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http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/11/09.htm

December 9th, 1944 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The British blackout regulations are relaxed.
Minesweeper HMS Jewel commissioned.

Submarine HMS Scotsman commissioned.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 744: Four B-17 Flying Fortresses and seven B-24 Liberators drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night without loss.

BELGIUM: At 1137 hours, a German A4 (V-2) rocket is fired and impacts the Antwerp area; 43 are killed, 94 injured and 43 houses are destroyed. At 1504 hours, a second A4 lands in Antwerp on Meir-Kathelynevest (Building of Agence Maritime); 25 are killed, 45 injured and 14 houses are destroyed.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army’s XII Corps area; the 1st Battalion of the 137th Infantry Regiment is sent to Sarreguemines to mop up in the western part of city, since the 134th Infantry Regiment can make little headway until this is done; the 320th Infantry Regiment moves forward more rapidly because of the 26th Infantry Division’s action to the right. The 328th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, completes the capture of Fort Witiring by dawn and after daylight finds that the Germans have abandoned Fort Grand Bois; the 104th Infantry Regiment is pushing steadily toward Gros Röderching.

In the Sixth Army Group’s U.S. XV Corps area, Combat Command A of the 12th Armored Division, driving northeast on the left flank of corps, takes Singling. Enchenberg falls to the 44th Infantry Division and Lemberg to the 100th Infantry Division. In the U.S. VI Corps area, the 45th Infantry Division clears Niederbronn. The 79th Infantry Division overruns Bischwiller and pushes to the edge of Haguenau.

In the French First Army area, II Corps is still strongly opposed but clears Mittelwihr. In the I Corps area, the 2d Moroccan Division continues clearing Thann. The 4th Mountain Division is meeting vigorous opposition at Lutterbach.

GERMANY: The US 3rd Army continues action around the bridgehead over the river Saar. The US 7th Army and the French 1st Army continue to advance.

In the U.S. Ninth Army’s XIX Corps area, the 30th Infantry Division is ordered to secure region between Inde and Roer Rivers within its zone.

In the U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, the 90th Infantry Division commits its full strength to the Dillingen bridgehead battle: The 359th Infantry Regiment begins clearing mutually supporting fortifications between the 357th and 358th Infantry Regiments, easing pressure on the right flank of the 357th; the 357th holds its weak perimeter on the northern flank of the bridgehead against repeated counterattacks that are debilitating to both sides; the supply situation of the 358th, fighting indecisively along the railroad tracks in Dillingen, improves as rafting operations are begun in the afternoon and the first tank crosses by treadway ferry in the evening, but the 359th and 357th Regiments must still rely on assault boats, carrying parties, and aircraft for reinforcement and supply. The 95th Infantry Division continues their almost futile efforts to expand the Saarlautern bridgehead; the supply problem is intensified by the rapidly rising Sarre River. With the relief of the 10th Infantry Regiment on the southern flank of the corps by the 6th Cavalry Group (Mechanized), the 5th Infantry Division is able to assemble in preparation for the attack on the West Wall. In the XII Corps area, the 35th Infantry Division’s bridgeheads across the Sarre River continue to receive heavy German fire, but two Class 40 bridges are completed by midnight.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 743: 413 B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched to hit four targets in Stuttgart: 257 bomb the Unterturkheim Marshalling Yard with the loss of one B-17, 62 hit Echterdingen Airfield and 57 attack Bobblingen Airfield; 17 other aircraft hit targets of opportunity at Balingen, Schorndorf, Tubingen and other points in Germany. Escorting are 247 P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft without loss.

Two hundred fifty four USAAF Ninth Air Force A-20 Havocs, A-26 Invaders, and B-26 Marauders bomb defended villages, storage depots, barracks area, and marshalling yard in western Germany. Fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division aircraft, sweep the Landau and Saarbrucken areas, attack Zulpich and a bridge at Euskirchen, and support the U.S. XII and XX Corps in the Sarreguemines, France, and Saar River area and around Dillingen.

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses attack three targets: 79 bomb the Winterhafen oil refinery and oil storage facilities at Regensburg with the loss of three aircraft; two hit the locomotive works at Rosenheim and one attack the city of Regen. Fighters escort the heavy bombers and fly reconnaissance missions.

During the night of 9/10 December, RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos hit three cities: 56 bomb Berlin with the loss of one, seven bomb Koblenz and 4 attack a benzine oil plant at Meiderich.
U-3025 launched.

U-2528, U-3514 commissioned.

AUSTRIA: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack four targets: 56 bomb the industrial area at Linz, 15 hit the marshalling yard (M/Y) at Villach and one each attack the M/Y at Klagenfurt and the city of Spittal. P-51 Mustangs and P-38 Lightnings escort the heavy bombers and fly reconnaissance missions.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Sixteen USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack the Skoda armament works at Plzen. Fighters escort the heavy bombers and fly reconnaissance missions.

HUNGARY: Moscow confirms German reports of the Soviet breakthrough northeast of Budapest, announcing that forces of the Second Ukrainian Front have reached the Danube River bend at Vac. Other troops of this front, having crossed to the western bank of the Danube from Csepel Island., south of Budapest, gain contact with troops of the Third Ukrainian Front at Lake Velencei, between the Danube and Lake Balaton. Budapest is thus about two-thirds encircled.

