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).
U.S. Army:: U.S. Sixth Army: Alters intercorps boundary to give Libongao to XXIV Corps. In X Corps area, 127th Inf of 32d Div continues to battle enemy south of Limon. 1st Sq of 12th Cav, 1st Cav Div, protecting E flank of 32d Div, relieves 2d Bn, 126th Inf. 12th Cav attacks toward Lonoy, on Highway 2, and seizes this barrio. In XXIV Corps area, 307th Inf of 77th Div attacks N astride Highway 2 toward Libongao, gaining nearly 3 miles; 306th, to W, pushes toward Palompon road, which patrols reach; 305th defends Valencia area.
USN: The newly created five star rank of "Fleet Admiral" is bestowed
on Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
