Air Operations, Bismarcks

6 V Bomber Command A-20s attack Cape Merkus, New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack Changte while 9 other B-25s attack Hofuh and their 16 P-40 escorts attack two nearby villages.

• 18 Japanese bombers escorted by approximately 50 fighters attack Tinsukia Airfield (Assam) in advance of a Japanese Army ground offensive in the region.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Koepang(?) and Penfoei, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• XII Air Support Command B-25s attack industrial targets, bridges, marshalling yards, and town areas at Ancona, Aquila, and Pescara.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a troop bivouac and gun emplacements.
• NATAF A-20s, fighters, and fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements, troop concentrations, roads, railroads, and bridges in and around the battle area.
• A 27th Fighter-Bomber Group A-36 downs 1 Ju-52 at 0930 hours over the Avezzano Airdrome.

• 15th Air Force B-24s, escorted by 82nd Fighter Group P-38s, attack the Athens/Tatoi Airdrome.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the Athens/Eleusis Airdrome.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the port area and shipping at San Stefano al Mare, and rail bridges at Orbetello.

Air Operations, Marshalls

22 VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Nanomea attack the Jaluit Atoll. 11 B-24s based at Canton Island attack the Mille Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack supply dumps on the Huon Peninsula near Finschhafen. V Fighter Command P-39s strafe barges between Saidor and Fortification Point.

Eastern Front

The Soviets make more progress toward isolating Znamenka by cutting a second rail line out of the town.

Lead elements of the XLVIII Panzer reaches the Teterev River, having inflicted considerable losses upon the 60th and 13th Armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front. The advance continues in the directin of Malin but Soviet resistance slowed its pace.

Znamenka is isolated by the 5th Guards Tank Army but the XL Panzer Corps launches a fierce counterattack in an effort to relieve the town.

Italy

French troops begin to come into the Allied line, first the 2nd Moroccan Inf Div who replaces the American 34th Div. The Italian 1st Motorized Group, incorporated in the Allied formations, attacks Monte Lungo but is driven off with very heavy losses. Other experienced Allied units are being withdraw, however, to be moved to Britain to join Operation OVERLORD. 5th Army's II Corps is still fighting to take the positions around San Pietro. On Monte Sammucro units of the US 36th Div, VI Corps, have to face a powerful German counter-attack. Canadian units with 8th Army begin attacks over the Moro River, a few miles from the east coast.

Marshall Islands

Kwajalein is bombarded by 4 battleships and 12 destroyers led by Adm Harry Lee. 2 carriers give air cover. The US destroyer Boyd (DD-544) suffers damage from a coastal battery. 1 Japanese destroyer is damaged in the raid.

Mediterranean

The British naval trawler Rysa sinks on a mine off Maddalena with the loss of 18 of her crew.

New Guinea

The Australians take Wareo and push on toward Sio, northwest of Finschhafen to which the Japanese garrison of Lae has retired.

Pacific

• US battleships and destroyers under the command of Rear-Adm Willis A. Lee pound Nauru Island. The destroyer Boyd (DD-544) is damaged by Japanese shore batteries.
• The US submarine Sawfish (SS-276) sinks the Japanese transport Sansei Maru (3267t) southwest of Chichi Jima.

Images from December 8, 1943

Canadian Soldiers Searching German Prisoners

British Soldiers Overseeing German Prisoners

Wounded British Soldier is Evacuated

Carrying a Wounded Soldier

US Artillery in Action

Allied Soldiers Interact with Italians

The North Carolina Bombarding Nauru