Air Operations, CBI

• 9 10th Air Force B-25s attack a bridge at Tonbo.
• 63 10th Air Force P-47s attack Japanese Army troops and supplies at Male.
• 21 P-47s support Allied ground forces around Bhamo.
• 17 P-47s attack Nawnghkio and nearby supply dumps.
• 14 P-47s attack 4 bridges at Mansam, Mongmit, and Namyao.
• 4 P-47s attack suplies at Myauk-le.
• 8 14th Air Force B-25s attack stores at Lashio.

• 2 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack cargo ships in the South China Sea.
• 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 9 14th Air Force P-40s attack Sankiao.
• 4 B-25s mount individual attacks against motor vehicles and targets of opportunity in the Hengyang area.
• 15 P-51s attack a Japanese destroyer and other shipping at Hong Kong.
• 65 fighter-bombers attack numerous targets in southern China.
• 80 of 108 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s dispatched from Chengtu attack an airplane factory and arsenal at Mukden, Manchuria; 11 B-29s attack a rail yard; and several B-29s attack targets of opportunity.
• 7 B-29s are lost.

Air Operations, East Indies

FEAF B-25s attack the airfields at Galela, Kaoe, Lolobata, and Miti on Halmahera.

Air Operations, Europe

• 1 Hudson makes a Resistance flight.

• 53 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and 7 to Hanau, and there are 3 RCM sorties.
• There are no losses.

• 12th Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, but XXII TAC P-47s attack numerous road and rail targets.

• Before dawn, small numbers of 15th Air Force B-24s attack an industrial area at Klagenfurt, and marshalling yards at Innsbruck and Salzburg.
• 15th Airce B-17s attack marshalling yards at Kagenfurt and Salzburg.

• Before dawn, several 15th Air Force B-17s attack a benzol plant at Spittal.

• 15th Air Force B-17s conduct a resupply mission to Athens.

Air Operations, Marianas

• At 0404 hours, several G4M 'Betty' bombers based on Iwo Jima strafe airfields on Saipan.
• 13 G4M 'Betty' bombers bomb the Saipan bases at about 1435 hours. 6 of the latter bombers are downed by anti-aircraft fire, but 3 B-29s are destroyed, 3 are severely damaged, and approximately 20 are lightly damaged.

Air Operations, Philippines

• Beginning at 0600 hours, US 6th Army ground forces land against light opposition at Ormoc Bay, Leyte, to cut the Japanese Army lines of supply and retreat. A total of 45-50 Japanese aircraft mount 16 separate attacks against the Ormoc Bay invasion fleet, but 36 are downed. In the first organized suicide (kamikaze) air attacks of the war, however, 5 ships are damaged, of which 2 must be scuttled.
• FEAF B-24s attack the Legaspi airfield on Luzon, the Malogo airfield on Negros, and Masbate.
• During the morning, VMF-211 F4U fighter-bombers patrolling Ormoc Bay, Leyte, locate and attack 7 Japanese ships attempting to land reinforcements. 8 F4Us take on Japanese escort fighters and 4 F4Us attack the ships. 1 Japanese destroyer is set on fire, and it runs aground.
• 3 VMF-211 F4Us and their pilots are lost.
• During the afternoon, Marine Air Group 12 F4U fighter-bombers escorted by V Fighter Command P-38s attack the Japanese convoy at Ormoc Bay once again. 3 cargo ships, a destroyer, and a troop transport are sunk.
• In all, throughout the day, the Japanese convoy is attacked by 86 P-47s, 43 P-40s, and 24 F4Us.
• VMF(N)-541 F6Fs down a twin-engine airplane over Ormoc Bay at 0145 hours and a Ki-48 'Lily' bomber near the Camotes Islands at 0610 hours.
• A 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron P-40 downs a D3A 'Val' dive bomber at sea at 0715 hours.
• A 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-45 'Nick' fighter at 0835 hours.
• 348th Fighter Group P-47s and 475th Fighter Group P-38s down 2 Ki-21 'Sally' bombers, 1 Ki-45 'Nick' fighter, and 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter near Ponson Island between 0940 and 0950 hours.
• V Fighter Command and 49th Fighter Group P-38s down 4 Ki-49 'Helen' bombers, 1 Ki-45 'Nick' fighter, and 3 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over Cebu and Ormoc Bay at 1000 hours. 49th and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 1 Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane, 1 Ki-21 'Sally' bomber, and 9 fighters over Ormoc Bay and Cebu between 1115 hours and noon.
• 348th Fighter Group P-47s and 475th and 49th Fighter group P-38s down 1 Ki-21 'Sally' bomber, 1 Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane, 1 Ki-48 'Lily' bomber, 1 Ki-49 'Helen' bomber, 1 B5N 'Kate' torpedo bomber, and 35 fighters over Cebu and Ormoc Bay in a steady stream of engagements between 1400 and 1810 hours.

