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• 78 Allied fighters (US Marine Corps F4U fighters, US Navy F6F fighters, RNZAF Kittyhawk fighters) took off from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville, Solomon Islands for a fighter sweep over Rabaul, New Britain. 70 Japanese fighters rose to defend. RNZAF pilots claimed 5 Japanese shot down while suffering 2 losses, while the Americans claimed 4; Japanese records would later show that only 2 A6M aircraft were lost on this day (with only 1 pilot killed). Gregory Boyington, who participated in the sweep, thought the Japanese only launched a limited number of aircraft in defense because the Allies sent too many fighters, and it made more sense for the Japanese to rely more on anti-aircraft guns rather than risking fighters. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | Rabaul, New Britain | CPC]

• US Fifth Army captured San Pietro Infine, Italy after a 10-day battle. ww2dbase [Advance to the Gustav Line | San Pietro Infine, Campania | TH]

• Shokaku arrived at Yokosuka, Japan. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]
• Yamato arrived at Yokosuka, Japan and took on elements of Japanese Army 1st Independent Mixed Regiment and supplies. ww2dbase [Yamato | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]

• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru arrived at Wotje, Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Wotje | CPC]

• USS Haddock made rendezvous with USS Tullibee and USS Halibut in the Pacific Ocean to form an attack group. ww2dbase [Haddock | CPC]

17 Dec 1943 Interactive Map