December 24, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1943

Burma: In Hukawng Valley, 1st Bn of 114th Regt, Ch 38th Div, after arty preparation, attacks to relieve beleaguered 1st Bn of 112th in Yupbang Ga area and succeeds in joining it, although Japanese retain positions W of the river blocking crossing at Yupbang Ga.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): 18 B-24's, staging through Ellice, bomb Wotje. The 396th and 820th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), transfer from Hickam Field to Tarawa with B-25's. They will fly their first mission on 19 Jan 44 and 28 Dec respectively.

B-24 aircraft damage Japanese cargo ship Kensho Maru, Kwajalein.

USN: Escort carrier USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) claiming 642 sailors, is sunk by a Japanese submarine. General "Howlin' Mad" Smith blames the Army's slowness for the sinking of an American carrier with all hands. The ship had been forced to stay in the area an extra day to provide cover.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Eighteen B-24's bomb a Tien Ho Airfield. The B-24's and eighteen escorting fighters claim twenty interceptors shot down. One B-24 is lost over the target.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): During the night of 23/24 Dec, single aircraft carry out harassing strikes against Buka, Kieta and Faisi. During the day, twenty-four B-25's attack the Buka Passage Seaplane anchorage. Eighteen B-24's bomb Vunakanau; Six others hit Lakunai; fighter cover for the strike fights a fierce air action with interceptors, claiming 25 shot down; Seven Allied fighters are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): The pre-invasion bombing effort against Cape Gloucester reaches its peak as nearly 190 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's pound the area in a day-long bombardment; P-39's hit a disabled destroyer offshore; and Japanese forces in Arawe area are hit by A-20's. A-20's also sweep the NE New Guinea coastline. B-25's bomb Atamboea on Timor.

RNZAF: Twenty-four RNZAF Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron and No. 17 Squadron participate in a fighter sweep over Rabaul. This mission was the most successful day in the history of the RNZAF with 14 enemy aircraft claimed as destroyed with 7 claimed probably destroyed and 14 claimed as damaged. A total of seven Kittyhawks were lost: five pilots missing and two were injured. Lost is P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3134 pilot F/Lt Alister Whyte Buchanan (MIA) P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3174 pilot Sergeant Robert Anthony Covic (MIA), P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3162 pilot Flying Officer Montague E. Dark (MIA), P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3196 pilot Flying Officer Denis B. Page (MIA), P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3199 pilot Flying Officer Keith W. Starnes (survived), P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3135 pilot F/Sgt Donald A. Williams (survived) and P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3140 pilot F/Sgt Peter S. Worsp (MIA). Also, PV-1 Venturas from 1 Squadron on armed reconnaissance bomb barges and troops on northern Bougainville and claim two fighters shot down east of Cape Saint George.

U.S. Army: ALAMO Force headquarters moves from Goodenough to Cape Cretin. Hilda Norling (S-62) caught fire, exploded and sank off Tufi.

USN: sixteen F6F Hellcats from VF-33 plus eight F6F Hellcats from VF-40 participate in a fighter sweep over Rabaul. Lost are F6F Hellcat 09028 (pilot survived). Also lost is SOC-1 Seagull 9938 (survived).

Bougainville: With elimination of Japanese in the high ground, the U.S. perimeter is secured.

Task force of three cruisers and four destroyers (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill) bombards Buka-Bonis area.

Allied aircraft sinks Japanese auxiliary minelayer Koa Maru, Marcus Bay, New Britain.

USS Griswold (DE-7) sinks Japanese submarine I-39 off Koli Point, Guadalcanal, 09°23'S, 160°09'E.

USS Gurnard (SS-254) sinks Japanese transport Seizan Maru 27 nautical miles east of Miki cape, 33°57'N, 136°19'E, and auxiliary minesweeper Naruo Maru, 34°17'N, 136°55'E.

USS Raton (SS-270) torpedoes Japanese transport Heiwa Maru in Kaoe Bay, Halmahera, 02°57'N, 127°32'E; Heiwa Maru is intentionally run aground in shallow water to prevent her sinking.

USMC: Marine Fighting Squadron 321 (VMF-321) moves to Barakoma Airfield.