7 January 1939

NEW ZEALAND: Australian aviator Guy Menzies flies from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to a point just west of Harihari Township, New Zealand, in a single-engine Avro Avian biplane. He was heading for Christchurch but the Southern Alps were masked by cloud and he decided to land. He completed this 1,200 mile (1 931 kilometre) flight in 12 hours and 15 minutes.

UNITED KINGDOM: The unemployed total on Monday, 29 December - 2,643,127 - is the highest recorded since the unemployment insurance statistics began in 1921.

U.S.A.: By January 1931, the nation is mired in the depths of the Great Depression. On this date, the Committee for Unemployment Relief, formed at President Herbert Hoover's command in October 1930, releases a report that detailed the depths of the nation's woes. According to the committee, some 4 to 5 million Americans are unemployed. However, the Depression only continued to grow worse, which further swelled the unemployment rolls; by 1932, some 13 million Americans were without jobs. (In 1931, the U.S. workforce stood at 50 million workers.)

U.S.A.: Secretary of State Henry Stimson declares in notes to the Chinese and Japanese governments, as well as the Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the U.K., the other signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty of 6 February 1922, that the U.S. will not recognize any situation, treaty, or agreement brought about by means contrary to the Pact of Paris. This doctrine served as an American protest against the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.

ITALY: In Rome, Pierre Laval, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, sign a treaty which addresses their conflicting interests in Africa. In order to win the support of the Italian government against future German aggression, the French make a number of concessions to the Italians including defining the official status of Italians in Tunisia, colonial frontier changes (a cession of part of French Somaliland to Italy), and part ownership of the Ethiopian Railway. The agreement gave the Italians a free hand in Ethiopia.

EUROPE: Germany and Italy reject the Anglo-French proposal for control of admission of foreign volunteers to fight in Spain. They objected to diplomatic procedure, wished to continue discussion in Non-Intervention Committee, including question of withdrawal of those there.

With growing tensions between Germany and Poland over the future of the Free State of Danzig, the Polish government attempts to avoid a conflict by negotiating an agreement with the Free State government.

ITALY: The Italian government announces the beginning of a huge naval construction program including battleships. This plan augments the Italian rearmament program introduced in 1937.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British Broadcasting Corporation begins broadcasting the BBC Forces Programme.

- At 0940 hours local, HMS/M Undine (N 48) sights what is thought to be three trawlers about 17 nautical miles (32 kilometres) southwest of Heligoland. These three ships are actually German auxiliary minesweepers M-1201, M-1204 and M-1207. The submarine unsuccessfully attacks the leading vessel but after approximately five minutes an explosion shakes the sub, blowing her upwards and rendering the hydroplanes useless. The abandon ship order is given, demolition charges are set and the sub sinks; all crewmen are rescued by the Germans.

GIBRALTAR: The U.S. passenger liner SS Manhattan, detained at Gibraltar by British authorities the previous day, is released.

FINLAND: General Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko takes command of all the Soviet forces engaged in the war with Finland. His troops on the Karelian Isthmus are now organized in two armies, the Seventh and Thirteenth. The Finns are in the process of a reorganization also. In the fighting north of Lake Ladoga the Finnish pressure on the Soviet 18th and 168th Divisions continues. Finnish claims estimate 50,000 Soviet troops have perished in the last five weeks. Soon after the Winter War, Vyacheslav M. Molotov, Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, in a speech admitted the Soviet combat losses were slightly less than 50,000. Many historians still take Molotov's numbers at the face value. Latest research indicates that the Soviet Union lost in the Winter War some 130,000 dead.

U.S.A.: “Gene Autry's Melody Ranch,” a musical variety show starring Republic movie star Gene Autry, premieres on CBS radio between 1830 and 1900 hours Eastern Standard Time sponsored by Wrigley’s Gum. In July 1942, Autry, at age 35, enlisted in the USAAF during an on-air show.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German freighter SS Konsul Horn escapes from Aruba, Netherlands West Indies, and, disguised as a Soviet merchantman, manages to deceive USN patrol planes from the Neutrality Patrol and British light cruiser HMS Enterprise. The ship reaches Norwegian waters in February.

