Air Operations, CBI

• 9 10th Air Force B-25s attack 6 road bridges and several bypass bridges.
• 3 B-25s attack a ferry.
• 13 10th Air Force P-47s support Allied ground forces around Namhkam.
• 12 P-47s attack 2 bridges.
• 12 P-47s sweep a long stretch of the Irrawaddy River.
• Fighter-bombers attack troops, supplies, and various targets of opportunity.

• 118 14th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack numerous targets across southern China and eastern Burma.
• A 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron P-51 downs a Ki-44 'Tojo' fighter over the Kaitak airfield at Hong Kong at 0515 hours.
• A 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron P-51 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over the Tienho airfield at Canton at 1100 hours.

Air Operations, East Indies

• FEAF B-24s attack the Malang airfield on Java.
• B-25s attack Haroekoe, Ceram.
• Fighter-bombers attack many targets of opportinity.
• In their first operational mission of the war under the control of the US Pacific Fleet, 27 Royal Navy Avenger light bombers, escorted by 28 Royal Navy Hellcats and Corsairs, dispatched from the British Pacific Fleet carriers HMS Indomitable and HMS Illustrious, (RAdm Sir Philip L. Vian, RN, Commander, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron) are forced by bad weather to divert from a refinery in northwestern Sumatra against port facilities at Belawan Deli. The British carrier fighters also strafe port facilities at Kota Raja and the Sabang airfield on Sumatra. Following their attack, the British carriers retire to Ceylon.

Air Operations, Japan

Several 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s attack targets in the Kurile Islands.

Air Operations, Philippines

• FEAF B-24s, V Bomber Command B-25s, and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack 3 airfields on Mindanao and 10 airfields across the central Philippines.
• Fighter-bombers attack many targets of opportunity.
• 35th and 348th Fighter group P-47s down a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane and 17 fighters over the Mindoro area between 1115 and 1155 hours.
• 49th Fighter Group P-38s down 3 A6M Zeros over Mindoro between noon and 1210 hours.
• A 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs an A6M Zero near Samar at 1825 hours.
• 3 P-47s are lost over Mindoro.

Air Operations, Volcano Islands

23 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based on Saipan attack Iwo Jima.

Battle of the Atlantic

In the eastern Atlantic the US landing ship LST-359 is sunk by a submarine torpedo and the US destroyer escort Fogg (DE-57) is damaged by one.

Burma

In the British IV Corps sector, the 19th Indian Div takes Kawlin.

Eastern Front

The 6th Guards Tank Army smashes its way through to the Hron Rover while the 7th Guards Army reaches the Ipel valley and begins to push upon Esztergom. German counterattacks halt the Russian advance. Heavy fighting rages on these positions for nearly a week.

South of Budapest the 3rd Ukrainian Front begins its new offensive. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Germans launch continuous armored counterattacks, slowing the Soviet advance to a crawl.

Greece

British tanks and armored cars have lifted the seige of Kafissia RAF base by ELAS rebels (the National Liberation Army - the military wing of the country's communist party).

Italy

In the British 8th Army sector, the 56th Div, V Corps, starts on the capture of the area between the Canale Naviglio and the Lamone River, north of Faenza. During the night the Canadian 1st Div and 5th Arm Div, Canadian I Corps, force the Germans to withdraw across the Senio.

Philippines

On Leyte US artillery brings heavy fire to bear on the Japanese pockets west of Palompon and south of Limon.

Western Front

On the northern flank of their Ardennes offensive the German forces attack northward from around Stavelot but, although they quickly make some gains, they are soon forced to retire. The units on the right of these in the German drive have not made much ground toward their objectives around Malmedy and to the north. The two vital junctions at St Vith and Bastogne are still being held despite deeper penetrations all around these towns. If the Germans are to develop their offensive much farther they must do so quickly before the weather clears and before the Allied reserves arrive in force. To maintain the momentum of the attack they must take the road junctions so they can easily speed their main forces and their supports forward.

Images from December 20, 1944

Approaching Bastogne, 20 December 1944

A Little Dutch Boy Helps To Refuel a Sherman Tank near Sittard, 20 December 1944

American M36 tank destroyers of the 703rd TD, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, move forward during heavy fog to stem German spearhead near Werbomont, Belgium, 20 December 1944

American M36 Tank Destroyers

Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, march down a street in Bastogne, Belgium, 20 December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. These men have been regrouped into security platoons for defense of the town. The lead soldier is armed with an M3 .45 cal. sub-machine gun and an M1 Carbine over his shoulder.

Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division

US M4 Sherman Tanks Take Up Positions on the Outskirts of St. Vith, 20 December 1944

Sherman tank repairs never stopped, even for the duration of the day's battle. December 20, 1944

Tank Repairs

GIs from the 7th Armored Division take a watchful rest in the streets of St Vith during their retreat. They are covered by a white-washed M4 Sherman tank.

GIs Resting in St Vith

20 December 1944 Location: Sourbrodt, Belgium Description: Tec 4 Thomas Richardson, Colfax, Washington, left, and Tec 5 George Leach, Wellston, Ohio, hold one of the German parachutes found in a forest, scene of one of the German counterthrusts. Both men are members of Company 'F', 32rd Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, First US Army. .

Finding German Parachutes