FRIDAY, 15 DECEMBER 1944
Burma: In NCAC area, Japanese garrison of Bhamo escapes through Ch lines early in morning and the relief force S of the town begins to disengage. Ch 38th Div moves into Bhamo. CAI and Y-Force are only 50 air miles apart. 112th Regt, Ch 38th Div, which was recently withdrawn from Bhamo battle, is driving on Namhkam. Elements of U.S. 475th Inf move from Mo-hlaing to Tonk-wa area.
British Army: In the Bruma Fourteenth Army area, 15 Corps makes rapid strides on Arakan front. W African 82d Div takes Buthidaung and establishes bridgehead across the Kalapanzin.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s blast a storage building at
Kunlong, China. 5 P-51s hit and damage a bridge and a building S of Huizan,
Thailand. 4 P-38s knock out a bridge at Hawng Luk, Burma.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 B-25s destroy the Hsipaw
railroad bridge and a bypass bridge at Namhkai and damage other bridges at Namhkai; 4 P-47s severely damage 2 bridges at Ho-hko; 7 P-47s fly
close support strikes along the Namh-Kam-Bhamo road; the Japanese garrison
at Bhamo escapes through Chinese lines early in the morning and later Chinese
troops occupy the town; thirteen P-47s hit Lashio Airfield; town areas, troop concentrations, and supply areas are attacked at Panglong, Nanponpon, Panghkam,
Kinu, Man Hpai, and Namhkam; a steady air movement of men and supplies to forward bases and frontline areas continues. The 2d Fighter Squadron
(Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, arrives at Kalaikunda, India from the US
with P-51s (first mission is 14 Feb 45).
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 13 B-24s from Guam bomb Iwo Jima.
During the night of 15/16 December, a B-24 on a snooper raid from Guam hits Iwo Jima.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: In major strikes
of the day, fighter-bombers hit a fuel dump at San
Fernando on Negros; B-24s and B-25s bomb Sasa Airfield and San
Roque Airfield;
and B-24s bomb Puerto Princesa. B-25s hit airfields on Ceram
and Ambon.
Miscellaneous armed reconnaissance and light raids by fighters and bombers
are flown against airfields on Boeroe and Halmahera; shipping and other
targets of opportunity are attacked at several points throughout the Netherland
East Indies. HQ 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from Leyte to San Jose the 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fifth AF, arrives at
Hollandia from the US with F-5s (first mission is 25 Mar 45); the
341st Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group moves from Tacloban to Tanauan with
P-47s; the ground echelon of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron, Thirteenth AF,
arrives at San
Jose from Dulag (air echelon is on Morotai with P-61s.)
U.S. Army: On Mindoro, at 7:35am, after preparatory bombardment the Western Visayan Task Force lands on the southwest of Mindoro. 19th Inf, 24th Div, lands between Caminawit Point and San Agustin; reinf 503d Para Inf, less Co C, on beach fronting San Agustin; Co C, 503d, across river mouth from San Agustin. From San Agustin, 3d Bn of 503d Para Inf drives inland about 8 miles to final beachhead line, securing airstrip, sugar plant, and San Jose without opposition. 19th Inf also drives inland to final beachhead line, the only contact with enemy being made at Caminawit Point. Western Visayan Task Force suffers no casualties. Adm Struble turns over command ashore to Gen Dunckel. Airdrome construction is begun at once and new site, about two miles northwest of White Beach, is selected. Although there is no ground opposition, enemy planes continue to attack shipping, destroying 2 LST's and causing minor damage to other vessels. Unloading proceeds rapidly, permitting LSM's and APD's of Task Group 78.3 to withdraw ahead of schedule.
U.S. Army: On Leyte, the Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 1st Sq (-) of 12th Cav Regt starts west toward Highway 2, reaching previously selected drop area, a banana plantation about 1,800 yards east of Lonoy; rest of regt joins 1st Sq there by 17 December. In XXIV Corps area, with port of Ormoc sealed off, 77th Div pauses to consolidate. 32d Inf, 7th Div, makes contact with 11th A/B Div's 511th Para Inf, Co G of which enters its lines. Co G has been isolated for 4 days. It is decided to withdraw 1st and 3d Bns of 32d Inf to clear pockets in Ormoc area and let 2d Bn continue eastward to establish contact with rest of 511th Para Inf force. Pfc Dirk J. C. Vlug destroys five Japanese tanks near Limon in northern Leyte and later earns the Medal of Honor. Sgt Leroy Johnson earns the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
USN: The newly created rank of five star Fleet Admiral is bestowed
on Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King (Chief of Naval Operations) and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet).
TG 78.3 (Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble) lands Army forces on southwest coast of Mindoro under cover of carrier-based aircraft (Rear Admiral Felix B. Stump). Mindoro operation, conceived and undertaken to secure an all-weather airfield to support large-scale landings on Luzon, is regarded as a hazardous venture deep into Japanese-controlled waters. Tank landing ships LST-472 and LST-738, damaged by kamikazes off southern tip of Mindoro, 12°19'N, 121°05'E, are scuttled by destroyer Hall (DD-583). Elsewhere off Mindoro, suiciders damage escort carrier Marcus Island (CVE-77); destroyers Paul Hamilton (DD-590) and Howorth (DD-592), 12°19'N, 121°02'E; and motor torpedo boat PT-223, 12°19'N, 121°05'E.
Miscellaneous auxiliary Argonne (AG-31) is damaged by explosion of depth charge accidentally dropped by submarine chaser SC-702, Kossol Roads, Palaus.
Submarine Dragonet (SS-293) is damaged when she runs aground 12,000 yards off Japanese seaplane base, Matsuwa Island, Kurils.
Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366) sinks Japanese destroyer Momo west of Luzon, 16°40'N, 117°42'E.
TF 38 planes sink Japanese landing ship T.106, which previously escaped destruction by submarine USS Pintado (SS- 387) on December 12, 1944 in South China Sea off Luzon, 15°30'N, 119°50'E, and damage Coast Defense Vessel No.54 north of Calayan Island, Luzon Channel, 19°25'N, 121°25'E.
