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, Europe

• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack the harbor at Piombino, factories, a bridge, and a rail line.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack gun emplacements.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack troops, motor vehicles, and gun emplacements in and around the battle area, and rail targets throughout central Italy.

• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack ships, port facilities, and railroads around Metkovic and Ploca.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the marshalling yards at Pisa.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the marshalling yards at three locations and rail bridges at two locations.

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.

New Britain

The battered 7th Marines are relieved by the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines.

Images from January 18, 1944

British 5.5-in Medium Artillery in Action

Crossing the River Garigliano

British Infantry Crossing the River Garigliano

US Soldier Prepares Radio Transmitter

US Soldier Conducts a Radio Maintenance Class

Armorers Clean Out the Cannon of a Typhoon

Tiger Crew with 'Kill' Markings

Scouts Look at Cassino

View of Cassino, Italy

Italian Woman in Rubble

Bogged Sherman Tank

Tank Squeezes under a Low Railway Bridge