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• USS Nicholas departed San Pedro Bay, Leyte as an escort for the invasion forces bound for Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines. ww2dbase [Nicholas | DS]

• Gao Youxin successfully returned to friendly lines after being shot down behind Japanese lines on 20 Nov 1944. ww2dbase [Gao Youxin | CPC]

• In Operation Lentil, in British aircraft attacked oil refineries at Pangkalan Brandon, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Sumatra | CPC]

• Togo arrived at Kiel, Germany. ww2dbase [Togo / Coronel | Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]

• USS Puffer sank a Japanese vessel in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, hitting her with 1 of 3 torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Puffer | Okinawa | CPC]

• USS Whale searched for survivors of a downed B-29 Superfortress bomber east of Tokyo, Japan without success. ww2dbase [Whale | CPC]

• In the Philippine Islands, Japanese aircraft attacked the American invasion fleet bound for Luzon; USS Ommaney Bay was seriously damaged by a special attack in the Sulu Sea and was scuttled. ww2dbase [Ommaney Bay | Sulu Sea | CPC]
• An aircraft from USS Wake detected a Japanese floatplane in the water off Panay Island, Philippine Islands and strafed the Japanese aircraft. ww2dbase [Wake Island | Panay | CPC]
• In the Sulu Sea, Philippines, escort carriers USS Steamer Bay and USS Ommaney Bay exchanged positions in the formation and a short time later, Ommaney Bay was struck by a Japanese special attack aircraft. ww2dbase [Steamer Bay | Sulu Sea | DS]

• USS Ticonderoga launched Air Group 80 aircraft for strikes on Taiwan. ww2dbase [Ticonderoga | DS]
• USS Yorktown (Essex-class) launched raids on airfields on Formosa (Taiwan). ww2dbase [Philippines Campaign, Phase 2 | Yorktown (Essex-class) | DS]
• TBM-5C torpedo bombers of VT-4 squadron, escorted by F6F-5 fighters of VF-4 squadron, both from USS Essex, attacked a number of Japanese airfields in Taiwan. Rojoseki Airfield in Rojoseki District of Shoka (now Erlin District of Changhua), Hokuto (misnamed "Keishu" in US records) Airfield in Shoka, and Mato Airfield in Tainan (now Madou District of Tainan) sustained damage. ww2dbase [Hokuto Airfield | Essex | Shoka, Taichu | CPC]

• German V-2 rocket hit Woodland Street in Hackney, London, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Vergeltungswaffe 2 | V-Weapons Campaign | London, England | CPC]

• USS Dragonet arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, United States for repairs. ww2dbase [Mare Island Navy Yard | Dragonet | Vallejo, California | CPC]
• Escort carrier USS Card departed Brooklyn Navy Yard bound for Quonset Point, Rhode Island. ww2dbase [New York Navy Yard | Card | Brooklyn, New York | DS]
• The United States Department of Censorship requested a voluntary blackout of all press coverage in newspapers and radio concerning the Japanese balloon bombs being found in western states. All media outlets complied. ww2dbase [Fu-Go | Japanese Attacks on the Continental United States | DS]
• A paper Japanese Fu-Go balloon was seen drifting inland from Jenner on the northern California coast. Later that same day, what was believed to be the same balloon was seen to land in an apple orchard near Forestville, California. Including the four incendiary bombs still attached to it, this was the most complete balloon recovered by the US Army to date. ww2dbase [Sebastopol, California | DS]
• A paper Japanese Fu-Go balloon was seen drifting inland from Jenner on the northern California coast. Later that same day, what was believed to be the same balloon was seen to land in an apple orchard near Forestville, California. Including the four incendiary bombs still attached to it, this was the most complete balloon recovered by the US Army to date. ww2dbase [Fu-Go | Sebastopol, California | DS]

4 Jan 1945 Interactive Map