GERMANY: Hitler places Luftwaffe I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 40 (I./KG 40) with its FW-200 Kondor's based at Merignac Airfield, Bordeaux, directly under the command of Doenitz.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Italian torpedo boat Clio sinks Free French submarine Narval off the coast of Tobruk, Libya.

NORTH AFRICA: AOC-in-C, Middle East, Arthur Longmore, Air Officer Commanding In Chief, RAF Middle East, receives a signal from Churchill. "Greatly admire your brilliant support of Army operations. We shall soon be as usual torn between conflicting needs. Probably four or five squadrons will be required for Greece and yet you will have to carry the Army forward in Libya."

LIBYA: British forces capture Tobruk airport. The Australian 19th Brigade reaches the perimeter defences on the eastern side of Tobruk.

KENYA The Somali Camel Corps is dissolved, reorganised and equipped with tanks from South Africa.

CANADA: A Special Committee of the Cabinet War Committee recommends that Japanese-Canadians not be allowed to volunteer for the armed services on the grounds that there is strong public opinion against them.

During the night of 7/8 January, 62 of the 68 RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons dispatched attack German warships at Brest; and 25 of 27 aircraft dispatched attack the port area at St. Nazaire.

I don't see much future for the Americans. In my view, it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social inequalities. Those were what caused the downfall of Rome, and yet Rome was a solid edifice that stood for something. Moreover, the Romans were inspired by great ideas. Nothing of the sort in England today. As for the Americans, that kind of thing is nonexistent. That's why, in spite of everything, I like an Englishman a thousand times better than an American. (207)

YUGOSLAVIA: German troops launch their second anti-partisan offensive, driving Marshall Tito's forces 50 miles (80 kilometres) south. Despite the retreat and heavy losses, Tito's men fight on.

MEDITERRANEAN: U-97 has to abort a patrol because a crewmember is seriously ill.

U.S.S.R.: Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla: Shipping loss: MS "TSch-405 "Vzrivatel"" - by field artillery, close to Eupatoria (later raised) (Sergey Anisimov)(69)

Soviet forces attack to the north and south of Mozhaisk. On the southern flank of the advance, Meshchovsk is captured.

LIBYA: 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, patrols to Agedabia and finds that the enemy has withdrawn. A convoy arrives safely at Benghazi but because of rough seas, this port is not put into full operation.

MALAYA: The Japanese, in a strong tank-infantry assault beginning before dawn, break through the Slim River positions of Indian 11th Division and drive rapidly 19 miles (30,6 kilometres) toward Kuala Lumpur, reaching positions 2 miles (3,2 kilometres) south of Slim village. The Indian 3 Corps withdraws the Slim River line southward to Tanjong Malim, between the village of Slim and the road junction at Kuala Kubu. This action temporarily leaves Indian 11th Division ineffective as a fighting force.
General Archibald Lord Wavell, who has been named Commander in Chief Australian-British-Dutch-American (ABDA) Command, South West Pacific, arrives at Singapore to find out why the British are losing. He gets an earful. Brigadier Ivan Simson, the chief engineer, shows Wavell Singapore Island's north side, which is undefended. No defence works are being built, or even planned. Wavell, furious, asks Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, General Officer Commanding Malaya, why this is so; Percival replies that defenses would be bad for morale. Wavell says that the impact would be greater when retreating troops begin crossing the causeway from the mainland and orders Percival to build defenses. Percival doesn't.

CHINA: In Changsha Province, Chinese and Japanese troops fight a fairly pointless battle which neither side wins.

