Air Operations, CBI

• 12 10th Air Force B-25s attack a bridge at Hsenwi, a railroad station at Kyaukme, and road junctions at Mongmit and near Kyaukme.
• 42 10th Air Force P-47s attack a truck park and troops and supplies at 4 locations.
• 11 P-47s attack rail targets of opportunity.
• 7 P-47s attack a bridge at Tonbo.
• 4 14th Air Force P-38s attack road traffic between Wanling and Mongyu.

• 16 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by 24 14th Air Force P-40s, attack Pengpu.
• 4 14th Air Force P-51s attack 2 freighters off Hong Kong.
• 2 P-40s attack 2 locomotives at Siyang.
• 13 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s unable to attack their primary target in Japan attack Shanghai (a secondary target), and 2 B-29s attack other alternate targets in China.

Air Operations, East Indies

FEAF B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack the Kairatoe area on Ceram and targets of opportunity elsewhere in the region.

Air Operations, Europe

• 32 Lancasters of No. 3 Group carry out a G-H raid on the railway yards in Trier behind the front on which the Germans are attacking in the Ardennes.
• There are no losses.

• 12 Lancasters of No. 3 Group minelaying in the Kadet Channel off Denmark.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Japan

Due to bad weather, only 17 of 36 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s dispatched from Chengtu, China, are able to attack their primary target, an aircraft factory at Omura. 2 B-29s are lost in accidents.

Air Operations, Philippines

• The planned renewal of Task Force 38’s pre-invasion bombardment of Luzon is thwarted by bad weather, but FEAF B-24s attack the Legaspi on Luzon.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Fabrica airfield on Negros.
• V Fighter Command P-38s attack the Batangas airfield on Luzon.
• Fighter-bombers attack the Alicante, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Fabrica, and Silay airfields on Negros, the town area at Palompon, and targets of opportunity throughout the central Philippines.
• 2 VMF-218 F4Us down an A6M Zero over the Silay airfield on Negros at 1725 hours.

Air Operations, Volcano Islands

• 27 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 25 30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Iwo Jima.
• 14 318th Fighter Group P-38s guided by 3 XXI Bomber Command B-29s strafe Iwo Jima airfields.
• 2 318th Fighter Group P-38s down an A6M Zero over Iwo Jima at 1110 hours.
• During the night, 4 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s mount snooper raids against Iwo Jima. These are the first such missions by VII Bomber Command B-25s, but B-24s have been conducting such harrassment attacks almost every night of the month.

East China Sea

The American submarine Redfish (SS-395) sinks the Japanese carrier Unryu.

Eastern Front

The III Panzer Corps is ordered to leave its panzers south of Budapest and march its infantry to Hatvan to reinforce this threatened sector.

Italy

During the night the V Corps, British 8th Army, resumes its offensive, liberating the Faenza sector.

Philippines

The Japanese decide that they can do no more to send reinforcements or supplies to 35th Army on Leyte. Gen Tomoyuki Yamashita is told by his headquarters that from now on he will have to rely on local resources. Fighting continues south of Limon. The 77th Div advances toward Libongao and Palompon. Valencia has to be defended from a Japanese counterattack. The fighting continues north of Ormoc and throughout the northwest of the island.

On Mindoro the Americans, together with Filipino guerrillas, begin a series of patrol actions in several parts of the island.

Western Front

At a meeting of the senior Allied commanders at Verdun Eisenhower decides to appoint a single leader each for the areas north and south of the Bulge which is being created. Montgomery is appointed for the northern units and Bradley for the southern. This arrangement will not be made public until January 5, 1945.

On the ground the Germans have reached the Stavelot and Houffalize areas but between these advances some of the US forces are holding their ground around Gouvy and St Vith. Houffalize itself will be defended a little longer by 82nd Airborne Div while 10 miles to the south 101st Airborne is among the force which is preparing to hold the important road junction at Bastogne. All Allied offensive actions against the Rhine are halted because of the German Ardennes offensive. Montgomery is given command of all Allied forces north of the Bulge, Bradley all forces to the south. On both sides of the German breakthrough the US 1st and 3rd Armies re-group in readiness for a coordinated attack, cutting at the base of the salient formed by the advance of the German armies.

Images from December 19, 1944

American soldiers of the 3rd Battalion 119th Infantry Regiment are taken prisoner by members of Kampfgruppe Peiper in Stoumont, Belgium, 19 December 1944.

American Soldiers Taken Prisoner

Adam H. Davis (L) & Milford A. Sillars (R) of the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. Bastogne, 19 december 1944.

Americans in Bastogne

Staff Sergeant George Talbert of 3rd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, on the lookout for German troops in a forest near Sourbrodt, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge - 19 December 1944

On the Lookout for Germans

The US 82nd Airborne Division arrived in the Ardennes, deployed at La Gleize, 19 December 1944

US 82nd Airborne Division Arrives

101st Airborne Infantry Division moving through Bastogne towards Houffalize, as they move up to stem German break-through, 19 december 1944

US 101st Airborne Infantry Division Moves through Bastogne

26th Infantry Area near Bütgenbach, troops positioning antitank gun.

Moving Antitank Gun

Picture taken 19 December 1944 from the Officers' quarters, 2d Evacuation Hospital, Eupen, Belgium, during a German air raid on the city

German Air Raid on Eupen, Belgium

Members of the 1st Recon Troop, 1st Inf Div, taking a break after traveling hours to help shore up the 99th Div, 19 December 1944

Members of 1st Infantry Division