Thursday, 19 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese forces land on Bali, N.E.I.

           Battle of Badoeng Strait begins as Allied naval force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) of three cruisers and accompanying destroyers attacks retiring Japanese Bali occupation force (Rear Admiral Kubo Kyuji) in Badoeng Strait. Destroyer Stewart (DD-224) is damaged by gunfire of destroyers Oshio and Asashio, 07°18'S, 112°46'E. Dutch destroyer Piet Hien is sunk; 30 of her survivors find motor whaleboat jettisoned by destroyer John D. Ford (DD-228) and proceed unaided to Java. Dutch light cruisers Java and Tromp are damaged by Japanese gunfire. Japanese destroyers Ushio and Michisio are damaged by Allied gunfire.

           Japanese carrier striking force (Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi) attacks Darwin, Australia; 189 planes from carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu bomb shipping, airfields, and shore installations; carrier bombers sink destroyer Peary(DD 226), 12°30'S, 130°50'E, U.S. Army Transport Miegs and U.S. freighter Mauna Loa (on board the latter all hands--37 man crew and seven passengers--survive); and damage seaplane tender (destroyer) William B. Preston(AVD-7). U.S. freighter Portmar is damaged and beached (one of her 34 man crew is killed; two of the 300 embarked soldiers perish as well; 12 men are injured); freighter Admiral Halstead (carrying drummed gasoline) is damaged as well (she suffers no casualties). In related actions, U.S. freighter Florence D, under charter to the Army and carrying a cargo of ammunition, rescues eight man PBY (VP 22) crew (Lieutenant Thomas H. Moorer) off north coast of Australia, near Darwin, and later comes under attack by Japanese carrier aircraft that bomb and sink the ship (one man of Moorer's crew and three of the 37 man ship's complement are killed in action); Australian minesweeper HMAS Warrnambol and mission boat St. Francis rescue the survivors. Japanese carrier planes also bomb and sink Philippine motorship Don Isidro (chartered by the U.S. Army to run supplies to Corregidor) off northwest coast of Bathurst Island, 11°00'S, 130°00'E; 11 of the 67 man crew and one of the 16 embarked soldiers are killed. HMAS Warrnambol rescues the surviving crew and passengers. Japanese naval land attack planes (Kanoya and 1st Kokutais) bomb airfield at Darwin.

           Submarine S-37 (SS-142) is damaged by grounding off the northeast corner of Lembogan Island, Lombok Strait, N.E.I., but continues on patrol.

           Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate Harold F. Dixon (Naval Aviation Pilot) and his two man crew (VT 6), whose plane ditched due to fuel exhaustion on 16 January, reach Danger Islands, 10°48'S, 165°49'E, having spent 34 days at sea in their rubber boat. They have subsisted on occasional fish speared with a pocket knife, two birds, and rain water. While the straight-line distance traveled measures 450 miles, the estimated track is approximately 1,200 miles. Dixon is awarded the Navy Cross for heroism, leadership, and resourcefulness.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Dallas (DD-199) rescues 46 survivors from Brazilian tanker Olinda, sunk the day before by German submarine U-432.

           Unarmed U.S. tanker Pan Massachusetts is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128 about 20 miles off Cape Canaveral, Florida, 28°27'N, 80°08'W; Coast Guard lighthouse tender Forward (WAGL-160) and British tanker Elizabeth Massey rescue 18 survivors from the 38 man crew.

           U.S. freighter Lake Osweya is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-96 in the North Atlantic, 43°14'N,54°45'W. Although U-96 sees three lifeboats pull away from the ship, no survivors from the 30 man merchant

           complement or the seven man Armed Guard are ever found.

CARIBBEAN—Transport William P. Biddle (AP-15) arrives at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and disembarks the 9th Defense Battalion.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—Operating out of Malang, Madioen, and Jogjakarta, A‑24’s, with P‑40 escort, and B‑17’s attack vessel landing troops on Bali. The attacks, carried out during the afternoon of 19 Feb and throughout the morning of 20 Feb, cause considerable damage to vessels but fail to halt the landings. P‑40’s shoot down or turn back several bombers weeping W over Java. Japanese airplane attack Darwin, bombing vessels loaded with troops destined for defense of Koepang on Timor Island. 10 P‑40’s sent to Darwin to escort the convoy are almost entirely wiped out by the attack.

SEVENTH AF—VII AF Bomber Command is activated.

US ARMY

BADOENG STRAIT—Combined Allied naval force undeRear Admiral Doorman, Royal Netherlands Navy, attacks enemy vessel off Bali, night 19–20. Although considerable damage is believed to have been done to enemy, Dutch DD Piet Hein is sunk and other Allied vessels are damaged.