PACIFIC: The submarine U.S.S. Pollack (SS-180), on her first patrol, fires two torpedoes in a daylight periscope attack in position 34-27N 139-59E. One hits and sinks the XAC Unkai Maru #1 (2225T ) south of Mikomoto Island. (Chris Sauder)

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: A Japanese air raid on Rabaul on New Britain Island, destroys a Hudson and 2 Wirraways and damages 2 other Hudson, all of No. 24 Squadron RAAF.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The siege of Bataan begins as U .S. and Filipino forces complete their withdrawal from the Layac Line. The North Luzon Force becomes the I Philippine Corps, containing about 22,500 men of 1st, 31st, 71st, and 91st Divisions, all Philippine Army (PA), 26th Cavalry Philippine Scouts (PS), miscellaneous troops, and supporting weapons. The Bataan defence Force is renamed II Philippine Corps and consists of about 25,000 men of the 11th, 21st, 41st, and 51st Divisions (all PA), 57th Infantry (PS) of the Philippine Division, and supporting weapons. The defence of Bataan as far south as the Mariveles Mountains is divided about equally between the two corps, I Corps being responsible for the western half and II Corps for the eastern half. The Service Command Area is located at the southern tip below the Mariveles Mountains and is the responsibility of Brigadier General A. C. McBride; in this area are the 2d Division Philippine Constabulary, organized on this date, provisional infantry units formed from air forces personnel, and a provisional battalion of Navy and Marine personnel. Defenses on Bataan are organized in depth: the main line of resistance (MLR) extends from Mauban on the west to Mabatang on the east, a distance of 20 miles (32 kilometres); the outpost line (OPL) is disposed before the MLR; and the rear line of defence is being formed to be manned by the U.S. Army Forces, Far East (USAFFE) reserve, i.e., the Philippine Div, less the 57th Infantry; a tank group; a self-propelled mount group.

U.S.A.: The USN's authorized aircraft strength is increased from 15,000 to 27,500.

UNITED KINGDOM: Churchill agrees to reprieve Mahatma Gandhi from prison where he is on hunger strike. This is on condition that Gandhi's release does not cause Britain to lose face. He asks colleagues: "Why give way to h-strike [hunger strike] by Gandhi?"
"Let him out as an act of State, rather than an act of submission to [good] will. I [would] keep him there and let him do as he likes. But if you are going to let him out because he strikes, then let him out now. ... Tell Viceroy." (William Ritchart)

GERMANY: During the night of 7/8 January, three Pathfinder Mosquitos and 19 Lancasters are dispatched to bomb Essen; 17 bomb but it is an ineffective raid.

U-470, U-957 commissioned.

U-238 launched.

ITALY: Twenty five USAAF Ninth Air Force B-24 Liberators are dispatched to hit the shipping in Palermo, Sicily, harbour; weather reduces the force and only ten bomb the target through broken clouds.

GREECE: A USAAF Ninth Air Force B-24 Liberator on a special mission bombs Maiouli Quay at Piraeus.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: The 7,152 ton British passenger/cargo ship SS Benalbanach is sunk about 150 nautical miles (278 kilometres) northwest of Algiers, Algeria, when the convoy she was part of was attacked by a single German aircraft. She is carrying 389 men of a motor transport unit and a crew of 74 and is en route from the U.K. to Bone, Algeria. The Benalbanach is hit by two torpedoes launched from the aircraft. The ship catches fire, blows up and sinks almost immediately taking the lives of 57 crew members and 353 service personnel. Her captain, dies in the water just as he is about to be rescued.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Horatio torpedoed and sunk by German MTB S-58 in the western Mediterranean.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Jura torpedoed and sunk by U-371 in the western Mediterranean off Algiers. SS Ville de Strasbourg damaged by U-371 in same action.

ALGERIA: An Allied Air Force General Order makes the USAAF Twelfth Air Force responsible for air support of U.S. ground forces in North Africa and the RAF Eastern Air Command responsible for support of the British First Army. However, units are to be placed under operational control of the other as the situation might dictate.

TUNISIA: USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb the airfield and barracks at Gabes while A-20 Havocs attack troop concentrations at Kairouan. Fighters escort both raids and also carry out several reconnaissance missions.

