Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Borgen Bay area.

Air Operations, CBI

• Approximately 30 Japanese bombers and fighters attack the airfield at Suichwan, but intercepting 23rd Fighter Group P-40s down 1 D3A 'Val' dive bomber and 6 Japanese fighters over Nanchang at 1500 hours.
• 3 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfield at Hankow Airdrome. 14 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 10 14th Air Force P-40s attack Ansiang and Shihshow.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Balikpapan (Borneo) and Makassar (Celebes).

Air Operations, Far East

40 USAAF and Chinese aircraft are destroyed in a surprise night attack against Allied airfields in Hunan Province, China. The Japanese are hoping to sever the highly efficient air supply services relied on by Chinese Nationalist troops assaulting the city of Kung-an.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a heavy raid by the 8th Air Force on the Emden U-boat yards. 20 planes are lost. The Americans claim 138 German fighters are shot down.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack bivouacs in the Fortification Point and Finschhafen areas.

Air Operations, Solomons

• More than 20 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and several 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Arigua Plantation, Bougainville. 16 B-25s attack Kahili in two waves. 8 XIII Fighter Command P-39s fighter-bombers attack Tonolei. Other AirSols aircraft attack targets of opportunity.
• A VF(N)-75 F4U night-fighter downs a G4M 'Betty' bomber near Cape Torkina at 2300 hours.
• During the night, AirSols night fighters attack the Bonis and Buka airfields on Bougainville, and a Japanese Army bivouac on Bougainville.

Allied Command

Lord Louis Mountbatten decides to integrate the US 10th Air Force and the RAF 'Bengal Command' in a single Eastern Air Command. All Allied air forces in the sector are put under the command of Air Chief-Marshal Sir Richard Peirse.

Allied Planning

Gen Arnold, GC USAAF, declares that the Allies are almost ready to launch a '24-hour 360-degree' bombing assault on Germany from north, south, east and west. 'We are going to hit them every day and the RAF every night.'

Italy

The fighting in 5th Army's sector has continued now for several days. There are in yet no decisive gains for either side and the Allied momentum is being worn down.

Images from December 11, 1943

An American-built Chance-Vought Corsair landing aboard the British carrier HMS Illustrious, December 1943

Corsair Landing Aboard the Illustrious

US Navy WWII Seabee in full deep-water diving gear used by the combat demolition units and deep sea construction divers, 11 December 1943. (Photo: US Navy)

US Navy Seabee in Diving Gear

The US 45th Infantry Division Camp, Venafro, Italy, December 1943

Moroccan Infantry Troops in Italy, Late 1943 (US Army Center for Military History)