AUSTRALIA—Darwin undergoes destructive attack by Japanese planes from carriers in Banda Sea and ground base at Kendari. Most of the shipping in the harbor, including USS Peary (DD), is destroyed. Virtually all the aircraft crowded on the airfield are demolished. This is the greatest single Japanese air effort since attack on Pearl Harbor.

BURMA—Indian 17th Division continues to defend Bilin River line throughout day but is ordered to fall back after dark. Mandalay receives its first enemy air attack.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 18 February 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Truxtun (DD-229) and stores issuing ship Pollux (AKS-2) run aground during storm near Placentia Bay, Newfoundland; the former just east of Ferryland Point and the latter off Lawn Point. Minesweeper Brant (AM-24) arrives on scene and contributes rescue parties as well as brings medical officer and corpsmen from destroyer tender and Support Force flagship Prairie (AD-15). The tragedy produces deep admiration for the lifesaving efforts of the local population. "Hardly a dozen men from both ships would have been saved," one observer writes later, "had it not been for the superb work of the local residents." Many men jeopardize their own lives frequently to save the American sailors; several hang by lines over the cliffs to keep survivors from dragging over sharp rocks as they are pulled up from the beach below; others go out in a dory, risking swamping several times in the rough waves; after working all day rescuing Truxtun's people, some of the local inhabitants then toil all night rescuing Pollux's men with a stamina that defies description. Though poor, the men, women, and children of the town of St. Lawrence turn out to outfit the “survivors with blankets, warm clothes, boots, fed them, cleaned them up as best they could and turned them in their own beds." Subsequently, they turn a deaf ear to offers to pay for food and clothing used in succoring the shipwrecked Americans. Destroyer Wilkes (DD-441) also runs aground off Lawn Head, 46°53'N, 55°28'W, but manages to free herself from her predicament and escape the fates of Truxtun and Pollux.

           Brazilian tanker Olinda is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 at 37°30'N, 75°00'W (see 19 February).

CARIBBEAN—U.S. freighter Mokihana is torpedoed by German submarine U-161 while lying at anchor at Port of Spain, Trinidad,12°55'N, 80°33'E; there are no casualties among the 36 man merchant crew or 9 man Armed Guard.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

UNITED STATES—War Department orders overseas contract activities throughout the world militarized. All civilian contract activities are to be terminated by 18 August 1942.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Bali, off E coast of Java, landing on SE coast, night 18–19. This completes isolation of Java. British volunteer party from Batavia (Java) sails to Oesthaven (Sumatra), where equipment is salvaged and demolitions are performed without interference from enemy.

BURMA—Situation of Indian 17th Division deteriorates as Japanese gain foothold on W bank of Bilin River near Bilin and continue pressure on flanks. TF’s are formed by Burma Army to protect Pegu from SE and sea approaches to Syriam.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 17 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Seabees (First Naval Construction Battalion) arrive at Bora Bora, Society Islands.

           Submarine Triton (SS-201) torpedoes and sinks Japanese gunboat No. 5 Shin'yo Maru off Nagasaki, Japan, 32°14'N,127°14'E.

           Japanese destroyer Ayanami is damaged when she fouls an uncharted reef 2.4 nautical miles off Durai, Anambas Islands.

ATLANTIC—Coastal minesweeper Detector (AMc-75) is accidentally sunk in collision with U.S. tanker Oswego 300 yards east-northeast of Finn's Ledge Buoy, at the entrance to the north channel at Boston, Massachusetts. There are no casualties.

           Coastal minesweeper Paramount (AMc-92) accidentally runs aground off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and is abandoned without loss. Coast Guard cutter Dione (WPG-107) provides assistance. Paramount is salvaged and returned to service.

           Destroyer Jacob Jones (DD-130) rescues 16 men from Brazilian steamship Buarque, that had been sunk by German submarine U-432 on 15 February; U.S. steamship Eagle rescues 16 more, thus accounting for all survivors.

           Coast Guard cutter Woodbury (WPC-155) rescues all hands (40 men) from mined tanker E.H. Blum. Both halves of the ship are later salvaged and rejoined, and E.H. Blum returns to active service.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—Col Harry A Halverson becomes CO.

ELEVENTH AF—Colonel Lionel H Dunlap arrives from ZI and becomes CO of the Eleventh.

US ARMY

BORA BORA—U.S. Army units arrive.

LUZON—I Corps completely restores MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE without opposition as enemy continues to withdraw.

BURMA—Japanese maintain pressure against Indian 17th Division along Bilin River and continue outflanking attempts.

