Monday, 15 December 1941

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Seaplane tender Tangier (AV‑8), oiler Neches (AO‑5), and four destroyers sail for Wake Island. 

           Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Yokohama Kokutai) bomb Wake Island.

           Johnston Island is shelled by Japanese submarine I 22; although one shell lands astern and another passes over her forecastle, transport William Ward Burrows (AP‑6) is apparently unseen by the enemy submariners. She is not hit and escapes.

           Kahului, Maui, T.H., is shelled by Japanese submarine from the Second Submarine Squadron. Possible candidates for having carried out the shelling are I 2, I 3, I 4, I 5, I 6, or I 7.

           Philippine steamship Vizcaya is scuttled in Manila Bay.

ATLANTIC—TU 4.1.2 (Commander Fred D. Kirtland) clears Reykjavik for the MOMP, escorting convoy ON 45; destroyer Sturtevant (DD‑240), escorting cargo vessel Alchiba (AK‑23), depth‑charges sound contact at 62°05'N, 24°15'W (see16 December).

           Destroyer Benson (DD‑421), detached from TU 4.1.3 and convoy HX 163 at the MOMP, searches for survivors of steamer Nidardal, reported sinking at 56°07'N, 21°00'W (later amended to 56°07'N, 23°00'W) (see 16 December).

           Convoy ON 43, struggling through rough seas and high winds, being escorted by TU 4.1.6 (Commander John S. Roberts), is dispersed.

UNITED STATES—Admiral Ernest J. King is offered the post of Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet. He accepts (see 18, 20 and 30 December).

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

 

US ARMY

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General Brereton receives permission to withdraw the few remaining B–17's to Darwin (Australia). Air defense of the Philippines is left to a few fighters.

MALAYA—Indian 3 Corps remains under strong pressure on W coast. During night 15–16, Indian 11th Division begins withdrawal from Gurun positions to Muda River Garrison of Penang Island fortress, opposite Butterworth, prepares to withdraw as RAF abandons Butterworth airdrome.

USSR—On central front N of Moscow, Red Army takes Klin, on rail line to Leningrad.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

 

Sunday, 14 December 1941

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), comprising carrier Lexington (CV‑2), three heavy cruisers, nine destroyers, and oiler Neosho (AO‑23), sails for the Marshall Islands, to create a diversion to cover TF 14's attempt to relieve Wake Island (see 15 and 16 December).

           Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Yokohama Kokutai) bomb Wake Island. Later in the day, naval land attack planes (Chitose Kokutai) raid Wake, bombing airfield installations.

           Destroyer Craven (DD‑382) collides with heavy cruiser Northampton (CA‑26) during underway refueling and is damaged. The ships are part of TF 8 operating north of Oahu.

           Norwegian motorship Hoegh Merchant is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I 4 about 20 miles east‑northeast of Oahu. All hands (35‑man crew, 5 passengers) survive the loss of the ship.

           Coast Guard lighthouse tender Kukui reaches Niihau with squad of soldiers from Company M, 299th Infantry (Lieutenant Jack Mizuha); the detachment learns of the denouement of the events that have transpired on Niihau since7 December.

           Japanese gunboat Zuiko Maru, wrecked and driven aground by storm, sinks off Matsuwa Jima, Kuriles, 48°05'N,153°43'E.

           Gunboat Erie (PG‑50), off coast of Costa Rica, boards and takes charge of motor vessel Sea Boy, and takes off a Japanese POW; she orders Sea Boy into Balboa the following day.

           USAAF B‑17s bomb and damage Japanese cargo ship Ikushima Maru and oiler Hayatomo off Legaspi, Luzon.

           With its operating area rendered untenable by Japanese control of the air, Patrol Wing 10 (Captain Frank D. Wagner) departs Philippines for Netherlands East Indies. Seaplane tender (destroyer) Childs (AVD‑1), with Captain Wagner embarked, sails from Manila.

           Submarine Seawolf (SS‑197) torpedoes Japanese seaplane carrier San'yo Maru off Aparri, P.I.; one torpedo hits the ship but does not explode.

           Submarine Swordfish (SS‑193), attacking Japanese shipping off Hainan Island, torpedoes army transport Kashii Maru,18°08'N, 109°22'E.

