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SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

3 January 1944

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.

8 of 11 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

  1. Italy

    15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army area, II Corps prepares for final phase of assault on Winter Line, to begin on 5th. During night 3-4, 1st SSF, as preliminary for attack on M. Majo, begins clearing ridge SE of this feature.

    Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)

  2. New Britain

    1913th Aviation Engr Bn begins work on Cape Gloucester airdrome. Japanese attack Target Hill in early morning and are beaten back. Attack of ADC Group halts at small stream, dubbed Suicide Creek, NW of Target Hill.

    Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)

  3. USSR

    Soviet forces take Olevsk, NW of Kiev; press beyond there to achieve first crossing of prewar frontier of Poland. Novograd Volyinsk falls, giving Russians control of another rail line from Korosten.

    Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)

  4. Major Gregory Pappy Boyington, the USMC fighter ace, was shot down after downing the last 3 of his 26 victories, and would spend the next 20 months in Japanese POW Camps.

    Source Wikipedia (opens external site)

  5. US flying ace Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington is shot down in his Vought F4U Corsair by Captain Masajiro Kawato flying a Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

    Source Wikipedia (opens external site)

  6. China-Burma-India Theater

    THOR mission records show at least 63 Allied sorties (11 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1944-01-03, flown by RAF, USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force.

    Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

  7. Mediterranean Theater

    THOR mission records show at least 510 Allied sorties (26 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1944-01-03, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force. Targets included ITALY, YUGOSLAVIA.

    Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

  8. Pacific Theater

    THOR mission records show at least 163 Allied sorties (29 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1944-01-03, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force.

    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.

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3 January in other years 19401941194219431945

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