IRAQ: The Americans take exclusive jurisdiction over port of Khorramshahr, where the first U.S. troops arrived in December 1942.

CHINA: USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force P-40s blast fuel storage facilities at Mangshih.

BURMA: USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force aircraft begin a series of raids, lasting through 10 January, during which they destroy trucks along the Burma Road, barges on the Irrawaddy River and supplies in the Bhamo area.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the U.S. 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, continues toward Tarakena. Companies G and F, with fire support of Company E, reach positions about 500 yards (457 meters) from their objective. The Australian 18th Brigade, 7th Division, completes a movement to Soputa. The 2d Battalion, U.S. 163d Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Regiment, arrives on the Sanananda front. The Japanese 102nd Regiment Group lands at Lae.

USAAF Fifth Air Force fighters attack Lae Airfield in Northeast New Guinea. One of the U.S. pilots is 2d Lieutenant Richard I. Bong, flying a P-38F Lightning. Bong shoots down two Oscar fighters (Nakajima Ki-43, Army Type 1 Fighters Hayabusa), his third and fourth victories.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Solomon Sea off Finschhafen, the Japanese convoy bound for Lae, Northeast New Guinea, from New Britain is again attacked by USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders, supported by P-38 Lightnings and P-40s, and RAAF or RNZAF Hudsons and RAAF (PBY) Catalinas. During these attacks, an RAAF Catalina sinks an army cargo ship off Lae, and an army cargo ship is forced aground south of Arawe, Northeast New Guinea.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In preparation for the offensive on 10 January, the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, leaves the Lunga perimeter for Mt Austen. The 147th Infantry Regiment Task Force, embarks at Kukum in two landing craft tanks (LCTs) for Beaufort Bay to block the trail leading north toward Kokumbona. About 50,000 Allied air, ground, and naval forces are now in the Guadalcanal area.

USAAF B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb Bougainville Island; they are met by twelve Zeke fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters); two are shot down without any U.S. losses. B-26 Marauders with P-39 Airacobras escort attack Rekata Bay on Santa Isabel Island; two US aircraft are lost.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Six USAAF Sixth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and 12 P-38 Lightnings dispatched to Kiska Island turn back due to cloud cover. Six B-24 Liberators circle over Kiska for two hours until four can bomb the submarine base. Antiaircraft fire damages three of the attackers. Negative reconnaissance is flown over Amchitka, Kiska, Agattu and Attu Island. Photographs taken reveal use of smoke pots by the defenders and also suggest construction of a fighter strip along the ridge south of Salmon Lagoon on Kiska.

U.S.A.: Development of the first USN aircraft to be equipped with a turbojet engine is initiated with the issuance of a Letter of Intent to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation for engineering, development, and tooling for two fighter aircraft. Two Westinghouse 19-B turbojet engines are later specified and the aircraft is designated XFD-1. It became the prototype for the FH-1 Phantom jet fighter. The XFD-1 makes its first flight on 26 January 1946.

UNITED KINGDOM: Major James Stewart of the USAAF, better known as the star of The Philadelphia Story, brought his Liberators back intact today from a daylight mission on Ludwigshaven, despite being set upon by enemy fighters. Stewart, leading 48 bombers of 445th Group based at Tibenham in Norfolk, had completed his mission when he saw that the 389th Group, the lead group of the raid's original 420 bombers, had taken a wrong bearing home, across German fighter airfields in France. Radio contact was lost, so he decided to follow and gave fire cover. Owing to Stewart's action, only eight of the strayed Liberators were lost.

South-eastern FRANCE: Allied advisers parachute in to train Resistance fighter for guerrilla warfare after the invasion of Europe.

Thirty five USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb Maupertus Airfield at Cherbourg. Bad weather restricts further operations.

During the night of 7/8 January, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 179: five B-17 Flying Fortresses drop 1.08 million leaflets on Paris, Chartres, Caen and Evreux without loss.

GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 178: 351 of 382 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 69 of 120 B-24s hit the I G Farben synthetic oil plant at Ludwigshafen; they claim 30-6-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; five B-17 Flying Fortresses and 17 B-24s are lost. Four other aircraft bomb targets of opportunity.

During the night of 7/8 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches Mosquitos to bomb Duisburg (four hit the Vereinigte Stahl steel factory and one bombs the city) and Krefeld (three attack the Edelstahlwerke steel factory and three bomb the city).

Southern ITALY: The British X Corps and the US II Corps have broken through the Germans' winter defensive line. The village of San Vittore fell yesterday and today, after a vicious battle, the Germans were driven off Monte Porchia. But the British 46th Division has been forced back after several attempts to get its tanks across the flooded river Peccia; no longer do the Allies talk of a "jolly romp to Rome."

Every yard of this mountainous terrain has to be fought for against a Wehrmacht which has recovered quickly from the loss of its Italian allies and shows no sign of retreating to a defensive line north of the Italian capital. However, a major Allied attack is imminent.

General Mark Clark is anxious to draw off the maximum number of German reserves before the seaborne landings at Anzio planned for January 22. The Germans have meanwhile established defensive positions at the far end of the Liri valley - in the mountains overlooking Cassino.

In the U.S. Fifth Army's II Corps area, Mt. Porchia falls to Task Force A of the 1st Armoured Division, making nearby Cedro Hill, in the British X Corps zone, untenable for the Germans. The 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, occupies Mt. La Chiaia and continues west, clearing Hill 224 and Cicerelli Hill, between Mt. La Chiaia and Highway 6 while the 168th Infantry Regiment gains control of a ridge northeast of La Chiaia, contributing to success of the 135th Infantry Regiment. The right flank column of Task Force B, 1st Special Service Force, takes Mt. Majo early in the day and holds it against a series of counterattacks while column on the left attempts to reduce Hill 1109, overlooking Cervaro, without success.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25 Mitchells strike Perugia Airfield; A-20 Havocs hit defenses in close support of the US Fifth Army; B-26 Marauders hit the marshalling yards at Foligno and Arezzo and attack a bridge at Roccasecca; A-36 Apaches hit gun positions, trucks, and trains in the Cervaro-Aquino-Cassino area, bomb the Aquino station, and hit the Velletri railway yards; P-40s give close support in the Monte Maio, Monte La Chiaia, Monte Porchia, and Cedro Hill areas as the US Fifth Army drives toward the Rapido River.

Twenty one USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, with P-38 Lightning escort, bomb a torpedo plant at Fiume.

During the night of 7/8 December, 26 heavy bombers of the RAF No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the aircraft plant at Reggio-Emelia.

U.S.S.R.: Moscow announces a breakthrough on the 60-mile (97 kilometre) front in the Kirovograd sector. Kirovograd is practically surrounded.

YUGOSLAVIA: Eight USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the port area at Split.

CEYLON: Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Commander Southeast Asia Command, drops plans for Operation CUDGEL, small-scale operation in the Arakan coastal sector of Burma.

JAPAN: Imperial General Headquarters authorizes the Southern Army to secure positions in the Imphal area of India when the opportunity presents itself.

CHINA: Four USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and six P-40s sink two large boats on the Yangtze River south of Hukow and sink a large powerboat, a barge, and a small ore craft at Shihhweiyao; 11 P-38 Lightnings claim between 30 and 40 sampans destroyed along the river from Hankow to Chiuchiang; and two B-25s on a sea sweep claim a 300-foot (91 meter) passenger vessel sunk south of Hong Kong.

BURMA: Seven USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and 15 P-38 Lightnings attack the Lanywa area, hitting the oil plant and storage tanks, causing several fires, and strafe several antiaircraft positions while 19 A-36 Apaches and P-51 Mustangs bomb supply and troop concentrations at Nanyaseik.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, P-39 Airacobras, and P-47 Thunderbolts attack the Alexishafen-Madang area, hit Erima, Bogadjim, and targets along the Bogadjim Road, attack positions from Weber Point to Vincke Point, and strafe huts and barges near Sidor.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators hit Boela on Ceram, Netherlands East Indies.

