Air Operations, Bismarcks

• At the opening of Operation DEXTERITY, the invasion of New Britain, a reinforced US Army regiment is landed on the Arawe Peninsula. Opposition on the ground, which is scattered and light, is easily overcome. Opposition in the air is immediate and heavy as Rabaul-based fighters and bombers mount continuous attacks against the invasion flotilla and the landing force that will go on for several days.
• Plans for heavy day-long air strikes in support of the landings are called off due to the light opposition on the ground. 3 V Bomber Command B-25s from a 9-plane alert flight stationed over the invasion area attack barges near Cape Merkus. V Bomber Command B-24s attack Cape Gloucester and B-25s attack occupied villages in the Arawe area.

Air Operations, CBI

• 25 14th Air Force P-40s attack the airfield at Pailochi Airdrome. 22 P-40s strafe several occupied towns and villages.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack 2 freighters near Timor.

Air Operations, Marshalls

20 VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Nanomea attack the Maloelap Atoll. 10 B-24s based at Canton Island pass through the Baker Island airfield to attack the Wotje Atoll. 1 B-24 is downed by a Japanese Navy over Maloelap.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 21 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Sohano Island. 23 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 16 XIII Fighter Command fighters attack Buka. 6 B-25s attack targets around Numa Numa. AirSols fighters attack numerous tactical targets and targets of opportunity throughout the northern Solomon Islands.
• 11 VMTB-134 TBFs, each equipped with 12 delay-fused 100-pound bombs, attack Japanese Army reverse-slope defensive positions for the second day in a row. Guided by a senior infantry officer aboard the command TBF and dropping the bombs from low level on a tiny smoke-marked area within 75 yards of jungle-obscured friendly lines, the Marine pilots achieve an estimated 100-percent accuracy. However, the bombs fail to dislodge the defenders. A second attack by 5 of the TBFs rearmed at the Torokina airfield on Bougainville achieves perfect accuracy but no net result. In desperation, the 5 TBFs immediately mount dummy attacks against the Japanese defenses, and the Marine Corps ground troops overrun the position while the Japanese soldiers are under cover. This attack will be used as a template for direct-support air attacks later in the Pacific War.

Eastern Front

Over the next 4 days Bagramyan's 1st Baltic Front attacks south of Nevel and quickly punches a hole 80 km wide and 30 deep through strong defenses.

Italy

A new phase of 5th Army attacks begins as all units hit the 'Bernhard' line. There is a particularly fierce battle for San Pietro, where the II Corps is engaged. In the US 45th Div sector, the attack begins on the left against the hills overlooking the stream called La Rava and on the right against Lagone. On the north sie of the VI Corps, units of the Moroccan 2nd Div take Monte Castelnuovo and the San Michele Pass. The Germans resist forcefully.

New Britain

Gen Cunningham's 112th Cav Regt lands at Arawe off New Britain. This is a diversionary operation for the main landings on the island (see December 26). The naval units in support are from Rear-Adm Daniel E. Barbey's Task Force 76. An air attack on the Japanese airfield at Cape Gloucester provides further cover. The landing is carried out at 7:00a.m. and the thin Japanese defense is overcome with no difficulty. A surprise landing is attempted, but with no success, on the east coast of the Peninsula at Umtingalu, and also on the islet of Pilelo. This latter is captured during the day. The Japanese oppose the operation with fighters and bombers, attacking the American troops and ships, but to no great effect.

New Guinea

The Australians take Lakona, 15 miles north of Finschafen.

Solomons

A US naval operating base is established in the Treasury Islands. The Solomon Islands are now effectively within US control, and US commanders are planning the final operations to encircle Rabaul.

Soviet Union, Home Front

A public trial of 4 German war criminials has openen in Kharkov. The Germans tell the court of the methods used form mass killings of Soviet citizens such as the use of 'gas vans'. The 4 are executed publicly on December 19.

Images from December 15, 1943

Troopers of the 112TH Cavalry (Texas National Guard) wade ashore at Arawe as Marine LVTs carry in supplies on 15 December 1943.

Wading Ashore at Arawe

US Marines moving ashore at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, 15 Dec 1943

Marines Landing at Cape Gloucester

M4 Sherman tank and men of the US 1st Marine Division on the beach of Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, 15 Dec 1943

Sherman Tank and Marines at Cape Gloucester

Tanks of Company B, US Marine Corps 1st Tank Battalion at Arawe, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, Dec 1943

Marines on New Britain

A casualty being loaded into a DUKW on the beach at Fossacesia, 15 December 1943

Casualty Evacuation

New Britain. 15 December 1943. US troops disembark from landing barges in the early hours of the morning on the southern coast near Arawe.

Landing on New Britain