December 24, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1944

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, six B-25s blast the Kunlong ferry area; three B-24s claim one tanker sunk in the South China Sea; 100+ P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity throughout S China, especially river, road, and rail traffic, troops, and buildings around Hengyang, Lingling, Siangtan, and Changsha; also Hong Kong area shipping is pounded with one tanker claimed sunk and other ships damaged) and 30+ enemy aircraft claimed destroyed at Tsinan Airfield; the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung with P-51s, sends a detachment to operate from Kwanghan (another detachment is at Liangshan).

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 38 P-47s hit troop concentrations and supply areas at Pangkai, Man Namman, Man Om, Mong Nge, and Kyanhnyat; 6 support ground forces in the Si-U sector while twelve hit targets of opportunity along the Sinlum-Nawghkio rail line; and eight P-47s strafe Lashio Airfield. 287 transport sorties are flown to forward areas. The detachment of the 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, operating from Fenny with P-47s, returns to base at Asansol.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 B-24s from Saipan and 38 from Guam strike Iwo Jima and 17 P-38s from Saipan make a low-level strafing attack on Iwo Jima. Twenty-three other B-24s from Saipan bomb Chichi Jima. Two B-24s on harassment strikes from the Marianas hit Iwo Jima during the night of 24/25 December.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 15: 29 Mariana based B-29s are dispatched to attack 2 airfields on Iwo Jima; 23 hit the primary targets and 1 hits an alternate target without loss. The 482d, 483d and 484th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 505th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), arrive at North Field from the US with B-29s (first mission is 30 Dec).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Clark Field, Puerto Princesa Airfield, and Kudat Airfield. B-25s and fighter-bombers blast the Goeroea area in the Moluccas Islands, bomb Silay Airfield and hit San Roque barracks, the Zamboanga waterfront, and Davao shipping. Again FEAF aircraft on miscellaneous small operations attack many targets throughout the Netherland East Indies and Philippine Islands.

RNZAF: F4U Corsairs from No. 14 Squadron conduct a ground attack mission against Rabaul. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5429 pilot Flight Sergeant Ian Morrison Thorburn (MIA).