WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 1943
CBI: Gen Stratemeyer takes command of EAC. Troop Carrier Command is activated. First infantry class completes 6-weeks' course at Kweilin Infantry Training Center for ZEBRA Force.
Burma: In N, 1st Bn of 114th Inf, Ch 38th Div, tries unsuccessfully to relieve isolated 1st Bn, 112th Regt. After the attack, Japanese return to previous positions, which they proceed to strengthen.
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Twenty B-24's from Nanumea bomb Taroa Airfield at Maloelap Atoll. Lost is B-24J "Our Baby" 42-72969 (MIA / POW). Ten B-24s staging
from Canton through Baker, bomb Wotje. Two enemy fighters are claimed destroyed.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 25 P-40's strafe parked aircraft, trucks, and several buildings at Pailochi; at least 3 enemy airplanes are destroyed; two B-25's on a sea sweep over the Gulf of Tonkin claim one ocean going tug sunk; 16 P-40's on armed reconnaissance strafe the towns of Owchihkow and Shihshow; 6 others attack the town of Luchiangpa and villages
in the area. USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Senko Maru in Gulf of Tonkin, 21°05'N, 108°30'E.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 21 B-24's strike Sohano; Six B-25's hit installations in the Numa Numa-Arigua area; Twenty-three B-25's
and sixteen fighters attack Buka, causing heavy damage in the Chinatown
area; P-40's destroy bridge at Runai. Numerous targets of opportunity are
attacked by AAF aircraft, operating individually and in small flights, on armed
reconnaissance over Bougainville and other
N
Solomons areas.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): As a preliminary to the main invasion of New Britain, US forces
under command of Brigadier General Julian W Cunningham land on the west coast
at Arawe at 0700 following a naval and air bombardment; B-25's
pound villages in the Arawe area;
B-24's bomb Cape Gloucester while
P-39's strafe barges at Reiss Point. B-25's hit 2 freighters on Timor in
the Sunda. The 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, transfers from 14 Mile
Drome to Nadzab with P-47's.
USMC: Damaged is F4U Corsair 17884 pilot 1st Lt. Robert "Bob" W. Wilson (survived) while landing at Torokina Airfield.
Operation Dexterity begins as a preliminary to main invasion of New Britain, Tast Force 76 (TF 76) under the command of Rear Adm Daniel E. Barbey lands Task Force Director, the U.S. Army 112th Cavalry, reinforced under command of Brig Gen Julian W. Cunningham, USA, on the west coast of Arawe Peninsula about 0700, after naval gunfire and aerial bombardment. Scattered opposition on the peninsula is overcome without difficulty. Before the main landing, cavalrymen try in vain to make surprise landings at Umtingalu, on mainland E of the peninsula, and on Pilelo islet. Despite alerted enemy, Tr B succeeds in landing on Pilelo and quickly clears it. Japanese planes are active against troops and shipping, attacking at frequent intervals during this and the next few days. Plans to use Arawe as a base for light naval forces never materialize, nor will it become an Allied airfield. The plan for Cape Gloucester landing is amended to increase size of initial assault force and limit objective of secondary landing.
U.S. Army: Operations for the seizure of western New Britain began when the 112th Cavalry, reinforced, spearheaded by Marine Buffalo and Alligator amphibious tractors and supported by land based U.S. Army Air Force fighters and naval bombardment conduct a secondary landing at Arawe on western New Britain and assault Pilelo Island, commanding the best passage into Arawe Harbor. Ashore, Arawe and Umtingalu were cleared of Japanese and the garrison on Pilelo was destroyed.
The road from Lae to Nadzab is completed.
XIV Corps, commanded by Major General Oscar W. Griswold, USA, assumed control of the Bougainville operation from I Marine Amphibious Corps.
USN: Amendment 1 to Field Order No. 5 was issued setting up the final organization for the Cape Gloucester task force.
Naval Operating Base, Treasury Island is established.
Destroyer escort Harveson (DE-316) is damaged in collision with U.S. merchantman William T. Barry, 36°47'N, 74°33'W.
RAAF: Beaufighters sink Japanese army cargo ship Wakatsu Maru; and Dutch B-25s sink cargo ship Genmei Maru off Timor.
