THURSDAY, 21 DECEMBER 1944
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 145 P-40s and P-51s fly armed reconnaissance over wide expanses of south China, E Burma and N French Indochina; the fighters attack chiefly troops and river, road, and rail traffic and a variety of targets of opportunity at numerous locations; 9 B-25s bomb Kunlong and Minkiang, China. The 4th Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, moves from Tulihal, India to Chengkung, China with C-47s.
Burma: In NCAC area, Ch 114th Regt of 38th Div, with orders to cut Burma Road in Ho-si area, is now near U.S. 5332d Brig. In ALFSEA area, 15 Corps is making such rapid progress on Arakan front that Adm Mountbatten holds commanders conference at Calcutta to discuss exploitation and presents alternative plans for assault on Akyab. By this time, river craft have been launched in the Kalapanzin to assist Ind 24th Div.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 23: 49 B-29s from Chengtu are
dispatched to attack Mukden; 19 hit the Manchuria
Airplane Manufacturing Company) but it suffers little damage and a nearby arsenal
and rail yards are slightly damaged; 8 other B-29s bomb alternate targets and
targets of opportunity; they claim 21-6-19 Japanese aircraft; 2 B-29s are lost.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s bomb a supply and
personnel area at Magyidon; 13 P-47s damage bridges at Hay-ti, Mong Long, and
Pa-mao; rail targets of opportunity from Hsumhsai to Hsipaw are attacked by
12 P-47s; 20+ fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations at several points including
Man Ka-lao and the general area E of the Shweli River; twelve P-47s bomb and strafe
the Lashio area. 290+ transport sorties are flown to forward bases and frontline
areas. The detachment of the 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th
Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from Chittagong with F-5s,
returns to base at Myitkyina.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 23 Guam based B-24s hit Iwo Jima.
During the night of 21/22 Dec, 4 B-24s from the Mariana fly 3 harassment
strikes against Iwo Jima.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, B-25s, and
fighter-bombers pound 10 airfields mostly on Negros and elsewhere in
the Central Philippines; Leyte based fighter-bombers fly 100+
attack sorties; Likanan Airfield is also hit by B-24s. In the Moluccas Islands, B-25s pound Goeroea, Anggai,
and Lolobata on Halmahera. The 311th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter
Group, moves from San Roque, Leyte Island to San
Jose with
P-47s.
U.S. Army: On Leyte, U.S. Sixth Army: Effects junction between X and XXIV Corps just south of Kananga at 1645, opening Highway 2 from Ormoc to Pinamopoan and gaining complete control of Ormoc Valley. In X Corps area, 12th Cav attacks and takes Kananga; makes patrol contact with 77th Div to S. In XXIV Corps area, 3d Bn of 306th Inf, 77th Div, continues E along Palompon road to its junction with Highway 2, then N along the highway toward Kananga, making contact with Tr A of 12th Cav at 1645. 307th reaches road junction N of Libongao without trouble and assists 306th Inf. On div W flank, 1st Bn of 306th Inf, after concentrated arty preparation, takes ridge commanding Togbong R bridge site and outposts it but is driven off. In preparation for next task of 77th Div--drive west and seize Palompon. Artillery is emplaced near San Jose within range of Palompon. Pfc George Benjamin, Jr. earns the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
On Mindoro, the Japanese having received reinforcements by air for defense of Mindoro, attack resupply convoy moving toward that island, destroying two LST's and damaging other shipping. From Pasugi-Pianag area, patrol of guerrillas and 503d Para Inf sail north to Sabalayan; from there move on foot to Mamburao to reconnoiter toward Palauan and Abra de Ilog.
U.S. Army:
The newly created five star rank of "General of the Army" bestowed
on General Henry H. Arnold.
