Air Operations, Europe

• 8 Mosquitos attack Cologne and Gelsenkirchen without a loss.

Despite bad weather, NATAF fighter-bombers are able to attack several targets.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 40 V Bomber Command B-24s, escorted by 29 V Fighter Command P-38s, attack Wewak-area targets, especially fuel amd supply dumps, with 150 tons of bombs.
• B-24s and P-39s attack the road net around Bogadjim.
• 3d Light Bomb Group A-20s and RAAF bombers attack targets around Finschhafen and Lae.
• 35th and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 7 Japanese fighters over Wewak between 1145 and 1150 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 5 394th Heavy Bomb Squadron radar-equipped SB-24s attack a Japanese Navy convoy in the northern Solomons, causing the ships to retire.
• During the night, the Japanese Kolombangara garrison begins withdrawing from the island without a fight.

Italy

In the sector in which the US 5th Army is operating the British X Corps and US VI Corps are able to resume their attacks, one toward Naples, the other toward Avellino. The 23rd Arm Bde advances in the direction of Castellammare di Stabia, while US Rangers take Sala Consilina. Units of British X Corps emerge into the plain of Naples at Nocera and push on. Inland US VI Corps is advancing near Avellino and has taken Teora despite having to advance over difficult roads.

Tank Crew Chat with RAMC Personnel

The Naples rising has not subsided. Col Scholl, the German area commander, sends tanks in against the insurgents, but the rebels, at heavy cost to themselves, immobolize 8 of the tanks and set them on fire, so that they hold up the others behind them. Barricades are erected, and the struggle grows.

New Georgia

Japanese forces begin evacuating Kolombangara Island. The New Georgia campaign has been characterized by continuous, close combat in dreadful conditions and under extreme hardship. Lacing firepower and experience, and slowed by lack of adequate supplies and disease, US soldiers and marines have fought in the jungle against an invisible, disciplined enemy occupying defensive positions that could only be taken by direct assault. As the battles at Buna and Gona in New Guinea have proven earlier, infantry working with tanks and flamethrowers make the difference in overwhelming Japanese defenses. But the victory has taken a heavy toll. US forces have suffered 5,100 casualties.

New Guinea

There are heavy Allied air attacks again on the Japanese airfields around Wewak.

Valentine Bridgelayer with Scissors Bridge

Occupied France

Gen Legentilhomme is appointed Free French Commissioner for National Defense.

Pacific

• The US submarine Cisco (SS-290) is sunk probably by Japanese naval aircraft and the gunboat Karatsu in the Sulu Sea off Panay Island.
• The US submarine Gudgeon (SS-212) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Taian Maru (3158t) north of Tinian, Marianas. The minelayer No. 2 Fumi Maru counterattacks but does no damage.

Solomons

During the night the Japanese begin to evacuate Kolombangara Island, where their bases have become useless as a result of the Americans' 'island-hopping' strategy.

United States, Planning

The 27th Infantry Division staff, which has been planning for an assault on Nauru in the Gilberts, is notified that its new objective will be Makin Atoll. Japanese troops on the atoll were estimated to be about 800, with anti-aircraft guns and as many as 40 machine guns. Two battalions of the 165th RCT will make the initial landing as part of Task Force 54, under command of Rear-Adm Richmond Kelly Turner. The second battalion will initially be held in reserve, then conduct a second landing.

Yugoslavia

The battle for Split continues; the Germans step up their attacks.