3 January 1945

FRANCE: Philippsbourg: Private First Class George B. Turner, U.S. Army, Battery C, 499th Armoured Field Artillery Battalion, 14th Armoured Division. Cut off from his artillery unit by an enemy armoured infantry attack. Coming upon a friendly infantry company withdrawing under the vicious onslaught, he noticed 2 German tanks and approximately 75 supporting foot soldiers advancing down the main street of the village. Seizing a rocket launcher, he advanced under intense small-arms and cannon fire to meet the tanks and, standing in the middle of the road, fired at them, destroying 1 and disabling the second. From a nearby half-track he then dismounted a machinegun, placed it in the open street and fired into the enemy infantrymen, killing or wounding a great number and breaking up the attack. In the American counterattack which followed, 2 supporting tanks were disabled by an enemy antitank gun. Firing a light machinegun from the hip, Pfc. Turner held off the enemy so that the crews of the disabled vehicles could extricate themselves. He ran through a hail of fire to one of the tanks which had burst into flames and attempted to rescue a man who had been unable to escape; but an explosion of the tank's ammunition frustrated his effort and wounded him painfully. Refusing to be evacuated, he remained with the infantry until the following day, driving off an enemy patrol with serious casualties, assisting in capturing a hostile strong point, and voluntarily and fearlessly driving a truck through heavy enemy fire to deliver wounded men to the rear aid station. The great courage displayed by Pfc. Turner and his magnificently heroic initiative contributed materially to the defence of the French town and inspired the troops about him. PFC Turner was a 46 year old private. (Patrick Holscher)

In the U.S. Third Army's VIII Corps area, the 28th Infantry Division defends the Meuse River from Givet to Verdun. In the III Corps area, the 6th Armoured Division repels German thrusts west of Michamps and places heavy artillery concentrations on Arloncourt, Michamps, and Bourcy. To the south, attempts to clear the high ground near Wardin and takes the road junction south of the town.

In the U.S. Seventh Army area, XV Corps, Combat Command L, French 2d Armoured Division, pushes into Gros Rederching but is unable to clear it. Attempt by the U.S. 44th Infantry Division to relieve the French there fails. The 36th Infantry Division (less Regimental Combat Team 141) assembles near Montbronn. In the VI Corps area, the Germans expands the Bitche salient, entering Wingen and Philippsbourg. The 45th Infantry Division withstands pressure against Reipertsweiler, northwest of Wingen, and contains attacks in the Sarreinsberg-Meisenthal area. Centre and right flank elements of corps complete withdrawal to Maginot positions.

BELGIUM: The U.S. First Army starts a counteroffensive to reduce the German's Ardennes salient from the north. VII Corps attacks southeast toward Houffalize with the 2d Armoured Division followed by the 84th Infantry Division on the right, and 3d Armoured Division followed by 83d Infantry Division on the left. 2d Armoured Division gains Trinal, Magoster, positions in the Bois de Tave, Freineux, Le Batty, and positions near Belle Haie. The 3d Armoured Division takes Malempré and Floret and from the latter continues southeast on the Lierneux road to Groumont Creek. The 75th Infantry Division, after an attack passes through its line, continues mopping up south of Sadzot. In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area, the 82d Airborne Division, in conjunction with the VII Corps' attack, thrusts southeast, improving positions. As a diversion, the 30th Infantry Division pushes small forces south of Malmedy and then withdraws them as planned.

In the U.S. Third Army's VIII Corps area, elements of the 87th Infantry Division are temporarily surrounded in the woods east of Saint-Hubert. The 17th Airborne Division attacks north late in the day in the region about 5 miles (8 kilometres) northwest of Bastogne. Northeast of Bastogne, the 101st Airborne Division and the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment are clearing Bois Jacques. Task Force Higgins (elements of the 101st Airborne Division and Combat Command A, 10th Armoured Division) is organized to block German attacks toward Bastogne. Combat Command A, 4th Armoured Division, continues to defend the corridor into Bastogne. In the VIII Corps area, the 35th Infantry Division gains about two thirds of Lutrebois and cross roads west of Vilers-la-Bonne-Eau but is unable to take Harlange, Luxembourg.

