Margarita Point, Canal Zone

MON 20 DEC 1943
Pacific
Destroyers bombard Japanese positions on northeastern coast of Bougainville, Solomons.

Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese transport Tsuneshima Maru, East China Sea, 01°26'N, 148°36'E, and although damaged by depth charges dropped by escorting torpedo boat Otori, remains on patrol.

Submarine Puffer (SS-268) sinks Japanese destroyer Fuyo 60 miles west of Manila, 14°45'N, 119°54'E, but the submarine's attack on cargo ship Gozan Maru is not successful.

PBYs sink Japanese transport Alaska Maru 30 miles north of northwestern Gazelle Peninsula, 03°43'S, 151°30'E.

Atlantic
Naval Air Training Command is established at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida.

Coast Guard cutter Bodega (WYP-342) is damaged when she runs aground off Margarita Point, Canal Zone.

Aircraft (VC 19) from escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) sink Indian Ocean-bound German submarine U-850, 530 miles southwest of Fayal, Azores, 32°54'N, 37°01'W.