Air Operations, CBIAs part of Operation GRUBWORM, 10th Air Force transports begin airlifting a reinforced Chinese Army infantry corps from Burma to China, where it is to help stop the Japanese Army advance toward Kunming. Throughout the operation, USAAF transport aircraft will make use of 1 airfield in Assam (the Ledo airfield) and 5 airfields in Burma, including 4 that have been constructed within only the previous two months. The airfields are Myitkyina North, Myitkyina South, Nansin, Sahmaw, and Warazup. BURMA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, East Indies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Europe558 8th Air Force planes escorted by 800 fighters attack the Tegel tank works in Berlin and the Münster marshalling yards. 12 bombers and 9 fighters are lost. 91 German fighters are shot down over Berlin. The RAF makes day and night raids on Soest. RAF BOMBER COMMANDDaylight Ops:
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, MarianasA 318th Fighter Group P-47 downs a C6N 'Myrt' reconnaissance plane near Saipan at 1030 hours. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Philippines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() BalkansBritish troops intervene in fighting between Greek Royalists and Communists. [![]() ![]() BurmaThe Japanese send a big contingent, 3,000 men, to Bhamo to relieve the garrison, which has been besieged for some time. The Chinese 30th Div advances in the same area, moving south toward Namhkam, harassed by small Japanese detachments hidden in the hills. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontUnits of the 3rd Ukraine Front operating in southwest Hungary, reach the south bank of Lake Balaton. Other units advancing along the Drava take Szigetvar. German headquarters announce that the Russians have crossed the Danube near Vukovar. SOUTHERN SECTORMalinovsky continues to attack at Ercsi and also unleashes a new attack north of the city. Preceded by arty and air strikes, the 7th Guards Army launching a ferocious attack into the Ipoly Valley, supported by the 6th Guards Tank Army and Group Pliev. Bitter fighting ensues prompting Malinovsky to commit the 6th Guards Tank to support the attack. The armored forces suffer heavy losses in the close quarters fighting but manage to push their way forward toward Vac. To the south the 46th Army continues to suffer heavy losses before Ercsi but do establish some minor bridgeheads. As these battles rage the 57th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front advances against the weaker southern wing of Army Group South, taking Szigetvar. The 37th Army takes Vukovar as it crosses the Danube in Yugoslavia. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Germany, Home FrontWomen over 18 are asked to volunteer for the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe to free men to fight. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() GreeceAthens is placed under martial law by Lt-Gen Scobie. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ItalyTroops from I Canadian Corps take Ravenna as 8th Army's attacks go on. MediterraneanBritish and Greek warships bombard ELAS positions at Piraeus and Salamis. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PhilippinesOn Leyte the US 6th Army begins the offensive agains Ormoc. As part of the X Corps attack south of the Ormoc Valley, the 126th and 127th Infantry Regiments of the 32nd Infantry Division meet strong resistance. The 12th Cavalry Regiment captures Hill 2348. The 7th Infantry Division breaks Japanese defenses at the Palanas Rivr, The 11th Airborne Division attacks from the east. Japanese suicide aircraft seriously damage two US destroyers, the Drayton (DD-366) and the Mugford (DD-389), off Leyte. However, the Japanese are quite unable to break the American air and naval blockade around the island. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Western FrontUnits of the 95th Div, XX Corps, US 3rd Army, continue their attacks against Saarlautern and Fraulautern. On the southern flank of the attack, the 5th Div enters Lauterbach. Patrols from the 35th Div reach the Saar. The US 7th Army opens a general attack northward toward the Maginot Line and the Siegfried Line with 2 corps along a 30-mile front. The 45th Div reaches Mertzwiller where it faces determined German resistance. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Images from December 5, 1944
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[December 4th - December 6th] |