LUXEMBOURG: In the U.S. Third Army's VIII Corps area, the 26th Infantry Division continues their attack in the region north of Mecher-Dunkrodt and Kaundorf.

In the U.S. Seventh Army area, XV Corps withstands further pressure and on the left slightly improves positions. The Germans deepen their penetration at boundary of the 44th and 100th Infantry Divisions, entering Aachen, from which they are ousted in a counterattack.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 778: 1,168 bombers and 589 fighters are dispatched to attack rail and communications targets in western Germany; all are PFF attacks using H2X, Gee-H and Micro H radars; they claim 4-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; four fighters are lost. The targets are (numbers in parenthesis indicate number of aircraft bombing):

- Marshalling yards (M/Ys): Fulda (141), Aschaffenburg (123), Neuenkirchen (82), West M/Y at Hermulheim (72), Landau (59), Zweibrucken (56), Homburg (42), East M/Y at Hermulheim (36), Pirmasens (40), Lutzel M/Y at Koblenz (35), Alstadt (30), Pforzheim (25) and Mannheim (1).

During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 99 Lancasters to make G-H attacks through cloud on the Benzol plants at Dortmund and Castrop-Rauxel; 49 bomb the Hansa plant at Dortmund and 44 hit the Tar plant at Castrop Rauxel. Bombing appears to be accurate at both targets. One Lancaster is lost from the Dortmund raid.

During the night of 3/4 January, RAF Bomber Command sends six Mosquitos to hit the marshalling yards at Ludwigshafen and Neuss; three bomb Ludwigshafen and two hit Neuss.

Trouble with the diesels forced U-315 to return to base.

U-2361, U-4703 launched.

U-4712 laid down.

ITALY: In the British Eighth Army's Canadian I Corps area, the 5th Armoured Division reaches Canale di Bonifica Destra del Reno as it continues northward. The 1st Division begins attack to clear the German pocket between it and the British V Corps in the Cotignola area, crossing the Naviglio Canal and taking Granarolo in conjunction with an attack by the British V Corps from the south. In the British V Corps area, elements of the 56th Division and of the 7th Armoured Brigade as well as a squadron of Kangaroos (armoured infantry carriers) push northward from the Felisio area, clearing the Senio River bank as far north as St. Severo.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers score direct hits on two railroad bridges at Lavis and fly good coverage of the Chiusaforte, Canale d'Isonzo, and Padua railroad bridges. Fighter-bombers hit a large number of communications targets (mainly railroad targets) in the Po Valley.

During the night of 3/4 January, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs successfully hit a stores dump and bridge near Mestre, and destroy or damage over 50 vehicles.

During the night of 3/4 January, 49 bombers of RAF No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the railroad bridge at Salcano.

YUGOSLAVIA: During the day, 16 bombers of RAF No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group fly supplies to the partisans.

INDIAN OCEAN: The British submarine HMS/M Shakespeare (P 221) surfaces to engage a merchant ship and is damaged by gunfire and later aircraft in the Nankauri Strait, Andaman Islands. She reaches Ceylon and is written off as a constructive total loss.

JAPAN: USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-25 Mitchells from the Aleutian Islands fly coverage for a naval force over the Kurile Islands.

The USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XXI Bomber Command flies Mission 17: 97 Mariana Island-based B-29 Superfortresses are sent to bomb docks and urban areas of Nagoya; 57 hit the primary target and 21 others bomb alternates and targets of opportunity; Japanese fighters fly over 300 attacks on the B-29s and five are lost; B-29 gunners claim 14-14-20 Japanese aircraft.

CHINA: On the Saiween front, the Chinese 9th Division, 2d Army, breaks into Wanting, at the Sino-Burmese border, but is driven out in night counterattack.

Ten USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-51 Mustangs hit the airfield at Tsinan, claiming 13 aircraft destroyed. Six P-51s claim several river steamers sunk in the Hankow-Chiuchiang area while six others damage bridges at Chinchengchiang. Over 20 other P-40s, P-51s, and P-47 Thunderbolts on armed reconnaissance attack various targets of opportunity in the Wuchang-Hankow and Shwangliu areas.

