http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/jan44/f07jan44.htm
Allies capture San Vittore
Friday, January 7, 1944 www.onwar.com
American mortar crew supporting attacks in Italy [photo at link]
In Italy... British and American elements of the US 5th Army capture Monte Chiaia and Monte Porchia. San Vittore is also taken.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces in the Ukraine continue advancing toward Kirovograd (2nd Ukrainian Front) and toward the former Polish town of Rovno.
In Occupied France... French resistance members sabotage the electricity supply to the Arsenal National at Tulle in the first of many such attacks.
Over Germany... A British Mosquito reconnaissance bomber is shot down by German anti-aircraft fire and its Oboe navigational aid is captured intact. This enables the Germans to devise counter-measures.
Back when I posted this issue of 70-year-old WWII news I omitted this important item for some reason. My uncle’s B-17 crew (Chason was pilot) Went on Mission #3. From the unit war diary:
7. With allied fighters virtually flying formation with them throughout the operation, hundreds of American bombers rode triumphantly to Ludwigshafen today to knock out one of Germany’s most important industrial centres. The 381st provided 25 B-17s over the target, seven from this squadron, led by their commander Major George G. Shackley, of Greenwood Lake, N.J.
He flew lead with 1st Lt William J. McDaniel on “Sweet and Lovely”; the composite group was led by Capt Marvin D. Lord, with Lt Bill Ridley, other pilots being: Lts Parsons, Chason, Sandman, Thompson, Hanson (534th ship), Nason (535th ship) and Shultz.
http://381st.org/Unit-Histories/War-Diaries/533rd-Bomb-Squadron-War-Diary