December 25, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
SATURDAY, 25 DECEMBER 1943
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.
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 (POW) and P-38J 42-67773 (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 Port Moresby to Finschhafen with P-40's. The 386th
and 387th Bombardment Squadrons, 312th Bombardment Group, transfer
from Port Moresby to Gusap. They will fly their first
mission on 27 and 26 Dec respectively.
USN - Aircraft from a two-carrier task group under the command of Rear Admiral F. C. Sherman
attack shipping at Kavieng as a covering operation for landings by U. S. Marines in the Borgen
Bay area of New Britain on the following day.
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