23 Dec 1943
  • Guavina was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Guavina | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
  • During North Atlantic weather so bad that escort carrier USS Card and her escorts had to run with the wind and Card could launch no aircraft for anti-submarine patrols, the group steamed directly through German submarine wolfpack Borkum. Card and screening destroyer USS Decatur were attacked unsuccessfully by U-415. Screening destroyer USS Schenck attacked and probably damaged U-645. ww2dbase [Conclusion of the Battle of the Atlantic | Card | DS]
Australian New Guinea
  • 24 US Army Air Force bombers conducted an attack on Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul, New Britain, escorted by 48 US Navy F6F and US Marine Corps F4U fighters; 1 F6F and 2 F4U aircraft were shot down by ground fire during the bombing mission. Shortly after, 48 USMC F4U fighters and a number of USAAF P-38 fighters conducted a fighter sweep over Rabaul. 99 Japanese A6M fighters rose to defend against the sweep. USMC airmen claimed 21 Japanese shot down, and USAAF 8; Gregory Boyington of USMC squadron VMF-214 alone claimed 4; Japanese records would later reveal that only 6 aircraft were lost during the fighter sweep. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | Rabaul, New Britain | CPC]
Australian Papua
  • 501st Bomb Squadron of USAAF 345th Bomb Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua. ww2dbase [Dobodura Airfield | Dobodura | CPC]
Germany Hawaii Italy New Hebrides United Kingdom
  • British Home Fleet Admiral Bruce Fraser dispatched battleship HMS Duke of York, cruiser HMS Jamaica, and 4 destroyers (3 British and 1 Norwegian) north in anticipation of German interception of Allied convoy JW-55B, which was sailing toward Murmansk, Russia. ww2dbase [Battle of the North Cape | Bruce Fraser | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 23 Dec 1943
Australian A-31 Vengeance flying near Merauke, New Guinea, 23 Dec 1943Christmas Dance for African-American US Army soldiers of 1323rd Engineers at Negro Service Club #3, Camp Swift, Texas, United States, 23 Dec 1943Canadian soldier with Lee-Enfield rifle in Ortona, Italy, Dec 1943Diamond T tank transporter of 610 Heavy Recovery Section of British Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers carrying a Bishop 25-pdr self-propelled gun of 142nd Field Regiment of British Royal Artillery, Italy, 23 Dec 1943

23 Dec 1943 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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