direct command of Japanese operations on the Sanananda front. Japanese units hold up the Australian advance along the Soputa-Sanananda track. Units of the US 127th Inf reinforce the bridgehead across Entrance Creek, while other elements of the same regiment begin mopping up on Musita Island after engineers have repaired the bridge linking it with the coast.

North Africa

During the night the British V Corps of 1st Army reopens the offensive with an attack just north of Medjez el Bab. The fiercest fighting centers around Djebel El Ahmera, later known as Longstop Hill. There is very heavy rain which does much to hinder the attack. The 2nd Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Brigade, do, however, attack and partly occupy Djebel el Ahmera, 6 miles northeast of Medjez el Bab.

Proper Way the Salute the Flag

Did you know that prior to WWII the proper way to salute the U.S. flag was called the Bellamy Salute. The salute consisted of each person — man, woman or child — extending his or her right arm straight forward, angling slightly upward, fingers pointing directly ahead. On December 22, 1942 the Congress of the United States changed it to the right hand over the heart for obvious reasons.