1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 9–12 DECEMBER 1943 ]
In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps makes unsuccessful
attack on Orsogna.
8 December
NEW GUINEA—Wareo falls to Aus 9th Div,
clearing way for drive on Sio.
INDIA—In preparation for offensive, 18 Japanese
bombers and about 50 fighters attack Tinsukia
airfield in Assam.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army
area, II Corps continues battle for positions about
S. Pietro. Italian 1st Motorized Gp begins attack
on M. Lungo but makes little headway against
determined resistance. 143d Inf ( — ) of 36th Div
attacks toward S. Pietro and is soon pinned down
by enemy fire; 1st Bn of 143d withstands strong
counterattack on M. Sammucro. On left flank of
II Corps, 1st SSF finishes clearing M. la Remetanea
(907). In VI Corps area, 2d Moroccan Inf Div, first
of the FEC units to arrive in Italy, begins relief of
34th Div.
USSR—Red Army, continuing offensive SW
of Kremenchug, cuts Znamenka–Krivoi Rog and
Znamenka–Nikolayev RR’s.
ETO—Gen Arnold informs Gen Spaatz that
he (Spaatz) will command U.S. Strategic Air Forces
in Europe.
9 December
BOUGAINVILLE—Torokina airstrip becomes operational.
3d Mar Div begins struggle for hills
around beachhead that is to last until late in the
month.
CBI—Replying to President Roosevelt’s message,
Chiang Kai-shek asks for financial assistance
and increased air strength.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
Br 10 Corps area, Rocca d’Evandro falls, concluding
action against Camino hill mass. In II Corps area,
2d and 3d Bns of 143d Inf continue to be held up
in S. Pietro area and pull back after dark to line
of departure while arty concentration is placed on
enemy. Germans counterattack on M. Sammucro is
repulsed. In VI Corps’ 45th Div zone, Hill 769 is
completely cleared, but Germans retain Lagone and
La Bandita.
USSR—Rail junction of Znamenka falls to
Soviet forces.
10 December
BOUGAINVILLE—Marine fighter sq flies in to
operate from Torokina airstrip, which is within 220
miles of Rabaul.
MIDDLE EAST—PGSC is redesignated Persian
Gulf Command (PGC); detached from USAFIME
and made responsible to the War Department; and
[ 153 ]
directed “to further the objective of the United
States in the prosecution of the war.” Gen Connolly,
CG PGC, is to co–ordinate U.S. activities in the area
with those of other Allied nations.
MEDITERRANEAN—CCS directive calling for unified
command—Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(Allied)—in the Mediterranean becomes effective,
although Mediterranean Allied Air Forces has
not yet been activated.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army
area, Allied air attacks are stepped up in preparation
for next phase of offensive, which is to begin on
15th. Br 10 Corps takes responsibility for M. la
Difensa from 142d Inf of 36th Div, VI Corps. In
II Corps area, 3d Ranger Bn, with arty support,
renews attack on Hill 950 on N flank of II Corps
and takes it. Activity in S. Pietro area and on
M. Sammucro is on a limited scale. Current U.S.
positions are being consolidated. In VI Corps area,
2d Moroccan Div takes command of zone previously
held by 34th Div.
Br Eighth Army has regrouped to increase weight
of attack in coastal sector, where opposition is heavy.
13 Corps, with 5th Div and NZ Div under its
command, is to move N on left of 5 Corps, leaving
78th Div in previous positions under Eighth Army
command. 5 Corps continues northward along coast
with Cdn 1st and Ind 8th Divs. Cdn 1st Div now
has bridgehead across Moro R and is pressing toward
Ortona, assisted by air and naval bombardment
of coastal targets.
USSR—Troops of Second Ukrainian Front
resume attack, one force investing Cherkassy and
another pushing toward Kirovo.
11 December
SWPA—GHQ draws up outline plan for
seizure of Saidor (New Guinea).
CBI—Adm Mountbatten issues directive ordering
integration of U.S. Tenth Air Force and RAF
Bengal Command into Eastern Air Command
(EAC). All Allied air forces in SE Asia are under
command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse
as Allied Air CinC.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army
maintains current positions against counterattacks
while preparing for full-scale offensive.
12 December
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army
area, Br 10 Corps extends farther eastward to relieve
final elements of VI Corps on M. Maggiore, and
boundary is adjusted accordingly. In II Corps area,
142d Inf of 36th Div begins preliminary operations
in preparation for assault on M. Lungo on 15th: