December 8, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 8 DECEMBER 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Three B-24's fly armed reconnaissance. During the night of Dec 8-9, another B-24 off on a photographic mission over Kasatochi in the Aleutian, turns back because of mechanical trouble.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Twenty-two B-24's from Nanumea bomb Jaluit, and eleven from Canton bomb Mille Atoll.

JAAF: In preparation for an offensive, 18 Japanese bombers and about 50 fighters attack Tinsukia Airfield in Assam in India.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 9 B-25's, escorted by 16 P-40's, pound Changte; 9 other B-25's bomb Hofuh and the 16 escorting P-40's bomb 2 villages to the N.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Fighter patrols and aircraft on armed reconnaissance bomb and strafe several targets of opportunity near Kieta, southeast of Cape Torokina, at Baniu Plantation, and along the NE coast.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's attack the Penfoei-Koepanp area on Timor. In New Guinea, B-25's and B-26's pound enemy supply dumps on the Huon Peninsula near Finschhafen; P-39's strafe barges from Saidor to Fortification Point. Ditched is C-47A Dakota 42-23851 (crew rescued).

USN: Task group under the command of Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee including two carriers, six battleships, and 12 destroyers bombed and bombarded enemy installations on Nauru. Lost is F6F Hellcat 26088 pilot Ensign Alfred F. Smith (MIA) and TBF Avenger 47589 pilot Ensign T. L. Hall (rescued). USS Boyd (DD-544) is damaged by shore battery fire. OS2Us from VO-6 and VO-9 from battleships strafe and photograph barracks area upon completion of ships' bombardment. This begins a month of shore-based bombardment of Nauru.

USS Sawfish (SS-276) sinks Japanese transport Sansei Maru southwest of Chichi Jima, 25°19'N, 141°44'E.

TBFs sink Rabaul-bound Japanese fishing boats No. 3 Yusho Maru, No.7 Fukuei Maru, Takatori Maru, and No.1 Hoko Maru, 00°20'N, 152°10'E.

Australian Army: 9th Division, 26th Infantry Brigade, 2/24th Infantry Battalion captures Wareo.