TUESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 1944
ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): Four fighters from the 4th Air Force were directed by the Los Angeles Control Group to search for a Japanese balloon bomb reported over Santa Monica but were unable to locate the target.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 16 B-25s, escorted by 24 P-40s, attack Pengpu; four P-51s claim two freighters sunk off Hong Kong; and two P-40s destroy three locomotives and a truck at Sinyang. In Burma, four P-38s bomb the Wanling-Mongyu road causing a traffic block.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 22: 36 B-29s, from the Chengtu are dispatched to hit an aircraft plant at Omura, Japan; 17 hit the primary target and 13 others hit secondary target of Shanghai, and another 2 strike other alternates; they claim 5-4-12 Japanese aircraft;
2 B-29s are lost.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit road junctions at Mongmit and S of Kyaukme, the Kyaukme railroad station, and Hsenwi bridge; 7 P-47s severely damage the Tonbo road bridge, and 11 others hit targets of opportunity during a Onmaka-Hsoplong rail sweep; 42 P-47s pound supply and personnel areas and troops at Myadaung, Tantabin, and Twinnge, the village of Nyaugbintha, and a truck park near Humon. 300+ transport sorties are flown to forward areas; the 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Asansol to Inbaung with UC-64s and L-5s (first mission is today) replacing the 166th Liaison Squadron (Commando) which moves from Inbaung to Asansol.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): HQ Seventh AF is officially opened at Tanapag. 27 B-24s from Saipan and 25 from Guam strike Iwo Jima. 3 B-24s on armed reconnaissance from Guam bomb Marcus. 14 P-38s from Saipan with 3 B-29s as navigational escort, strafe airfields on Iwo Jima. Four B-25s from Guam and Saipan carry out three snooper strikes against Iwo Jima during the night of 19/20 Dec.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 505th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) arrives at North Field from the US.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighter-supported B-25s bomb Fabrica Airfield, fighters on a sweep over Ponay, and Leyte hit Fabrica Airfield, Bacolod Airfield, Silay Airfield, Dumaguete Airfield and Alicante Airfields, and the town of Palompon on Leyte; B-24s bomb Legaspi Airfield while P-38s hit Batangas Airfield. B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s pound the Kairatoe area. Other FEAF aircraft on armed reconnaissance, sweeps, and small strikes hit targets of opportunity at many locations throughout the Netherland East Indies and Philippine Islands. P-47s return to Sanga Sanga Airfield to strafe the wreckage of P-47D 42-28513 that crashed the previous day. Also lost is F-6D Mustang 44-14920 (KIA).
USN: The newly created five star rank of "Fleet Admiral" is bestowed
on Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
