US NAVY
PACIFIC—TF 8 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.), formed
around carrier Enterprise (CV‑6), heavy cruisers, and destroyers, sails
from Pearl Harbor proceeding to waters west of Johnston Island and south of
Midway to cover TF 11 and TF 14operations (see 14‑16 December). Destroyer Craven
(DD‑382), in TF 8, is damaged by heavy sea soon after departure, however,
and returns to Pearl for repairs.
Japanese
naval land attack planes (Chitose Kokutai) bomb Wake Island, targeting
installations on Wake and Peale islets.
Unarmed
U.S. freighter Prusa is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine
I 172 about 150 miles south of Hawaii,16°45'N, 156°00'W (see 27
December).
UNITED STATES—U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1942 is graduated
early, due to the National Emergency.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
ZONE of the INTERIOR—First AF is assigned to Eastern
Theater of Operations (later Eastern Defense Command).
US ARMY
PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—On Luzon, Japanese Legaspi detachment
reaches Sipoco and is reported to be pushing toward Daet. On Mindanao, 2 enemy
TF's from Palau, totaling about 5,000 men, arrive off Davao during night 19-20.
Enemy planes discover and attack Del Monte airfield.
MALAYA—Enemy is active against right flank of Krian R line;
on Grik road, frustrates efforts of Indian 3 Corps to recover lost ground. RAF
fighters based at lpoh are forced to withdraw to Kuala Lumpu River Indian 9th
Division continues withdrawal southward in E Malaya and abandons Kuala Krai
railhead.
BURMA—Japanese overrun Bokpyin, village some 100 miles N of
Victoria Pt. Controversy, known as the Tulsa Incident, arises as a U.S.
officer asks Government of Burma to impound lend-lease material at Rangoon (a
valuable part of which is loaded on the SS Tulsa in the harbor), pending
a decision on its use. At the suggestion of the senior Chinese representative
in Burma, a committee is subsequently formed to determine the division of
stocks.
LIBYA—13 Corps, British Eighth Army, continues to follow
withdrawing enemy, Indian 4th Division advancing along coast to Derna and 7th
Armored Division across desert.
GERMANY—Hitler takes personal command of German Army,
dismissing Field Marshal von Brauchitsch.
US MARINE CORPS
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