ITALY: Capt. Henry Cound Brunt (b.1922), Sherwood Foresters, saved a difficult position by his inspired, aggressive leadership, eventually forcing the Germans to withdraw. He died next day. (Victoria Cross)

In the U.S. Fifth Army’s British XIII Corps area, the 78th Division extends eastward to Mt. dell’Acqua Saluta-M. del Verro area as the 6th Armoured Division prepares to continue the offensive.

In the British Eighth Army area, V Corps contains determined counterattacks but in so doing is too weakened to exploit this success and suspends the offensive.

Bad weather grounds USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers. Fighters and fighter-bombers attack communications in the central and northeast Po River Valley.

YUGOSLAVIA: Sofia, Bulgaria, announces that Bulgar and Yugoslav Armies, assisted by Soviet aircraft, have completed the expulsion of Germans from Serbia and Macedonia during the last few days.

CHINA: The failure of two Chinese armies (the 5th and 53d) to concentrate for the defense of Kunming endangers the success of the ALPHA plan (the plan to defend Kunming and Chungking) and brings a protest from U.S. Lieutenant General Albert Wedemeyer, Chief of staff to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and Commanding General, U.S. forces in China, to Chiang Kai-shek, who replies that he is keeping the 5th back to defend Kunming.

Twelve USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Lipo, Tuhshan, and Hochih; a B-25 attacks a truck convoy in the Siang-Chiang Valley while a B-24 Liberator claims a cargo ship sunk in the South China Sea; 19 P-40s and P-51 Mustangs hit river, road, and rail shipping and other targets of opportunity from Kweiyi to Siangtan; 65 P-51s and P-40s hit similar targets of opportunity around Kweilin, Liuchow, Lingling, Hengyang, Tuhshan, and Chuchou; 50 more fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity at several other locations scattered throughout southern China.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command area, Japanese forces from Tonk-wa reach Mo-hlaing, where the Chinese 22d Division command post is located. the U.S. 475th Infantry Regiment (Long Range Penetration, Special), which is arriving in this area, joins the Chinese in a counterattack that restores the positions. The 113th Regiment, Chinese 38th Division, has been unable to penetrate into Bhamo; the 114th Regiment adopts an American suggestion of taking full advantage of supporting artillery and aircraft and is working forward methodically in the northern defenses. South of Bhamo, elements of the Chinese 90th Regiment, 30th Division, becomes isolated during a Japanese counterattack.

Twelve USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts knock out a bridge at Mongmit, damage another and blast approach to the Namyao bridge. Villages and building areas, supply dumps, and targets of opportunity are attacked at Man Mao, Etgyi, Namhsim, Tawma and other points in northern Burma.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: During the night of 9/10 December, two USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Saipan Island fly harassment strikes against Iwo Jima.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: The Japanese land reinforcements near Palompon, Leyte. This is on the west coast.

In the U.S. Sixth Army’s X Corps area on Leyte, the 112th Cavalry Regiment (Special) continues their efforts to dislodge the Japanese from the ridge southeast of Limon and to cut the Japanese supply line. In the XXIV Corps area, convoy arrives with supplies and rest of the 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. The 307th Infantry Regiment continues toward Camp Downes and takes it. The 305th Infantry Regiment secures the region northeast of Camp Downes and protects the northeastern flank of the division. The 2d Battalion of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, joins the 3d Battalion at Mahonag, from which patrols are being sent out. The 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, drives north across Buri airstrip but is forced back to the southern edge by Japanese fire. The 1st Battalion, 382d Infantry Regiment, probes to locate the Japanese and contains a night counterattack against its perimeter.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb the Lingkas tank farm, Dondang River bridge and Sanga Sanga oil installations on Borneo and three airfields in the Ambon Island-Ceram Island area. P-38 Lightnings hit Namlea Airfield on Boeroe Island west of Ceram. B-25 Mitchells attack the Wasile Bay area of Galela Island located 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Morotai. Ninety one Australian (P-40) Kittyhawks attack Galela Airfield on Galela Island and Miti and Hate Tabako Airfields on Halmahara Island while 14 Beaufighters attack Jolo Island.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, the Australian 9th Battalion, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division, moves forward on Bawabu Ridge toward Pearl Ridge which dominates the area north of Torokina. It becomes evident that the Japanese lines of communications lay along the latter ridge.

AUSTRALIA: U-862 had a gun duel with the Greek steam merchant Ilissos (4724 tons) off Tasmania in 37°11S/139°35E (grid VC 8275). The U-boat fired three shots that missed, but choppy seas and the fairly accurate defensive gunfire by the vessel forced the U-boat to dive and leave the area.

NEWFOUNDLAND: Corvette HMCS Beauharnois departed St John’s escort for convoy HX-324.

U.S.A.: “I’m Making Believe” by the Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald reaches Number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the U.S. This song, which debuted on the charts on 4 November 1944, was charted for 17 weeks, was Number 1 for 2 weeks and was ranked Number 16 for the year 1944.

Minesweeper USS Tanager launched.

Submarine USS Bumper commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:
U-387 sunk in the Barents Sea near Murmansk, Russia, in position 69.41N, 33.12E, by depth charges from the British corvette HMS Bamborough Castle (K 412). 51 dead (all hands lost).

U-650 listed as missing due to unknown reasons in the North Atlantic or Arctic Ocean, position unknown. 47 dead (all hands lost).