Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command A-20s attack Japanese Army ground troops and antiaircraft batteries near Gasmata and Cape Raoult.
• More than 60 Marine Corps SBDs, escorted by 80 AirSols fighters, attack the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul and coastal targets. 40 AirSols fighters later sweep the Rabaul area.
• A 347th Fighter Group P-38 downs an A6M Zero near the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul at 0915. VF-40 F6Fs down 2 Zeros over the Rapopo airfield at Rabaul at 0915 hours. VMF-211, VMF-212, and VMF-321 F4Us, and a VMSB-236 SBD crew down 29 A6M Zeros in the Rabaul area between 0912 and 0930 hours. In the unprecedented second mission, VMF-211, VMF-212, and VMF-321 F4Us down 16 more Zeros in the Rabaul area between 1710 and 1730 hours.
• During the night, 7 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Lakunai and Tobera airfields at Rabaul.

Air Operations, CBI

• 19 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s organized into two waves attack shipping at Mergui. 6 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 16 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack bridges at Myittha and Samon. 1 B-25 and 28 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack dumps at Kamaing and Mogaung. 16 P-40s attack the airfield at Myitkyina, rail bridges at Loilaw, and rail cars at Pidaung.

• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 28 14th Air Force P-40s attack the Kaitak airfield at Hong Kong. 2 B-25s attack three merchant ships near Wenchow.
• A 3d CACW Fighter Group P-40 downs an A6M Zero over Hong Kong at 1450 hours.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Flores Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

• 37 Mosquitos are sent to hit 6 different targets, there are 3 RCM sorties and 9 aircraft lay mines off Cherbourg, Brest and Le Havre.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Marshalls

21 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Taroa airfield at Maloelap. 23 VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Wotje Atoll at dusk. One B-24 attacks the Mille Atoll after dropping out of the main formation because of engine trouble.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges and coastal antiaircraft batteries. 35 V Bomber Command B-24s are intercepted by an estimated 50 Japanese fighters while attacking Wewak. 8th, 49th, and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 19 Japanese fighters in the Wewak area between 1100 and 1130 hours. 5 P-38s are also lost in the action.

Air Operations, Solomons

20 XIII Fighter Command P-39s attack targets of opportunity in the Shortland Islands.

Eastern Front

Moscow announces that adverse weather conditions and difficult terrain have held up the Russian forces in the Vitebsk sector.

Italy

By the end of day the Allies have 50,000 men ashore at Anzio but are only pushing forward very cautiously, inhibited more by the lack of drive from Gen Lucas than by the Germans. He waits for tanks and heavy artillery to arrive instead of launching immediate attacks inland against undefended roads and railway which carry supplies for defenders of the 'Gustav' Line. This caution helps the Germans who are quick to reorganize themselves. Kesselring insists that the 'Gustav' Line and Anzio can both be held despite von Vietinghoff's views to the contrary.

Hitler allows reserve forces to be assembled from north Italy, France and the Balkans in the hope of dissuading the British and Americans from future amphibious operations elsewhere in Europe. Within a week 8 divs are in place. 14th Army's headquarters arrives from north Italy to organize and lead them. In view of the scale of this rapid German reaction, criticism of Lucas for failing to push forward to Rome immediately is probably unfounded but a little more vigor could probably have secured better defensive positions before the Germans arrived in strength.

The immediate threat to the Allies, however, comes from the Luftwaffe which attack the new positions. German planes also attack 2 British hospital ships off the Anzio coast, sinking the St David and damaging the Leinster. The attacks are made at dusk with the ships fully lit and identified.

On the 'Gustav' Line, while units of the French Expeditionary Corps under Gen Juin re-take Monte Santa Croce, north of the German defensive line, the American 34th Div prepares to put in an attack towards the Rapido, north of Cassino, so as to encircle the town from the north and reach highway No 6, Via Casilina.

Mediterranean

The British destroyer Janus is sunk by a German aircraft glider bomb off Anzio. 160 of the crew are lost. 82 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Jervis, 11 more by other ships in the area. Jervis is hit and badly damaged by a similar bomb, but she is able to proceed to Naples under her own power. She has no casualties.

New Guinea

Troops of the 18th Bde, Australian 7th Div, in the Ramu valley advance up the slopes of the Finisterre Range toward Shaggy Ridge, capturing Maukiryo. As a result of this victory and of the occupation of Saidor the Allies now control the Huon peninsula completely. The Japanese garrisons, target of frequent air raids, withdraw northwest towards Madang. Allied air superiority is an important factor here and in the rest of the campaign in New Guinea.

Images from January 23, 1944

The Crew of a Jeep Attempt to Dig Out Their Vehicle, Bogged Down in Muddy Conditions near Anzio, 23 January 1944

British Medical Personnel in Italy, 23 January 1944

US Infantry Moving toward the Front in Italy, 23 January 1944

British Troops and American Rangers Meet on the Anzio-Rome road, 23 January 1944

Chaplain Leading a Group in Singing in Italy, 23 January 1944

Members of 'C' Company, Australian 2/9th Battalion, digging in at a newly-occupied part of Shaggy Ridge on 23 January 1944 during the Finisterre Range campaign in New Guinea

Members of 'C' Company, Australian 2/9th Battalion

British Soldiers Take Cover from Enemy Fire in Italy, 23 January 1944

British Soldiers Pass Deceased Germans in Italy, 23 January 1944