ADMIRALTY ISLANDS: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators hit Lorengau, Manus Island.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb the Cape Gloucester area and A-20 Havocs hit forces near Arawe.

About 150 USMC and USN SBD Dauntlesses and TBF Avengers, escorted by 72 fighters, attack targets on the Cape Saint George area, New Ireland Island. USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Vunakanau Airfield on New Britain Island.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The submarine U.S.S. Kingfish (SS-234), on her sixth patrol, is patrolling the waters off Palawan. At position 9-27N 117-36E, she attacks on the surface at night using her radar. Of the four torpedoes fired, two fish hit the vessel and sink the C-AO Fushimi Maru #3 (4289T). (Chris Sauder)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: River class frigate HMS Tweed (K 250), part of Escort Group 5, takes a Zaunkönig hit from U-305 (Kapitanleutnant Rudolf Bahr) and sinks within two minutes. There are 52 survivors. Location: West of Cape Ortegal at 44 18N 21 19W. (Alex Gordon)(108)

River class frigate HMCS Waskesiu was narrowly missed by a Zaunkönig torpedo, which carried on to strike sister ship HMS Tweed. TWEED sinks within two minutes. There are 52 survivors. Location: West of Cape Ortegal at 44 18N 21 19W. Both were part of Escort Group 6, which had been carrying out 'offensive ASW sweeps' in the Bay of Biscay. The attack was conducted by U-305, Kapitanleutnant Rudolf Bahr, CO. (Alex Gordon and Dave Shirlaw)(108)

U-107 was attacked four times (at 0008hrs, 0040hrs, 0104hrs, and 0120hrs) by Liberator aircraft, and replied each time with Anti-Aircraft guns. The boat suffered no damage.

U-343 shot down RAF 36 Sqn Wellington. The boat survived a swamp operation, shooting down one of its attackers.

NORTH SEA: The last RAF Bomber Command Wellington operation is flown on this night by the crew of a No 192 Squadron Wellington Mk. X based at RAF Foulsham, Norfolk, England. The Wellington is on a radar countermeasures flight over the North Sea "to investigate enemy beam signals connected with the launching of flying bombs and believed to emanate from marker buoys." Bad weather over the North Sea causes the flight to be curtailed but the Wellington lands safely, the last of more than 47,000 sorties carried out by this type of aircraft in Bomber Command.

BELGIUM: British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, Commander in Chief 21st Army Group, gives a press conference in which he all but claims complete credit for saving the Allied cause in the Battle of the Bulge. He is almost removed from his command because of the resulting American outcry. Montgomery had already earned the ire of many American officers because of his cautiousness in the field, arrogance off the field, and willingness to disparage his American counterparts. The last straw is Montgomery's whitewashing of the Battle of the Bulge facts to assembled reporters in his battlefield headquarters-he made his performance in the Ardennes sound not only more heroic but decisive, which necessarily underplayed the Americans' performance. Since the loss of American life in the battle was tremendous and the surrender of 7,500 members of the 106th Infantry Division humiliating, Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, Commanding General 12th Army Group, complained loudly to General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, who passed the complaints on to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. On 18 January, Churchill addressed Parliament and announced in no uncertain terms that the "Bulge" was an American battle-and an American victory.

In the British Second Army's XXX Corps area, the 53d Division takes Grimbiemont.

In U.S. First Army's VII Corps area, co-ordinated attacks of the 2d Armoured and 84th Infantry Divisions toward Laroche-Salmchteau road, the intermediate objective before Houffalize, make notable progress. Dochamj and Marcouray fall. Only rear guards remain in the Consy area. The 3d Armoured Division seizes Regn, Verleumon Sart, and Grand Sart. In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area,, the 82d Airborne Division, in a rapid advance of 2-3 miles (3,2 - 4,8 kilometres), clears most of the angle formed by Laroche-Salmchteau road and the Saim River. Some elements secure positions on a ridge just north of Comté; others, during the advance to the Saim River line, clear Goronne, Farniers, Mont, and Rochelinval. Regimental Combat Team 112 seizes Spineux, Wanne, and Wanneranval.

