Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 12 of 34 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s sent, escorted by more than 70 AirSols fighters, attack the Tobera airfield at Rabaul.
• 18th Fighter Group P-38s down 6 A6M Zeros over the Tobera airfield between 1230 and 1305 hours. 2 VF-30 F6Fs down an A6M Zero over Blanche Channel at 1245 hours. VMF-215 and VMF-321 F4Us down 10 Zeros and 2 Ki-61 'Tony' fighters in the Rabaul area between 1315 and 1510 hours.

Air Operations, CBI

• 18 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 9 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a Japanese Army bivouac at Kyaukchaw. 20 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack the main airfield and a satellite one at Meiktila. 17 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack Japanese Army ground troops, dumps, and workshops at Sawnghka. 11 P-40s attack Japanese Army ground troops and dumps at Shaduzup.
• A 311th Fighter Group P-51 downs a A6M Zero in an engagement near Ukyinkoi at 1140 hours and an 80th Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter in an engagenent near Fort Hertz at 1250 hours.
• 3 10th Air Force transport aircraft are downed by Japanese fighters while dropping supplies to Allied ground troops near Sumprabum.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail and port facilities at Campha Port, and oil storage at Mon Kay.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Laha, Ceram.

Air Operations, Marshalls

12 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Mille Atoll. 25 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s and 8 45th Fighter Squadron P-40 fighter-bombers attack an oil depot and a radio station on Jabor Island, in the Jaluit Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

40 V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Hansa Bay area and more than 70 B-25s attack the Bogadjim and Madang areas and support Australian Army forces clearing Shaggy Ridge. 8th and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 14 Japanese fighters over the Wewak area between 1050 and 1100 hours. A P-47 with the 49th Fighter Group’s 9th Fighter Squadron downs an A6M Zero near Wewak at 1150 hours. 3 P-38s are lost.

Britain, Home Front

Churchill returns from North Africa.

Italy

By daybreak both 5th and 56th Divs have crossed the Garigliano, are soundly established on the north bank and are pushing forward. Gen Heinrich von Vietinghoff commanding the German 10th Army gets permission from Kesselring, Supreme Commander in Italy, to start to move some of the reserve from the Anzio area to meet this attack. He cancels the order to send the Hermann Goering Pzr Div to France and transfers the 90th Panzergrenadiere from the Adriatic sector to the Aurunci Mountains to hold up the attack by the British X Corps. He also moves the 29th Pzr Div from Rome to reinforce the sector. Meanwhile, farther north, the US II Corps is engaged in clearing the minefields along the tracks leading to the Rapido.

Images from January 18, 1944

British 5.5 inch medium artillery in action during the night barrage which opened the assault on the Garigliano River by the British 10th Corp

British 5.5 inch Medium Artillery in Action

Royal Engineers move up through a smokescreen during training for the crossing of the River Garigliano in Italy, 18 January 1944.

Crossing the River Garigliano

British Infantry Crossing the River Garigliano in Assault Boats, Italy, 18 January

US Soldier Prepares Radio Transmitter on Balloon Rigging in Pomigliano, Italy, 18 January 1944

US Soldier Conducts a Radio Maintenance Class in Caserta, Italy, 18 January 1944

Armorers Clean Out the Cannon of a Typhoon

Armorers clean out the cannon of a No 245 Squadron Typhoon (JR311/MR-G) at Westhampnett, 18 January 1944. Like most Typhoon squadrons, No 245 had converted to the fighter-bomber role and was now taking part in an intensive period of dive-bombing attacks against ‘Noball’ targets (V-1 flying-bomb storage and launch sites) in northern France. Rangers and medium-bomber escorts were also regular activities.

SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann and his crew pose in front of Tiger ‘S04’ with its 88 “kill” markings. Wittmann was awarded the Knight’s Cross on 14 January 1944. His gunner, SS-Rottenführer Balthasar Woll, has just received the Knight’s Cross as well. The date is 18 January 1944.

Tiger Crew with 'Kill' Markings

Scouts Look at Cassino, Italy, 18 January 1944

View of Cassino, Italy, 18 January 1944

Italian Woman in Rubble in Italy, 18 January 1944

Bogged Sherman Tank of 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers), River Arielli, 18 January 1944

A Sherman Tank Squeezes under a Low Railway Bridge as It Moves Up Towards the River Garigliano, 18 January 1944