Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-24s attack Cape Gloucester.

Air Operations, CBI

• In their unit’s combat debut, P-40s from the 80th Fighter Group’s 89th Fighter Squadron down 3 Ki-21 'Sally' bombers and 2 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters near Fort Hertz at 1120 hours. In the same action, P-51s with the 311th Fighter Group’s 529th Fighter Squadron down 2 fighters in the same general area.

• Japanese dive-bombers attack the airfield at Hengyang and cause heavy damage. 23rd Fighter Group P-40s and 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s down 5 Japanese aircraft over Hengyang and Lingling during several morning engagements.
• A 74th Fighter Squadron P-40 downs an A6M Zero near the airfield at Lingling during a midafternoon engagement. 2 P-40s are downed and one of the pilots is killed while bailing out of his crippled fighter.

• 12 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 15 14th Air Force P-40s attack a marshalling yard at Hanoi.

Air Operations, Europe

In a night raid on Chelmsford 3 Do-217s are brought down by 1 Mosquito.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack targets on the Huon Peninsula. 40 B-25s and B-26s attack bridges, dumps, and bivouacs along the Bogadjim road. V Fighter Command P-39s strafe barges near Madang.
• 49th Fighter Group P-38s and P-40s down 7 Japanese fighters 0900 and 0920 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville and a supply dump. US Navy PVs attack Arigua Plantation on Bougainville. XIII Fighter Command P-39 fighter-bombers attack antiaircraft batteries, a supply dump, and barges at Tonolei.

Eastern Front

Znamenka is taken by the Soviets. After a lull the 2nd Ukraine Front, formerly the Steppe Front, under Gen Ivan S. Konev resumes the offensive attacking Cherkassy on the lower Dniepr and Kirovo.

Fierce fighting continues at Znamenka where the 5th Guards Tank Army, now supported by the 5 Guards Army, finally overcomes German resistance. Elements of the 4th Guards Army also link up with the 52nd Army at Cherkassy, the latter having been fighting in isolation since crossing the Dniepr at the end of November.

Italy

Around San Pietro and on Monte L'Summucro there is much less activity while the Americans are consolidating. In the Adriatic sector the V Corps continues its advance northward along the coast with the Canadian 1st Div and the 8th Indian Div. With the support of an intensive naval and air barrage the Canadian 1st Div attacks Ortona.

Solomons

The first American planes arrive at the Cape Torokina airfield. This new air base is only 220 miles from Rabaul. Inland the marines are gradually extending American-held territory.

United States, Home Front

The long-running debate on the draft regulations end when Roosevelt signs a revised bill which puts those who have been fathers since before Pearl Harbor at the bottom of the list.

Images from December 10, 1943

Riflemen of the 48th Highlanders of Canada take cover during German counterattack north of San Leonardo, 10 December 1943

Taking Cover During German Counterattack

Canadian Sherman driven off the road by German mortar fire in the Moro River Campaign, 10 December 1943

Sherman Tank Driven off the Road

Sergeant George A. Game of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit operating his camera near San Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943.

Canadian Film Unit near San Leonardo di Ortona

Captain F.M. Ritchie of the 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Calgary Regiment) climbs out of his camouflaged Sherman tank, San Leonardo di Ortona, on 10 December 1943.

Camouflaged Tank of 14th Canadian Armored Regiment

Platoon Commander Lieutenant I. Macdonald (with binoculars) ready to give order to attack at S. Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943.

Getting Ready to Attack

Mortars from the 2/23rd Battalion, an Australian infantry unit, fire upon Japanese positions along the Wareo-Bonga track, 10 December 1943.

Australian Mortars Firing upon the Japanese

Private G.C. Butcher, 48th Highlanders of Canada, examines the wreckage of a German PzKpfw III tank destroyed by the Calgary Regiment, San Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943.

German Tank Destroyed by the Calgary Regiment

Vella Lavella airfield in the Solomons on 10 December 1943. Visible US Marine Corps Vought F4U-1 Corsair aircraft of Marine fighter squadrons VMF-123 and VMF-124, Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats, a Douglas SBD Dauntless, and RNZAF Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.IV (P-40F) on the primitive runway at Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands

Vella Lavella Airfield in the Solomons

President Roosevelt leans out of his Jeep and smiles on Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, C/G 5th Army, as he pins the D.S.C. [Distinguished Service Cross] on the General’s Field Jacket. The scene is at special ceremonies at Castelvetrano, Sicily, one of the President’s stopping points after his historic conference. Castelvetrano, Sicily, Italy. 10 December 1943

President in Sicily!

A jeep ambulance of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) bringing in two wounded Canadian soldiers on the Moro River front south of San Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943.

Canadian Jeep Ambulance

A scene in the forward area of the Sangro River Front, in Italy, showing villagers outside their wrecked homes, 10 December 1943

A Village near the Sangro River Front