70 Years Ago Today: Tuesday, December 26,1944 ** Selected Highlights ** European Theater 8th Air Force Mission 762 – Poor weather inhibits operations but 151bombers and 336 fighters are dispatched to hit rail targets behind the Bulge. At last, the weather improves and allows RAF Bomber Command to intervene in the Ardennes battle. They dispatch 146 Lancasters, 136 Halifaxes, and 12 Mosquitos to attack German troop positions near St. Vith. European Theater, Western Europe The 9th Air Force sends bombers to attack road junctions, rail bridges, rail head, communications and casual targets in the breakthrough area, as the enemys westward drive ends short of the Maas River. Fighters fly escort, armed reconnaissance, sweeps, and support Allied troops south of Bastogne, Belgium. In the US Ninth Army’s XIX Corps area, the 8th Division clears Obermaubach and is working on a pocket to the south. The First Army halts the enemy’s westward drive, short of the Meuse River. German supply lines are now overextended, and stalled armor becomes a lucrative target for aerial attacks. XVIII Corps (Airborne) maintains defensive positions and defeats enemy efforts to break through to the Meuse River. In the VII Corps area, the 84th Division reduces an enemy pocket between Verdenne and Bourdon, then hurls back an enemy thrust toward Ménil. The 2nd Armored Division repels counterattacks in the Celles area and against Havrenne and Frandeux, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. In the US Third Army area, armored units break through to Bastogne. In the III Corps area, forward tanks of Combat Command R, of the 4th Armored Division, push through Assenois to Bastogne, but vehicles are unable to follow. The 26th Division closes along the Sauer River, winning Eschdorf in a lively battle, and begins crossing. The 80th Division, after clearing Scheidel, is halted in the Kehmen area and transferred in place to XII Corps. In the XII Corps area, the 5th Division improves positions in the Echternach area and takes Berdorf. Eastern Europe The Third Ukrainian Front virtually closes the ring around Budapest, and captures the fortress city of Esztergom. Mediterranean Theater The 15th Air Force dispatches a force of around 380 B-24s and B-17s to bomb Odertal, and the Blechhammer south oil refinery, in Germany, an oil refineries at Auschwitz, Poland, a railroad bridge at Ora and viaduct at Avisio, Italy, plus scattered targets of opportunity. Mediterranean Theater, Italian Campaign 12th Air Force medium bombers concentrate on the Brenner Pass and hit Padua, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Ponte di Piave, Dolce, the Pordenone railroad bridge, and two dumps in the Bologna area. In the US Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, the Germans begin series of counterattacks against 92nd Division positions, astride the Serchio River, forcing a general withdrawal after outposts are driven back. China Theater Six B-25s, from the 14th Air Force, bomb Wan Lai-Kam, Burma, and in China, five more B-25s hit targets of opportunity in the Formosa Strait, in the Siang-Chiang Valley, and at Ikiawan and Changsha. General Wedemeyer, meeting with Chiang Kai-shek, Ambassador Hurley, and T. V. Soong, proposes that the food, clothing, and pay of the Chinese Army be improved. He informs the Generalissimo that plans are being made for an offensive, code named Operation BETA, against Kweilin, Liuchow, and Canton. India – Burma Theater (Burma) In Burma, eight B-25s, from the 10th Air Force, knock out and damage bridges at Taunggon, Padan, and Kyaukhlebein, while 34 P-47s hit troop concentrations. 275 transport sorties are flown to forward areas. Southwest Pacific Area (Battle of Leyte) In the Philippine Islands, Far East Air Force (FEAF) B-24s pound Clark Field, on Luzon Island. On Mindanao Island, B-25s hit the Matina Airfield, shipping in the Davao River, and bomb the nearby Samal Island, while B-24s hit the Libby airfield. On Leyte, in the X Corps area, the 1st Cavalry and 32nd Infantry Divisions continue west over rough terrain. The 34th Infantry, of the 24th Division, prepares to clear the northwestern part of the Leyte Peninsula. Companies F and G sail at 2300 hours, through the Biliran Strait, to Gigantangan Island, where they spend the night. A Japanese naval surface force, despite air attacks, arrives off Mindoro and at about 2300 hours begins bombarding the beachhead. Central Pacific Area The 7th Air Force sends 13 B-24s, based on Guam Island, to hit Iwo Jima Island. During the night, two B-24s, from the Mariana Islands, strike Iwo Jima.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 12:16:55 +0000
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