FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER 1943
Burma: In Hukawng Valley, elements of 113th Regt, Ch 38th Div, relieve 2d Bn of 112th in region 4 miles N of Yupbang Ga.
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): The air echelon
of the 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) operating from Canton since 12 Nov, returns to Nukufetau with B-24's.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 25 B-24's pound the Lampang railroad
yards, causing several big fires and many secondary explosions. 6 B-25's
hit Yangtze River shipping in the Anking and Lu-Kuan areas, claiming 3 cargo
vessels and a troop carrier sunk; and two B-25s on a sea sweep damage a passenger
vessel in the Hainan Straits.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): The 371st Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases operating from Guadalcanal in
the Solomon with B-24's and returns to base on Espiritu
Santo.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): A-20's hit troop concentrations in the Cape
Gloucester area; nearly 50 P-40's and P-47's intercept a small force
of airplanes attacking the Arawe beachhead
area and twelve aircraft are claimed shot down. Almost 150 B-24's
and medium bombers pound the Madang, Alexishafen, and Bogadjim areas.
RAAF: Crashed in the Shaggy Ridge area is Boomerang A46-134 pilot F/L Eric Robert Staley (KIA). Six Spitfires from No. 79 Squadron took off on a patrol over New Britain. Lost is Spitfire A58-145 pilot F/Lt Llewellyn Wettenhall (MIA).
U.S. Army: Task Force Michaelmas departs from Goodenough Island bound for Saidor.
USMC: Lieutenant General Thomas Holcomb, Commandant, retires with the rank of general. The Forward Echelon of Headquarters Squadron, 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing, commanded by Brigadier General Lewis G. Merritt arrived at Tarawa. Lost is SBD Dauntless 35949.
On Bougainville, Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle) is declared operational for use by bombers.
USN: Four PBY-5As from Attu bomb Shimushu and Kashiwabar in the Kurile Islands.
USS Greenling (SS-213) sinks Japanese transport Shoho Maru in Eastern Carolines, 05°40'N, 160°20'E, and evades counterattacks by submarine chaser Ch 30.
USS Herring (SS-233) attacks Japanese convoy, 31°46'N, 138°22'E (see January 1, 1944).