In the U.S. Third Army's VIII Corps area, the 87th Infantry Division continues its attack on Tillet and is engaged sporadically in the Bonnerue area. The 17th Airborne Division takes Rechrival, Millomont, and Flamierge and reaches the outskirts of Flamizoulle. In the III Corps area, the 6th Armoured Division remains under strong pressure in the Neffe-Wardin region east of Bastogne. The 35th Infantry Division makes a limited attack toward the Lutrebois-Lutremange road, halting just short of it.

FRANCE: The boundary between the U.S. Seventh Army and French First Army is shifted north, giving the French responsibility for the Strasbourg area.

In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 45th Infantry Division, on the left flank of the Bitche salient, reaches the heights overlooking Aithorn and overcomes final resistance within Wingen. On the corps eastern flank, the 79th Infantry Division organizes Task Force Wahl (elements of the 313th, 315th, and 222d Infantry Regiments; Combat Command A of the 14th Armoured Division; and the 827th Task Destroyer Battalion) to operate in the northern part of the division front since the German threat to the Maginot Line positions south of Wissembourg is serious. The Germans drive back outposts at Aschbach and Stundweiler. In the Gambsheim bridgehead area, efforts of 317th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, to clear Drusenheim are unsuccessful; the French 3d Algerian Division takes over the attack toward Gambsheim from Kilstett.

The following U.P. report was released to the newswires - A German communiqué asserted today that U-boats had sunk an 11,000-ton vessel used as a troop transport off Cherbourg, one of the main Allied supply ports in France, and that they had sent nine other vessels, including five warships, to the bottom in attacks on Allied shipping since January 1. There was no Allied confirmation of these claims. The troop transport in question was the SS Leopoldville.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 785: 1,073 bombers and 700 fighters attack communications centres, rail targets, bridges and an oil storage depot in western Germany using PFF methods; three bombers and a fighter are lost. The heaviest raids are the marshalling yard at Hamm bombed by 113 B-17 Flying Fortresses and the communications centre at Bitburg hit by 110 B-17s. Eighteen other targets are hit by 850 bombers.

During the night of 7/8 January, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 645 Lancasters and nine Mosquitos to bomb Munich; 597 bomb the target with the loss of 11 Lancasters and four more crash in France. Bomber Command claims a successful area raid, with the central and some industrial areas being severely damaged. This was the last major raid on Munich. In other attacks, 52 of 54 Mosquitos dispatched bomb Hannover, 18 hit Nuremberg and 12 attack Hanau.

HUNGARY: The Germans continue their efforts to relieve the Budapest garrison, which is being methodically destroyed, and capture Esztergom, northwest of the city. (Jack McKillop

ITALY: In the British Eighth Army area, the Polish II Corps withdraws from the line, turning over its sector and the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division to the British V Corps.

Weather grounds the medium bombers and A-20 Havocs of the USAAF Twelfth Air Force; XXII Tactical Air Command (TAC) fighters and fighter-bombers make six cuts on the Brenner rail line, damage the western end of the rail bridge at Cittadella, and hit the marshalling yard south of Trento; most of the XXII TAC's effort is concentrated against land and water communications in the La Spezia-Genoa area, including attacks on shipping at Savona and San Remo harbours. XXII TAC A-20 Havocs fly 33 effective sorties in the Po Valley during the night of 7/8 January.

BALTIC SEA: Soviet submarine S-4 is most likely rammed and sunk by the German torpedo boat T 3 or T 33 about 38 nautical miles (71 kilometres) north of Danzig, Poland, in position 54.59N, 18.33E.

CHINA: Five USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Ft Bayard and attack shipping in Samah Bay on Hainan Island, sinking a stores ship.

