FRIDAY, 15 DECEMBER 1944
USN: The newly created five star rank of "Fleet Admiral" is bestowed
on Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy.
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.)
