1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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occupies S. Giacomo Hill, between Lungo and Maggiore,
and after nightfall takes Hills 141 and 72.
13 December
SWPA—TF DIRECTOR sails from Goodenough
I. for Buna, en route to Arawe, New Britain.
GERMANY—710 bombers of U.S. Eighth Air
Force with P–51 escort are sent against Kiel, establishing
another record for bombers dispatched.
Good results are reported although bombing is by
radar.
14 December
SWPA—Final plans for operation against Cape
Gloucester, New Britain, are made. It is decided
not to use airborne troops as planned.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army
completes preparations for offensive by II and VI
Corps on 15th and begins forward movement, night
14–15.
USSR—Russians begin first phase of winter
offensive. From Nevel salient, which has gradually
been improved, Soviet forces push toward Vitebsk
and reach outskirts. Soviet troops of Second
Ukrainian Front overrun Cherkassy. Enemy recovers
Radomyshl, S of Malin.
15 December
Solomon Is.—Gen Griswold, XIV Corps CG,
relieves Gen Geiger, I MAC CG, of responsibility for
Bougainville beachhead, where final defensive
perimeter is virtually secure, although 21st Marines,
3d Mar Div, is still clearing heights near the beachhead.
NEW BRITAIN—Operation DEXTERITY opens
when, as a preliminary to main invasion of New
Britain, TF 76 (Rear Adm Daniel E. Barbey) lands
TF DIRECTOR (112th Cav, reinf) under command
of Brig Gen Julian W. Cunningham, USA, on W
coast of Arawe Peninsula about 0700, after naval
gunfire and aerial bombardment. Scattered opposition
on the peninsula is overcome without difficulty.
Before the main landing, cavalrymen try in vain to
make surprise landings at Umtingalu, on mainland
E of the peninsula, and on Pilelo islet. Despite
alerted enemy, Tr B succeeds in landing on Pilelo
and quickly clears it. Japanese planes are active
against troops and shipping, attacking at frequent
intervals during this and the next few days. Plans to
use Arawe as a base for light naval forces never materialize,
nor is the site used as an air base. Plan for
Cape Gloucester landing is amended to increase
size of initial assault force and limit objective of
secondary landing.
[ 13–17 DECEMBER 1943 ]
NEW GUINEA—Road from Lae to Nadzab is
completed.
CBI—Gen Stratemeyer takes command of
EAC. Troop Carrier Command is activated. First
infantry class completes 6-weeks’ course at Kweilin
Infantry Training Center for ZEBRA Force.
BURMA—In N, 1st Bn of 114th Inf, Ch 38th
Div, tries unsuccessfully to relieve isolated 1st Bn,
112th Regt. After the attack, Japanese return to
previous positions, which they proceed to strengthen.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army
renews offensive against Winter Line before dawn.
On II Corps’ S flank, 142d Inf of 36th Div opens attack
on M. Lungo from S at dusk and advances
rapidly. Second battle for S. Pietro opens about
noon, with 143d Inf ( — ) attacking from slopes of
M. Sammucro and 2d Bn of 141st advancing from
M. Rotondo area. Progress is slow and costly. 1st Bn
of 143d Inf, with 2d Bn of 504th Para Inf to its right,
begins attack on W slopes of M. Sammucro shortly
after midnight, 14–15. Paratroopers suffer heavy
casualties during fruitless attempt to take Hill 687;
1st Bn is pinned down short of Hill 730. In VI Corps
area, 45th Div, on S flank of corps, begins attack toward
heights dominating La Rava Creek on left and
toward Lagone on right: 157th Inf gains positions on
Hills 640 and 470, N of La Rava Creek, and makes
futile attempt to clear Fialla Hill and Hill 770, S of
the creek; 179th Inf is stopped short of Lagone; platoon
of 45th Rcn Tr fails in attempt to clear hill just
N of Lagone, but elements of 1st Bn, 179th Inf, occupy
La Bandita, farther N, without opposition after
nightfall. On N flank of VI Corps, 8th Rifle Regt of
2d Moroccan Div seizes M. Castelnuovo and S.
Michele Pass.
ETO—AEAF takes operational control of U.S.
Ninth Air Force.
16 December
I TALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth
Army’s II Corps area, 142d Inf of 36th Div finishes
clearing M. Lungo by 1000. Italian 1st Motorized
Gp secures ridge between Hills 253 and 343 in afternoon.
Further attacks on S. Pietro fail to gain ground
but the position becomes untenable for enemy after
fall of M. Lungo. To cover withdrawal, Germans
launch strong counterattack that continues into the
night 16–17. 1st Bn, 143d Inf, repels counterattack
on W slopes of M. Sammucro. In VI Corps area,
patrols of 179th Inf, 45th Div, find that enemy has
withdrawn from Lagone. Fr troops clear hill just
N of Lagone and second knob of M. Pantano.
17 December
BOUGAINVILLE—Torokina strip is put into use as
staging base for Rabaul-bound fighters.