BURMA: Akyab: Allied troops of the 81st and 82nd West African Divisions are advancing down the Burmese coast towards Myebon, buoyed by the capture of Akyab by XV Corps. British Army and Royal Marine commandos had landed there to try to cut off the Japanese retreat, but they were too late; the Japanese forces had been withdrawn towards Mandalay. Now more substantial landings are planned at Myebon and Ramree Island to support the land advance. These land operations have been supported by naval bombardment, notably last month when two Australian destroyers reinforced the light Allied naval force. But many small motor launches are playing an important role here, harrying enemy vessels in the maze of coastal inlets to disrupt supplies, and landing raiding parties.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: Eleven USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators, flying out of Saipan, bomb an airfield on Iwo Jima. During the night of 7/8 January ten more B-24s again bomb airfields, striking in single-bomber snooper missions over a 7-hour period.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Major Thomas B. McGuire was assigned to the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group based at Dulag, Leyte, Philippine Islands. On that day, McGuire was leading a four-plane flight on a fighter sweep over Negros Island when they were attacked by Japanese aircraft. Normally, the American pilots would release their drop tanks when attacked but McGuire ordered the other three to, "Save your tanks!" This action occurred at low altitude, 200 feet (60.96 meters). One of the Japanese aircraft got on the tail of a P-38 and the pilot called for help while flying in a circle. McGuire responded and his aircraft began to stall out as he tightened his turn until the P-38 went into a full stall. The P-38 snap-rolled and plunged inverted into the ground killing him.

Underwater demolition teams begin a search for underwater obstacles in Lingayen Gulf as preinvasion aerial and naval bombardment of Luzon continues.

On Mindoro, Japanese planes for the first time are conspicuously absent from the San Jose area.

In major strikes of the day against targets on Luzon Island, large numbers of USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-25 Mitchells and A-20 Havocs, supported by P-38 Lightnings, hit the network of airstrips from Clark Field to Angeles Airfield, B-24 Liberators bomb Nielson and Grace Park Airfields and Nichols Field and B-25s and fighter-bombers pound bridges in the Plaridel and Calumpit areas. B-24s raid Padada and Daliao Airfields on Mindanao Island. Other FEAF aircraft on small-scale armed reconnaissance missions strike targets of opportunity throughout the Philippine Islands.

In Lingayen Gulf, Japanese air attacks in the area continue and two USN high speed minesweepers are sunk: USS Hovey (DMS-11) is sunk by an aerial torpedo and USS Palmer (DMS-5) by bombs.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25 Mitchells and fighter-bombers hit Lembeh Strait and the Langoan areas on Celebes Island while RAAF aircraft fly 661 sorties against Halmahara and Morotai Islands.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The submarine U.S.S. Picuda (SS-382), on her fifth patrol, prowling east of Formosa, fires four torpedoes at A-AO Munakata Maru (10,045T) in a daylight periscope attack in position 25-38N 121-08E. Two torpedoes strike home. Japanese sources claim heavy damage to the tanker.

The post-war Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee corroborates Japanese sources which claim the vessel was sunk at Keelung on 21 January 1945 by aircraft. However, U.S.S. Barb (SS-220) claims in her patrol report that the ship was seen to blow up at the time of the attack. (Chris Sauder)

In the South China Sea at about 2230 hours, USN destroyers USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), Braine (DD-630), Russell (DD-414), and Shaw (DD-373) open fire with their guns and sink the Japanese destroyer HIJMS Hinoki, about 86 nautical miles (160 kilometres) west of Manila, Philippine Islands.

Corvette HMCS Thorlock departed Halifax for work ups Bermuda.

Corvette HMCS Trail departed work ups Bermuda for Boston.

U.S.A.: The Swedish ship Gripsholm sails from Jersey City, New Jersey, with approximately 102 persons of German descent and members of their families who had been rounded up in Mexico to use as "exchange material" for Americans caught in Germany. (Mike Yared)

Light cruiser USS Dayton commissioned.