Air Operations, Bismarcks90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount single-plane attacks against Gasmata. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, CBIBURMA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeBOMBER COMMANDEvening Ops:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, LibyaIX Bomber Command B-24s attack port facilities and the town of Tripoli. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, New Guinea
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, PacificB-17s carry out a night raid on shipping at Rabaul. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Solomons
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Battle of the AtlanticFortress 'G' of No 208 Squadron is patrolling in support of convoy ON-160 when she spots a surfaced submarine about 5 miles on the port bow. The aircraft drops several depth charges, four of them straddling the submarine. U-337 is observed to sink by the stern.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Diplomatic RelationsIraq declares war on Germany, Italy and Japan. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontThere is continuous heavy fighting in all sectors. In the Caucasus, von Kleist's Army Group A continues to pull back in good order. Von Manstein is still fighting to defend Rostov, and in the north the Russians continue to try to clear and widen the supply route to Leningrad. This route is nowhere wider than 6 miles and it is so much under German fire that it becomes known as the 'Corridor of Death'. At Stalingrad the Germans now hold only about 250 square miles of territory, about half as much as 5 days ago. Rokossovsky's armies continue their furious attempts to wipe out the Germans. Italian forces are routed by the Russians west of the Don as the Red Army launches a major offensive across the upper reaches of the river. SOUTHERN SECTORThe expected collapse of the Hungarian 2nd Army happens as Soviet armies pour west. Inside the Stalingrad pocket the Germans lose Pitomnik airbase as Soviets advance toward the city and the only remaining airbase at Gumrak. By this stage of the battle the Soviet spearheads are only 6 miles west of the Volga. German forces in the Caucasus withdraw but come under attack by the 44th Army. Luckily for Army Group A the Soviet attacks are badly coordinated and unable to disrup the withdrawal. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() GuadalcanalThe CG, XIV Corps, orders a second co-ordinated westward offensive in order to extend positions through Kokumbona to the Poha River. A Composite Army-Marine Div (CAM) is formed consisting of the 6th Marines and the 182nd and the 147th Infantry Regiments and the 2nd Marine and the Americal Div artillery units. The division is to drive westward on a 3,000-yard front in the coastal sector while the 25th Div attacks southwestward on the corps southern flank to envelop the enemy's southern flank. In the 35th Infantry sector, B Company reinforced, advances westward to the corps objective, some 1,500 yards west of the Sea Horse, without opposition, gaining positions on the precipice overlooking the southwest fork of the Matanikau. The 2nd Battalion CO decides to make a double envelopment attack against the Gifu on the 17th and sends elements from Hill 27 to Hill 42 to attack from the northwest as other force drive northward from Hill 27.[MORE] [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() New GuineaAfter the usual air and artillery preparation converging attacks near Sanananda by the American 163rd Infantry and the Australian 18th Brigade both make progress. On the left, the Australian 18th Brigade drives quickly along the Killerton trail to the coast and clears a broad coastal strip from Cape Killerton to the outskirts of Sanananda Vilage. On the Soputa-Sanananda road, the 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry, having been relieved of the task of clearing an enemy pocket by the 3rd Battalion, attacks northward, bypassing a strongpoint immediately ahead to gain a position some 400 yards west of the road. The 3rd Battalion finishes clearing the pocket between Musket and Fisk. From the trail junction east of the coconut plantation, the 2nd Battalion of the 163rd Infantry hacks its way southeast of the Soputa-Sanananda road about 1,000 yards behind the enemy's main line and makes contact with the 1st Battalion and the Australian 18th Brigade. Attacking toward Sanananda from the east, the 1st Battalion of the 127th Infantry makes negligible progress along the coastal road. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() North AfricaLIBYAAfter passing through the enemy's main positions at Buerat, the British 8th Army pushes energetically toward Tripoli. The coastal force reaches Churgia and the enveloping force crosses Wadi Zem Zem. The 8th Army and Free French, advancing from southern Libya, join forces.
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[January 15th - January 17th] |