Air Operations, Bismarcks

More than 130 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack Cape Gloucester, but Japanese bombers are able to attack US ground forces at Arawe without aerial opposition.

Air Operations, CBI

• 7 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack Hawjung and 2 B-25s attack a freighter at sea south of Hong Kong.
• An estimated 65 Japanese bombers and fighters are intercepted by 14th Air Force fighters as they attack the airfield at Kunming in advance of a major Japanese Army ground offensive against India. 7 14th Air Force P-40s are able to turn back a force of nearly 60 Japanese bombers and fighters on its way to attack the airfield at Chengkung.
• 26th Fighter Squadron P-40s down 4 Ki-21 'Sally' bombers and 5 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over Tien Chih Lake between 1135 and 1225 hours. 16th and 25th Fighter squadron P-40s down 8 A6M Zeros and 'Oscars' over Kunming between 1140 and 1245 hours.
• A 76th Fighter Squadron P-40 downs a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance aircraft near Kweilin airfield during the noon hour.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 11 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s escorted by a total of 32 VF-1 F6Fs and 318th Fighter Group P-39, attack ships in Mille lagoon. The P-39s also strafe ships and dumps.
• A VF-1 F6F downs an A6M Zero over the Mille Atoll at 1400 hours, and another VF-1 probably downs another Zero in the same action.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Preliminary to the upcoming landings at Saidor, 40 V Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfields at Boram and Wewak, B-25s attack the airfield at Madang and Alexishafen. 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s and 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Japanese Army ground positions near Finschhafen. V Fighter Command P-39 fighter-bombers attack barges in the Madang area.
• 8th and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 16 fighters over Wewak between 0940 and 1000 hours. 348th Fighter Group P-47s down 3 A6M Zeros over Wewak between 1320 and 1340 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Bomber Command B-24s and AirSols fighters attack barges and barge hideouts throughout the northern Solomons area. B-24s mount individual attacks against numerous targets of opportunity. 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Buka, a supply dump at Kahili, Numa Numa, and numerous targets of opportunity.

China

The Japanese bomb Kunming, in Yunnan, again as part of their preparations for the offensive against India.

Germany, Home Front

Berlin threatens reprisals on British and American prisoners in retaliation for the Russian atrocity trials at Kharkov.

Italy

The Canadian 1st Div has now entered Ortona but the fight for the town goes on from street to street and house to house. The Canadians are being forced to fight a sort of urban guerilla war which they are not used to. The town is defended by a unit of 1st Paratroop Div and the attackers come from 2nd Canadian Bde. Monte Cavallo is taken by the 5th Army.

Spain

The repatriation of 14,284 men of Division Azul from the Russian Front is officially completed. 3,000 volunteers fight on as the Legion Azul.

Images from December 22, 1943

Wounded Moroccan Soldier Evacuated in Italy, 22 December 1943

Panzer VI (Tiger I) (with broken track?). Russia 22 December 1943

New Zealand Division on the Italian Front receive their New Zealand Patriotic Fund parcels at lunchtime, a few days before Christmas, 22 December 1943

New Zealand Soldiers Receive Christmas Packages

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H, Russia Center, 22 December 1943

Mignano, 22nd December 1943, after its capture from the Germans. This is its main street now heaped with wreckage. Civilians can be seen searching the ruins for salvageable material and a family group stands by a blasted building where they still maintain a home.

Mignano After Its Capture from the Germans

8.8cm FlaK 36, Gun C of Its Battery, Being Leveled, Russia, 22 December 1943

10.5cm Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 and Felbhaubitzprotze 18/40 Pulled by Horses, Nevel, Russia, 22 December 1943

Soldaten der Panzertruppe in Panzer IV, Russia 22 December 1943