SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

30 December 1943

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

7 of 10 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Bougainville

First Piva airstrip is completed. Fiji patrol, having advanced along Numa Numa trail, establishes outposts near coast at Ibu village, where it can observe enemy movements. Airstrip for use of Piper Cubs is cleared there.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Italy

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps area, 34th Div relieves battle-worn 36th Div. RCT 142 is attached to 34th Div to garrison positions on M. Sammucro.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
New Britain

Cape Gloucester airdrome is declared secure; has been taken by Marines at very light cost.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Japanese air force attacks on Calcutta end.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 449 Allied sorties (24 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-12-30, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force. Targets included ITALY.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Pacific Theater

THOR mission records show at least 168 Allied sorties (24 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-12-30, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Theater not recorded

THOR mission records show at least 19 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1943-12-30, flown by USAAF 8th Air Force, RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

30 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944

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30 December 1943

Entries

First Piva airstrip is completed. Fiji patrol, having advanced along Numa Numa trail, establishes outposts near coast at Ibu village, where it can observe enemy movements. Airstrip for use of Piper Cubs is cleared there.

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps area, 34th Div relieves battle-worn 36th Div. RCT 142 is attached to 34th Div to garrison positions on M. Sammucro.

Cape Gloucester airdrome is declared secure; has been taken by Marines at very light cost.

Japanese air force attacks on Calcutta end.

THOR mission records show at least 449 Allied sorties (24 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-12-30, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force. Targets included ITALY.

THOR mission records show at least 168 Allied sorties (24 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-12-30, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 19 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1943-12-30, flown by USAAF 8th Air Force, RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Talk about it