BURMA: British forces landings on Akyab Island in the area of Arakan. This includes the deployment of a Royal Navy bombardment force. In the event, the Japanese proved to have withdrawn, and Akyab was liberated single-handed by a Royal Artillery officer. . From landing craft in the Naaf River, the British 3d Commando Brigade lands and is followed by a brigade of the Indian 25th Division from Foul Point. Inland, troops of the British 2d Division, XXX Corps, Fourteenth Army, occupy Ye-u.

Ten USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, supported by 12 P-47 Thunderbolts, attack the airfield at Aungban. Troop concentrations and supply and ammunition dumps are attacked at several locations, including Man Kun, Loi Hkam, Ngawnga, Chakau, Mulaw, and Man Pwe.

USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s, P-51 Mustangs, and P-47 Thunderbolts on armed reconnaissance attack various targets of opportunity west of Wanling.

FORMOSA: USN Task Force 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins operations against Japanese airfields and shipping in the Formosa area. Principally along the west coast of Formosa, TF 38 planes sink a landing ship, five cargo ships and damage five army cargo ships. TF 38 consists of five battleships, 11 aircraft carriers, five small aircraft carriers, three heavy cruisers, 14 light cruisers and 56 destroyers.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators attack the Djailolo supply area on Halmahera Island, while B-25 Mitchells bomb Namlea Airfield on Boeroe (Buroe) Island, Moluccas Islands. Numerous other FEAF aircraft on armed reconnaissance, harassing raids, and light strikes attack a vast variety of targets throughout the Netherlands East Indies.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, a strong Japanese position at Permembil is attacked by a company of the Australian 2/5th Battalion, 17th Brigade, 6th Division, and the Japanese are driven out.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: On Mindoro Island, a guerrilla force of about 70 unsuccessfully attacks the Japanese at Pinamalayan. From Mindoro, Company K, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, moves to Marinduque Island to help guerrillas destroy Japanese remnants concentrated at Boac in the northeastern part of island.

USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators bomb Clark Field and the Mabalacat areas on Luzon. B-25 Mitchells attack five airfields in the central Philippine Islands while B-24 Liberators bomb two on Mindanao. Numerous other FEAF aircraft on armed reconnaissance, harassing raids, and light strikes attack a vast variety of targets throughout the Philippine Islands.

PACIFIC: Third Fleet carriers begin a 2 day attack against Formosa destroying 100 aircraft with loss of only 22 aircraft.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: Occupation of Fais Island by elements of the 321st Infantry Regiment, U.S. 81st Infantry Division continues. They destroy a Japanese radio station found there. Interrogation of natives and Japanese prisoners reveals that Fais, located southeast of Ulithi Atoll, had never been used to base ships.

MARCUS ISLAND: Three USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Guam, on armed reconnaissance, bomb the island. The island is located in the North Pacific about 768 nautical miles (1 422 kilometres) west-northwest of Wake Island and is used as a refuelling point for Japanese aircraft en route to the Central Pacific.

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Cap de la Madeleine detached convoy HX-328 and assigned Convoy ONS-39 westbound.

U.S.A.: In preparation for planned assaults against Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and mainland Japan, Gen. Douglas MacArthur is placed in command of all US ground forces and Adm. Chester Nimitz is placed in command of all US naval forces. This effectively ended the concept of unified commands, in which one man oversaw more than one service from more than one country in a distinct region.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 1803, SS Henry Miller in station #51 of convoy GUS-63 was torpedoed by U-870 22 miles SW of Cape Spartel. One torpedo struck at the bulkhead between #2 and #3 holds. The engines were secured as a fire started at the #3 hold, but the holds were soon filled by water and it extinguished the flames. The ship, now down by the head and listing to port, lost way and drifted aft of the convoy, but the complement of eight officers, 36 crewmen, 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with two 3in and eight 20mm guns) and one passenger (US Army security officer) remained on board. The master decided to restart the engines and make it to Gibraltar 50 miles away. 40 minutes after the attack the master ordered 25 crewmembers, 24 armed guards and the passenger to leave the ship in two lifeboats in case a bulkhead failed. They were picked up 15 minutes later by frigate USS Brunswick and landed at Gibraltar the next day. At 0300 on 4 January, the skeleton crew brought the Henry Miller under her own power into Gibraltar, where she was declared a total loss. After the war the wreck was towed to Spain and scrapped.