December 25, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 25 DECEMBER 1943

JAAF: Roughly fifty Japanese planes strike Chittagong.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): 10 A-24s from Makin supported by P-39's, attack Mille Atoll hitting the runway, ammunition storage, and an AA position.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Two B-25's claim heavy damage to a passenger ship south of Hong Kong. B-25s damage Japanese Patrol Boat No.14 50 kilometers east of Hong Kong.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): A few B-24's, fighting bad weather, attack Lakunai Airfield; covering fighters claim 13 airplanes shot down. Two P-38's are lost including P-38H 42-66892 pilot 1st Lt John P. Cox (POW) and P-38J 42-67773 pilot F/O Rex A. Byers (MIA).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Cape Gloucester is subjected to almost around the clock air attacks by l80+ B-24's, B-25's, B-26's, and A-20's; A-20's attack Japanese forces in the Arawe area where Allied outposts and observation posts are being pushed back by fierce enemy assaults on the beachhead. The 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, transfers from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) to Finschhafen with P-40s. The 386th Bombardment Squadron and 387th Bombardment Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group, transfer from Port Moresby to Gusap. They will fly their first mission on December 26, 1943 and December 27, 1943 respectively.

U.S. Army: The first echelon of the Americal Division, USA, arrived to relieve the 3d Marine Division.

Task Force Backhander departs New Guinea bound for Cape Gloucester.

IJN: Japanese planes strike Arawe forcing outposts and observation posts back.

USN: After surface bombardment of Buka Carrier planes from a two-carrier task group under the command of Rear Admiral F. C. Sherman strike Kavieng but find few ships as part of the covering operation for the upcoming landings by U.S. Marines at Cape Gloucester the next day.

After surface bombardment of Buka to entice enemy aircraft from Kavieng, carrier TF under Adm Frederick Sherman strikes at Kavieng harbor with 86 planes but finds few shipping targets there.

Task Group 50.2 (TG 50.2) under the command of Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman attacks Japanese ships at Kavieng. Planes from aircraft carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) and small aircraft carrier Monterey (CVL 26) sink transport Tenryu Maru, 02°36'S, 150°49'E; and damage minesweepers W.21 and W.22 and transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Kiyozumi Maru.

87th Naval Construction Battalion (87th NCB) "Seabees" working around the clock complete Stirling Airfield weeks ahead of schedule.

USS Skate (SS-305) torpedoes Japanese battleship Yamato northeast of Truk at Lat 10°05'N Long 150°32'E.