SUNDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1942
(Eleventh Air Force) Four B-26s, five B-24s, five B-25s
and nine P-38s make a coordinated bombing, strafing, and incendiary attack against Kiska Harbor installations and vicinity, especially on the submarine base and
near the marine railway and gun emplacements. A direct hit is scored on a probable
ammunition dump. P-38s also strafe Nozama Maru off Trout
Lagoon. One B-24 and two P-38s fly photographic and reconnaissance patrol over Attu, Agattu, Semichi and Amchitka.
CBI (Tenth Air Force) China Air
Task Force bombers hit Lashio. Japanese aircraft bomb Calcutta and
vicinity, hitting docks, shipping and airfields in the area.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20s
and B-25s pound Giropa Point and the area around Buna Mission near which are
located strong bunker positions. After preparatory bombardment Australian forces
again assault the positions, attacking twice under cover of smoke, but are beaten
back. A decision is made to bypass The Triangle. Lost is B-25D "Eight Ball Esquire" 41-29709 (survived) and B-24D 41-23766 pilot 2nd Lt. John M. Rafferty (MIA) returning from a solo armed reconnaissance mission.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Army Forces in South Pacific Area) The
44th Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group with P-40s based at Efate begins operating from Guadalcanal.
The squadron will fly its first combat mission tomorrow, 21 Dec. Force landed on a training flight due to bad weather are P-40F "Pee Wee" 41-14112 and P-40F "Bone Crusher" 41-14205, all the pilots survive.
U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal,
Japanese riflemen harass flanks and rear of 132nd Infantry Regiment on the northwest slopes of Mount Austen. 1st Bn attempts unsuccessfully to locate enemy's east flank. U.S. engineers complete construction of jeep road dubbed Wright Road to Hill 35.
USN: Launched USS Rasher
(SS-269) sponsored by Mrs. G. C. Weaver at Manitowoc Shipbuilding in Manitowic, Wisconsin.