Allied Planning

Gen Eisenhower holds a meeting with his senior commanders to establish missions for 1945. Both Montgomery's 21st Army Group and Bradley's 12th Army Group have been struggling in the difficult terrain before the Rhine. After several weeks of fighting, the armies have gained only a few miles. At the small-unit level, gains are measured in yards. The Allied advantage in air power and tanks has been neutralized by both bad weather, which has prevented effective air support to ground forces, and by the nature of the wooded terrain, which limits the use of tanks. Nevertheless, it is agreed that the goal for future operations will be to clear out German forces west of the Rhine River. The Roer River dams are recognized as a priority for the Americans. The Allies plan to launch a new offensive on January 12. In the meantime, Allied forces will make limited attacks, but the majority of the divisions will rest and refit. Field Marshal Montgomery's 21st Army Group will have the priority of effort in the upcoming offensive. Montgomery believes the broadfront strategy Eisenhower continues to promote is wasteful. He argues for a single main thrust (under Montgomery's command) to create a breakthrough.

Britain, Home Front

Beginning December 9, premises need not be blacked out when alerts are sounded.

Eastern Front

In Hungary the 3rd Ukraine Front reaches the south bank of Lake Balaton. As part of the plan to free the area between the lake and the Danube, Adony, about 25 miles south of Budapest, is occupied and also Eyning, some 20 miles from Szekesfehervar. The Russian left wing, operating between Lake Balaton and the Drava, takes Barcs. Moscow announces that the Germans are drawing reinforcements from Italy and the Western Front to defend Budapest, which has become the southern pillar of their Eastern Front.

Yugoslav troops cross the Danube at various points near Vukovar in Slovenia. The German High Command announces that German troops are evacuating Montenegro and western Serbia in accordance with prearranged plans. Actually Montenegro was evacuated some time ago.

Adony falls to the 46th Army. Barcs also falls as the Soviets close up to the Drava. Hitler declares Budapest a 'Fortified Place' and orders it be held at all costs.

Units of the 4th Guards Army reaches Lake Balaton, having broken through the 2nd Panzer Army.

Greece

An uprising by the Communists (ELAS) in Athens bring British troops and tanks onto the streets.

Japan, Home Front

An earthquake rocks the Tokai area, disrupting rail communications and temporarily halting production at the Mitsubishi aircraft works in Nagoya.

Philippines

On Leyte aircraft of the US 5th Air Force, together with army and Marines aircraft, attack a Japanese convoy of 6 transports and 6 escort vessels heading for Leyte with reinforcements and provisions. The pilots report that they have sunk all the enemy ships.

At 7:07a.m., after an intensive preparation by naval gunfire, the US 77th Div under Gen Andrew Bruce, XXIV Corps, begins the laniding at Deposito, in Ormoc Bay. It is exactly 3 years since Pearl Harbor. The Japanese put up very little resistance, and the landing force is able to penetrate into the interior very quickly. Some 50 Japanese aircraft carry out 16 raids on the landing zone; 36 aircraft are brought down, but not before kamikaze have damaged the American destroyer Mahan (DD-364) and the fast transport Ward (APD-16). Both ships are later sunk by US forced. Another US destroyer, the Lamson (DD-367), the fast transport Liddle (APD-60) and LST-737 are all damaged by kamikazes. US Army aircraft sink the Japanese transport No. 11 in the day's action.

Meanwhile the US 7th Div continues its advance on Ormoc from the south. Fighting goes on in the Buri airfield area.

Romania, Politics

A new government takes office. Led by Gen Badescu they are pledged to implement fully the terms of the armistice, to help the Allies and to purge all pro-Nazis.

Western Front

The US 90th and 95th Divs continues the battle to consolidate their positions, the first in the Patchen-Dilligen sector, the second in the Saarlautern bridgehead. The XII Corps re-groups in readiness for the attack on the Siegfried Line by the 35th and 26th Divs, between Saarbrücken and Zweibrücken.

On the southern flank of the front, while the I Corps of the French 1st Army opens the attack on the Colmar pocket, the II Corps is engaged in holding the very strong counterattacks of the German 19th Army in the Ostheim, Guemar and Mittelwihr sectors.

Images from December 7, 1944

Warning Sign near Ravenna

Firing a Vickers Machine-gun

Damage to Railroad Yard

Giant Crane In Action

St Nicholas Day Party

Lamson on fire in Ormoc Bay

Clearing the Streets

Ward (APD-16) Burning in Ormoc Bay