Air Operations, Aleutians6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 9 343d Fighter Group P-38s claim direct hits on two cargo ships in Kiska harbor. 2 343d Fighter Group P-38s down an A6M2-N 'Rufe' fighter-bomber over Kiska at 1430 hours. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Bismarcks
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeBOMBER COMMANDDaylight Ops:
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, SolomonsIn their combat debut from their new base on Guadalcanal, 69th Medium Bomb Squadron B-26s, escorted by P-38s and P-39s, attack the airfield at Munda Point, New Georgia. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Tunisia
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() AtlanticBattle of the Barents Sea or Operation REGENBOGEN (RAINBOW). The Lützow and the Admiral Hipper make repeated, bungled, attempts to destroy Convoy JW-51B, after which the Lützow is to break out into the Atlantic in Operation MORGENRÖTE (AURORA). Resourceful tactics by British destroyers and cruisers plus extraordinary vacillation of German commanders results in a fiasco. The British destroyer Achates and the minesweeper Bramble are lost, but the convoy escapes intact and the Germans retire ignominiously to Norway losing 1 destroyer. 113 are lost on the British destroyer, 81 are rescued. 120 are lost on the minesweeper.
Hitler is beside himself with fury and orders the immediate scrapping of the battle fleet. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Diplomatic RelationsThe International Red Cross is now spending £375,000 per month on food parcels for PoWs. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
Eastern FrontSOUTHERN SECTORThe Soviet 5th Shock Army recaptures Tomorsin as the Germans recreate XXIX Corps around Morozovsk. Operations URANUS and LITTLE SATURN have compelled Hitler to order an evacuation from the Caucasus, with XL Panzer Corps withdrawing from the Terek. The Red Army has achieved much since November 19. However, it has paid a high price in blood for its successes: Southwestern Front, 64,600 killed and missing; Stalingrad Front, 43,000 killed and missiong; Northern and Black Sea Groups, 132,000 killed and missing. There has also been operational shortcoming, especially with regard to coordinating infantry and armored units: as the tank corps advanced, the infantry fell behind and were unable to catch up once German forces moved in. Such was the fate of the XXIV Tank Coprs at Tatsinskaya, for example. In addition, poor coordination between the tanks corps allowed the Germans to engage them in a piecemeal fashion and inflict heavy casualties.[MORE] [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() GuadalcanalThe 2nd Battalion, 132nd Infantry, reaches Hill 11, east of the Gifu strongpint, the line of departure for the enveloping movement. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Japan, StrategyThe Japanese decide to evacuate Guadalcanal and establish a new defense line in New Georgia. [![]() ![]() New GuineaUrbana Force begins the envelopment of Buna Mission. Company E, 127th Infantry, and Company F, 128th Infantry, cross the shallows east of Buna Village before dawn and, although the Japanese offer strong opposition upon being alerted, advance about 200 yards along the spit extending from Buna Mission. Other elements of Urbana Force maintain pressure on the enemy from the southeast and finish clearing Government Gardens, but the enemy retains positions in the swamp north of the gardens. Patrol contact is made between Urbana and Warren forces. Warren Force finishes regrouping. The fresh Australian 2/12th Battalion is disposed on the left, the 3rd Battalion of US 128th Infantry in the center, and the Australian 2/10th on the right. With the arrival of additional cargo at Oro Bay by sea, supplies moved this way since the first vessel arrived on 11 December total some 4,000 tons. | ||||||||||
American Dead on Buna Beach | ||||||||||
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