1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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22 December
CHINA—Continuing preparations for offensive
against India, Japanese planes attack Kunming.
MTO–ETO—Gen Spaatz is ordered to take
command of U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe at
once. Gen Eaker is to command Allied air forces in
the Mediterranean upon relief by Air Chief Marshal
Tedder, who is to become Deputy CinC for OVER-
LORD. Gen Eaker is subsequently given permission
to remain in ETO until he can advise Generals
Spaatz and Doolittle in England and does not reach
MTO until mid-January. NATOUSA directive results
in reorganization of AAF elements in MTO.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In Br Eighth Army’s
S Corps area, Villa Grandi falls to Ind 8th Div.
Cdn 1st Div continues battle for Ortona.
23 December
Solomon Is.—Army bombers begin operations
from Munda airfield, New Georgia.
BURMA—In Hukawng Valley, 3d Bn of 114th
Regt, Ch 38th Div, having crossed the Tanai at
Kantau earlier in the month, skirmishes with enemy
9 miles from Kantau.
I TALY—15th Army Group: In Br Eighth
Army’s 13 Corps area, 5th Div takes Arielli. 5 Corps
continues to fight for Ortona.
24 December
BOUGAINVILLE—With elimination of enemy on
heights about beachhead perimeter, airfields are
secure.
SWPA—ALAMO Force hq moves from Goodenough
to Cape Cretin, New Guinea.
N EW BRITAIN—Preinvasion bomber effort
reaches its peak in number of sorties flown, 280.
BURMA—In Hukawng Valley, 1st Bn of 114th
Regt, Ch 38th Div, after arty preparation, attacks to
relieve beleaguered 1st Bn of 112th in Yupbang Ga
area and succeeds in joining it, although Japanese
retain positions W of the river blocking crossing at
Yupbang Ga.
MTO-ETO—President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill announce appointment of Gen
Eisenhower to post of Supreme Commander, Allied
Expeditionary Force, to head OVERLORD. Gen
Wilson will command Allied forces in the Mediterranean
under title of Supreme Allied Commander,
Mediterranean Theater (SACMED).
Churchill also announces appointment of Gen Montgomery
as commander of 21 Army Group, succeeding
Gen Sir Bernard Paget. Gen Sir Oliver
Leese is to succeed Gen Montgomery.
I TALY—15th Army Group: In Br Eighth
Army’s 13 Corps area, NZ 2d Div, moving to out-
[ 22–26 DECEMBER 1943 ]
flank Orsogna, reaches heights commanding that
town on NE.
MIDDLE EAST—Gen Connolly is relieved as CG
PGC by Brig Gen Donald P. Booth.
USSR—In Vitebsk sector, Russians overrun
Gorodok in 2-pronged attack, bringing about collapse
of whole series of defense points that depend
upon it. At dawn, Soviet forces open new offensive;
driving along axis of Kiev–Zhitomir highway, they
breach enemy lines and soon recover ground lost to
German counteroffensive and more.
ETO—U.S. Eighth Air Force makes major
effort against CROSSBOW targets—German secret
weapon sites—exceeding previous records in number
of aircraft dispatched. Of more than 1,300 aircraft
sent out, 722 are heavy bombers.
25 December
BOUGAINVILLE—First echelon of Americal Div
(RCT 164) arrives to relieve 3d Mar Div.
TREASURY IS.—U.S. Navy Seabees complete
fighter strip on Stirling.
NEW IRELAND—After surface bombardment of
Buka to entice enemy aircraft from Kavieng, carrier
TF under Adm Frederick Sherman strikes at
Kavieng harbor with 86 planes but finds few
shipping targets there.
NEW BRITAIN—TF BACKHANDER sails for Cape
Gloucester from New Guinea. Japanese attack
Arawe beachhead, forcing outposts and observation
posts back.
INDIA—About 50 Japanese aircraft raid Chittagong.
TUNISIA—15th Army Group: Military leaders
meeting at Tunis revive plan for amphibious landing
below Rome; draft plan for 2 divs plus airborne
troops and some armor to land as near 20 January
as possible in conjunction with drive from S.
I TALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth
Army’s II Corps area, 1st Regt of 1st SSF, jumping
off night 24–25, captures Hill 730 early in morning.
504th Para Inf clears several hills to N.
USSR—Soviet forces cut Vitebsk–Polotsk highway.
26 December
NEW BRITAIN—After preparatory naval gunfire
and aerial bombardment, during which enemy observation
from Target Hill, commanding landing
beach, is masked by smoke, TF BACKHANDER, commanded
by Gen Rupertus, 1st Mar Div CG, and
consisting of 1st Mar Div ( — ), reinf, begins main
invasion of New Britain at Cape Gloucester at 0746.
Forested, swampy terrain is more formidable than
the surprised enemy, who offers only light opposition.
7th Marines establishes beachhead, clearing