Air Operations, CBI

• 12 10th Air Force B-25s attack troops and supplies at Magyidon.
• More than 20 10th Air Force fighter-bombers attack troops and other targets near the Shweli River.
• 13 P-47s attack bridges at 3 locations.
• 12 P-47s attack rail targets of opportunity between Hsipaw and Hsumhsai.
• 12 P-47s attack the Lashio area.

• 19 of 49 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s dispatched from Chengtu attack an aircraft factory and arsenal at Mukden, Manchuria, 8 B-29s attack several alternates and targets of opportunity around Mukden.
• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Kunlong and Minkiang.
• 145 14th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack numerous targets across southern China, northern French Indochina, and eastern Burma.
• 2 530th Fighter Squadron P-51s down a total of 5 Ki-27 'Nate' fighters over or near the airfield at Tsinan Airdrome at noon.
• A 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron P-51 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter and a Ki-44 'Tojo' fighter over Hong Kong's Kaitak airfield at 1525 hours.

Air Operations, East Indies

FEAF B-25s attack Anggai and Goeroea in the Molucca Islands, and Lolobata on Halmahera.

Air Operations, Europe

• 113 Lancasters of No. 3 Group again attempt to bomb the railway yards at Trier in 2 waves. The bomber crews are unable to observe results because of the cloud, although a large column of smoke eventually appears.
• There are no losses.

• 1 Hudson flies a Resistance operation.

• 207 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of No. 5 Group attack the synthetic oil refinery at Politz, near Stettin. Post-raid reconnaissance shows that the power station chimneys have collapsed and that other parts of the plant are damaged.
• 3 Lancasters are lost and 5 more crash in England.
• 136 aircraft including 67 Lancasters, 54 Halifaxes and 15 Mosquitos of Nos. 4, 6 and 8 Groups attack the important Cologne/Nippes marshalling yards which are being used to serve the German offensive in the Ardennes. The target is cloud-covered and only a few bombs hit the railway yards but these cause the destruction of 40 wagons, a repair workshop and several railway lines.
• There are no losses.
• 97 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitos of Nos. 1 and 8 Groups attempt to attack railway areas in Bonn but thick cloud cover prevents an accurate raid and later reconnaissance shows that the railway target was not hit. No other details are available.
• There are no losses.

• 4 Lancasters of No. 5 Group are sent to Schneidmühl as a diversion for the Politz raid, 30 Lancasters and 23 Halifaxes lay mines in the Kattegat, and there are 12 Mosquito patrols and 15 RCM sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Philippines

• At dawn, Japanese aircraft attacking a US Navy re-supply convoy bound for Mindoro mortally damage 2 LSTs and damage other vessels. 107 soldiers and sailors are killed aboard the 2.
• FEAF B-24s attack the Likanan airfield on Mindanao.
• B-24s, V Bomber Command B-25s, and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack 10 airfields in the central Philippines, mainly on Negros.
• V Fighter Command fighter-bombers based on Leyte complete more than 100 sorties against various targets.
• V Fighter Command and Marine Air Group 12 fighters cover the Mindoro invasion flotilla and re-supply convoys bound for Mindoro.
• 35th Fighter Group P-47s down 3 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters off Panay at 0905 hours.
• An 8th Fighter Group P-38 downs a J2M 'Jack' fighter over San Jose, Mindoro, at 1630 hours.
• An 8th Fighter Group P-38 downs an A6M Zero over Marcano Island at 1730 hours.
• 49th Fighter Group P-38s down 5 fighters over Hill Field on Mindoro at 1730 hours.

Air Operations, Volcano Islands

23 30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Iwo Jima.

Atlantic

A German convoy runs into a minefield laid off Norway by the Free French submarine Rubis bringing her total number of sinkings to 23.

Burma

The British advance in the Arakan is so fast that Adm Mountbatten calls the senior commanders in Calcutta to discuss the best way of exploiting this unexpected success.

Eastern Front

While the Germans proceed with the evacuation of the Balkans, violent fighting rages between the German Army Group South and the 3rd Ukraine Front southwest of Budapest, between the Danube and Lake Balaton.

The attacks by the 3rd Ukrainian Front between Lake Balaton and Budapest compels Fretter-Pico to commit the last reserve available to the 6th Army. Hitler once again resorts to sacking generals for defeats at the front. Friessner and Fretter-Pico are both dismissed, Wohler being appointed to Army Group South and Balck the 6th Army.

Hungary

A provisional Hungarian government is formed at Debrecen.

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Italy

The 5th (Kresowa) Div, Polish II Corps, 8th Army, completes the capture of the east bank of the Senio, and the Canadian I Corps reaches the river in the Cotignola-Alfonsine sector.

Pacific

Two US submarines, the Albacore (SS-218) and the Scamp (SS-277) are reported as presumed lost in the Pacific Ocean area.

Philippines

On Leyte troops of the X Corps, advancing from the north, link up with troops of the XXIV Corps coming up from Ormoc. The whole Ormoc Valley is now cleared of Japanese. There are still various groups of Japanese holding isolated positions in this area.

On Mindoro the Japanese receive reinforcements from Luzon by air. Japanese aircraft attack an American supply convoy, sinking 2 tank landing craft, LST-460 and LST-749 and damaging several other ships including the destroyer Foote (DD-511).

Switzerland

The death of Abbas Hilmi Pasha, the last Khedive (Turkish Viceroy) of Egypt 1892-1914, at age 70 is reported.

Western Front

While American armies not directly concerned with the Ardennes break-through detach what formations they can to reinforce the 1st Army sector, the Germans advance in a wedge west of Bastogne. 2nd Arm Div, XIX Corps, 9th Army and 75th Div, XVI Corps, are both sent to help.

Bastogne is now almost completely surrounded. The 82nd Airborne Div has been driven out of Houffalize in the continuing German advance between and behind Bastogne and St Vith. On the north flank of the advance American forces retake Stavelot and from here to Monschau and German LXVII Corps has been brought to a halt.

Images from December 21, 1944

A crude German attempt to use false colors to disguise a Panzer in order to surprise US positions, Malmedy.

Disguising a Panzer

During the Battle of the Bulge, GIs of the 413th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division 'Timberwolf Division', resting on the rails after combat in Düren, town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. 21 December 1944.

Resting on the Rails

WWII, 21 December 1944 - These six soldiers of the 823 Tank Destroyer Battalion were credited with knocking out four German King Tiger tanks near Stavelot, Belgium. Left to right they are: PVT Robert Crout, PFC Raymond Clements, Tech 5th Class Lee West, CPL Buel Sheridan, SGT Clyde Gentry, and SSG Oron Revis.

Knocking Out King Tiger Tanks

Tiger II '213', disabled on 21 December 1944. Now it can be seen for free in the town of La Gleize, Belgium

Disbled Tiger

21 December 1944 P-38L 44-24850 of the 432nd Ftr Sq, 475th FG

The 101st Airborne Division Surrounded by German Panzer Divisions at Bastogne, 21 December 1944

German Panther Tank Knocked Out in Hotton, Belgium

Pvt. Preston from Kentucky, brushes snow from a 30-caliber machine gun mounted on his jeep, 21 December 1944

Clearing Snow from Machine Gun