MIDDLE EAST—General Auchinleck is ordered to release a more divisions for action in Far East—British 70th and Australian 9th. Australian 9th Division is subsequently allowed to remain in Middle East.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 16 February 1942

US NAVY

CARIBBEAN—Operation NEULAND begins with simultaneous attacks on Dutch and Venezuelan oil ports to disrupt production and flow of petroleum products vital to the Allied war effort; German submarine U-156 shells refinery on Aruba, N.W.I. and torpedoes and damages U.S. tanker Arkansas as she lies alongside Eagle Dock; a second torpedo misses the ship and runs up on the beach. There are no casualties among the 37 man crew. The enemy does not emerge from the action unscathed, however, for the explosion of a shell prematurely in a gun barrel injures two men on board U-156, which will receive permission to put in to Martinique (see 20-21 February).

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker E.H. Blum blunders into U.S. minefield off Cape Henry, Virginia, 36°57'N, 75°52'W and is damaged by mine and breaks in half (see 17 February).

           Coast Guard cutter Calypso (WPG-104) rescues 42 survivors from Brazilian steamship Buarque, that had been sunk by German submarine U-432 the day before (see 17 February).

PACIFIC—Japanese planes bomb U.S. Timor-bound convoy, escorted by heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) and destroyer Peary (DD 226); U.S. Army transport Miegs and U.S. freighter Mauna Loa are damaged by near-misses. On board the latter, one crewman is killed; of the 500 troops embarked, one is killed and 18 wounded. Houston's heavy antiaircraft fire saves the convoy from destruction, but the imminent fall of Timor results in the recall of the convoy and its routing back to Darwin (see 19 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

CARIBBEAN—German submarines attack Aruba Island., off coast of Venezuela.

LUZON—I Corps reduces salient in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE to area 75 by 100 yards. In South Sector, enemy remnants from Silaiim Pt, attempting to escape northward, are detected about 7 miles from the point and destroyed in 2-day fight. In Manila Bay area, Japanese destroy section of pipeline on Cavite shore through which Fort Frank on Carabao Island. received fresh water. Distillation plant is put into operation at Fort Frank.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Withdrawal of British personnel and operational aircraft from Sumatra to Java is completed. Equipment is left behind at Oesthaven. Allied convoy bound for Timor is recalled to Darwin because of heavy attacks by Japanese planes.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 15 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Singapore surrenders to the Japanese.

           Japanese army paratroops secure vital oil refineries at Palembang, on southeast Sumatra, N.E.I.; enemy capture of this territory establishes sea and air control of the Karimata Channel and Gaspar Strait.

           Having proceeded through Gaspar Strait to the north of Banka and failed to contact the Japanese force (which has already reached Banka Strait), ABDA striking force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) is attacked by Japanese naval land attack planes (Genzan, Mihoro, and Kanoya Kokutais) as well as carrier attack planes from carrier Ryujo. Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart is straddled, while near misses damage U.S. destroyers Barker (DD-213) and Bulmer (DD-222), which will need to retire to Australia for repairs.

           U.S. Army transport Meigs, U.S. freighters Mauna Loa and Portmar, and Australian coaster Tulagi, escorted by heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30), destroyer Peary (DD-226) and Australian corvettes HMAS Swan and HMAS Warrego sails from Darwin, Australia, for Timor (see 16 and 19 February).

ATLANTIC—Brazilian steamship Buarque is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 30 miles southwest of Cape Henry,36°35'N, 75°20'W (see 16 February).

           U.S. tanker Point Breeze suffers explosion in engine room that damages steering gear, forcing the ship to go aground off Throggs Neck, New York; one man is killed and one is blown overboard. Point Breeze later floats free and is towed to New York for repairs.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SE ASIA—Japanese forces on Malay Peninsula capture Singapore.

US ARMY

LUZON—In II Corps area, Japanese attack in limited strength to ease pressure against troops withdrawing northward from I Corps sector. I Corps continues to make steady progress against salient in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE.

SINGAPORE—Malayan campaign ends with surrender of Singapore, W anchor of Malay Barrier, to Japanese. General Percival meets with Japanese commander, General Tomoyuki Yamashita, and surrenders his forces (more than 64,000 troops—Indian, British, and Australian) unconditionally, effective at nightfall.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invasion fleet enters river mouth near Palembang, Sumatra, and unloads troops despite repeated and costly attacks by aircraft from Palembang II airdrome. Dutch and RAF personnel withdraw from Palembang, where demolition of refineries is only partially completed. British personnel holding landing grounds in central and N Sumatra are ordered to W coast for withdrawal.

AUSTRALIA—Allied convoy with reinforcements for Koepang, Timor (Australian 2/4 Pioneer Battalion and U.S. 148th FA Regiment, less one Battalion), sails from Darwin. The units are to secure Penfoie airdrome, the only staging point on Timor for flights to Java.

