Air Operations, Bonin and Volcano Islands
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, CBIBURMA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, East IndiesB-24s and various other FEAF aircraft attack several targets in the Celebes and Molucca Islands areas. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Europe1,000 US bombers hammer troop concentrations and communications in western Germany. 1,000 RAF bombers attack Nuremburg and Ludwigshafen. RAF BOMBER COMMANDDaylight Ops: Minor Ops:
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Marianas
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Philippines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Allied Command(when?) Adm Sir Bertram Ramsay, Naval Commander in Chief of Allied forces in Europe, is killed in an air accident while on his way to meet Montgomery. [![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontThere are German counterattacks northwest of Budapest which aim to relieve the siege of the city. The main forces involved in this offensive are 2 SS Pzr Divs which have been withdrawn from the reserve in the more important Warsaw sector without the consent or knowledge of Guderian, the Army Chief of Staff. SOUTHERN SECTORThe IV SS Panzer Corps counterattacks from Komarno, pushing back the surprised 4th Guards Army. In bitter fighting the SS throws the Soviets back 20 miles. At Bicske the 4th Guards try to halt the German drive before it reaches Budapest. Bloody fighting rages through the day. There is also heavy fighting inside Budapest as the German and Hungarian forces counterattack. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ItalyThere is limited activity on the east bank of the Senio, in the British 8th Army sector, to complete the liberation of the sector. The 5th Arm Div, Canadian I Corps, moving north toward the sea, takes Conventelle. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Occupied DenmarkDanish undergound forces destroy a factory in Copenhagen producing V-2 parts. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PacificThe US submarine Becuna (SS-319) sinks the Japanese ship Daian Maru east of Madoera Island. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PhilippinesFrom January 2nd to 5th the various transport, bombardment and escort carrier groups for the US landings on Luzon leave their bases on Leyte. There are 6 battleships, 16 escort carriers, 10 cruisers and many destroyers, landing craft and transports of all kinds. Several of the cruisers and destroyers are Australian. From January 3 the American movements are detected by the Japanese and attacks by midget submarines, kamikaze planes and small surface ships begin. On January 4 the escort carrier Ommaney Bay is badly damaged by a kamikaze and has to be abandoned. On the 5th 2 escort carriers, 2 cruisers and several smaller ships are damaged. The cruiser Boise, with Gen MacArthur aboard, has a narrow escape from a torpedo attack. One Japanese destroyer is sunk by US planes. On January 6 Adm Oldendorf's battleship groups enter Lingayen Gulf to begin the preliminary bombardment and come under heavy attack. One minesweeper is sunk and 2 battleships, 4 cruisers, and 6 destroyers are damaged. There are more attacks on the 7th and 8th, but these are less effective, hitting 2 escort carriers and the cruiser Australia for the second time. In the night of January 7th there is the last surface engagement of the Pacific campaign in which a single attacking Japanese destroyer is sunk by 4 US ships. The US Oiler Cowanesque (AO-79) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Luzon area. The Japanese coast defense vessel No. 138 is sunk by US Army aircrat in the Philippine Islands area. On Mindoro Island the Americans begin the construction of 2 airfields to be used by heavy bombers. The Japanese air force attacks the other airfields on the island, destroying 22 American aircraft on the ground. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() United States, TechnologyAn American Sikorsky helicopter is used in convoy escort duties for the first time. [![]() Western FrontIn the Ardennes sector the divisions of the VIII Corps, US 3rd Army, continuing their advance to the east Gerimont is taken by the 87th Div, Mande St Etienne by 11th Arm and Senonchamps by 10th Arm. The corridor into Bastogne is expanded by the US 4th Arm Div. On the German side Gen von Manteuffel, commanding the 5th Panzer Army, asks Model, who commands Army Group B, for authority to withdraw his troops toward Houffalize. Model, who is himself in favor of such a withdrawal, is obliged to pass on the request to Hitler, and Hitler of course refuses. The Führer does not want to give up the Ardennes salient, because that is the only way he can keep the Allies engaged on a greatly extended front, and so prevent them from concentrating troops in the north, as is the intent for launching Operation NORDWIND, for a new offensive toward the Ruhr. In the 7th Army sector, German pressure continues; especially critical is the situation of the US VI Corps, which begins its withdrawal to prepare its defense on the Maginot Line. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Images from January 2, 1945
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[January 1st - January 3rd] |