BURMA—Indian 17th Division begins withdrawal behind Bilin River line, 46th Brigade abandoning Thaton. Japanese follow closely and try to outflank division.

US MARINE CORPS

Singapore surrenders.

Saturday, 14 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Submarine Sargo (SS-188) delivers ammunition to Polloc Harbor, Mindanao, P.I., and evacuates USAAF groundcrews (14th Bombardment Squadron).

           Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) torpedoes and sinks Japanese transport Amagisan Maru off Davao, P.I., 06°45'N,126°54'E.

           Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN, is relieved as Commander in Chief Allied Naval Forces in Southwest Pacific by Vice Admiral Conrad E. L. Helfrich, RNN.

           Japanese army paratroopers assault Palembang, Sumatra. During ensuing Allied air attacks on Japanese invasion convoy, RAF Blenheims bomb and sink merchant ship Inabasan Maru off Palembang.

           ABDA Float orders task force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman) to proceed and attack Japanese Palembang-bound expeditionary force. As Doorman's ships--two Dutch light cruisers, a Dutch flotilla leader, one British heavy cruiser, one Australian light cruiser, four Dutch destroyers and six American--heads toward its objective, Dutch destroyer Van Ghent runs aground on a reef north of Banka Island; irreparably damaged, she is scuttled; sistership Banckert takes off the crew (see 15 February).

           On request from local British naval authorities, light cruiser Boise (CL-47), at Ceylon en route to Bombay, India, for repairs following her grounding in Sape Strait on 21 January, provides her two SOCs (VCS 9) to augment routine RAF Catalina searches from the seaplane station at Kogalla, Ceylon. Boise's planes fly morning and evening search flights for the next three days.

           PBY (VP 73) accidentally bombs submarine Thresher (SS-200), returning from a war patrol, southwest of Oahu, T.H.

           Japanese submarine I-23 is last reported south of Oahu, T.H. She is not heard from again, and her fate is unknown.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SEVENTH AF—A B‑17 flies photo reconnaissance of Wake Island.

US ARMY

LUZON—I Corps further reduces salient in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE, which is now about half its original size.

ABDA COMMAND—Vice Admiral Conrad E. L. Helfrich of Royal Netherlands Navy succeeds Admiral Hart as commander of ABDA Combined Naval Striking Force.

SINGAPORE—Japanese continue to make main effort against W part of S Area and gain ground near Alexandra. Water supply of garrison is in danger of failing within a short time. Supplies of food and ammunition are also dwindling rapidly. British flotilla withdrawing from Singapore is attacked by enemy naval and air forces in approaches to Bangka Strait and suffers heavily. Boat carrying Rear Adm, Malaya, and Air Officer Commanding, Far East, is driven ashore on small deserted island where the men later perish.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Sumatra, dropping paratroopers in Palembang area after air attack on Palembang Island airdrome. Small force defending airdrome (150 Dutch infantry and about 60 RAF ground defense gunners) is forced to withdraw toward W coast, Japanese having blocked road to town of Palembang. Allied naval TF moves N to engage enemy shipping in Bangka Strait but comes under heavy air attack and retires to base. Palembang- based aircraft are attacking enemy shipping in Bangka Strait and cannot be notified in time to intercept invasion force.

IRAQ—Siboney reaches Basra where American civilian construction force debarks and proceeds by lorry to Umm Qasr, hq of Iranian District engineer, to begin construction projects. Cargo does not arrive at Umm Qasr until end of month.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 13 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Chartered U.S. passenger ship President Taylor, transporting 900 troops to occupy Canton Island, runs aground on a reef off her destination, and becomes stranded.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Ericsson (DD-440) accidentally sinks Icelandic trawler Greedir in collision off Hvalfjordur, Iceland.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

WESTERN HEMISPHERE—U.S. and Canada approve construction of U.S. Military Highway through Canada to Alaska.

CANTON ISLAND—U.S. detachment arrives.

LUZON—I Corps, after searching entire area of Big Pocket without finding any live Japanese, turns its full attention to the salient, Upper Pocket, in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE. Elements released from the Big Pocket assault force join in the battle. In South Sector, troops complete destruction of enemy in Silaiim area.

SINGAPORE—Japanese further compress British on Singapore. Main thrusts are against W part of S Area; British forward units pull back, night 13–14, to cover Alexandra area, where main ordnance depot and ammunition magazine are located. All remaining British shipping—small ships and other light craft— sail from Singapore, night 13–14. Some personnel are withdrawn in these vessels among them Rear Adm, Malaya, and Air Officer Commanding, Far East.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese overrun Bandjermasin, key point in SE Borneo.

US MARINE CORPS

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