           Navy boarding party (Lieutenant Edward N. Little) transported in commandeered yacht Gem, seizes French motor mail vessel Marechal Joffre, Manila Bay. Majority of the crewmen, pro‑Vichy or unwilling to serve under the U.S. flag, are transported ashore (see 17‑18 December).

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FEAF—B‑17’s are sent against beachhead at Legaspi. 1st Lt Hewitt T Wheless is later awarded DSC for bringing his bullet-riddled aircraft back from the mission to an emergency crash-landing at Cagayan.

 

US ARMY

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Japanese Vigan and Aparri detachments are placed under the same command and ordered, after the Aparri force joins the Vigan at Vigan, to march south to Lingayen Gulf. Adm Thomas C. Hart withdraws the few remaining patrol bombers of Patrol Wing 10 and 3 tenders from the Philippines, leaving very little of the Asiatic Fleet to support operations. Major General Lewis H. Brereton has already withdrawn the heavy bombers of FEAF from Luzon to Del Monte airfield, Mindanao.

MALAYA—On west coast, Indian 11th Division completes withdrawal to Gurun; Japanese, in close pursuit, penetrate the new positions, night 14–15. Krohcol force is dissolved and its components, which are put under command of Indian 12th Brigade, move to Baling area, about 9 miles west of Kroh. Indian 3 Corps sends small detachments to guard Grik road, which is now uncovered. On east coast, Kelantan force continues fighting withdrawal. Since airdromes on Singapore are becoming congested, preparations are being made to base air units in Netherlands East Indies.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

 

Saturday, 13 December 1941

US NAVY

UNITED STATES—Congress, to meet the demand for trained enlisted men, authorizes the retention of enlisted men in the Navy upon the expiration of their enlistments when not voluntarily extended.  

PACIFIC—Japanese planes attack Subic Bay area and airfields in Philippines. During bombing of shipping in Manila Bay by naval land attack planes (Takao Kokutai), unarmed U.S. tankship Manatawny is damaged (see 11 January 1942).

           Occupation of Niihau by Japanese Naval Aviation Pilot First Class Nishikaichi Shigenori ends: a party of Hawaiians sets out for Kauai to inform the outside world of events on Niihau; in the meantime, Nishikaichi burns his plane (it will not be until July 1942 that the U.S. Navy will be able to obtain an intact ZERO to study) and the house in which he believes his confiscated papers are hidden. Later, in confrontation with a local Hawaiian, Benny Kanahele, a scuffle to grab the pilot's pistol ensues. Although Kanahele is shot three times, he picks up Nishikaichi bodily and dashes the pilot's head into a stone wall, killing him; Harada Yoshio, the Japanese resident of Niihau who had allied himself with the pilot, commits suicide. Kanahele survives his injuries. On the basis of the report by the islanders who have arrived on Kauai after a 15‑hour trip, meanwhile, Commander, Kauai Military District (Colonel Edward W. FitzGerald, USA) dispatches expedition (squad of soldiers from Company M, 299th Infantry) in Coast Guard lighthouse tender Kukui to proceed from Kauai to Niihau (see 14 December).

           Japanese cargo ship Nikkoku Maru is stranded and wrecked off Hainan Island, 18°00'N, 110°00'E.

           Gunboat Erie (PG‑50) receives 50 Japanese POWs at Puntarenas, Costa Rica, from Costa Rican government, and sends prize crew to take charge of motor vessel Albert.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Woolsey (DD‑437), sweeping astern of convoy ON 43, depth charges sound contact at 57°55'N, 32°05'W.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FEAF—1st Lt Boyd D Wagner (17 Pursuit Squadron) shoots down 4 airplanes near Aparri while on reconnaissance mission over N Luzon.

 

US ARMY

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Enemy aircraft again attack Luzon, virtually completing destruction of U.S. Army and Navy planes in the Philippines. Del Carmen, Clark, and Nichols Fields are hit, as well as Baguio, Tarlac, Cabanatuan, and Batangas.

MALAYA—Krohcol force concentrates in positions 2–3 miles W of Kroh. Indian 11th Division begins withdrawing from Kedah R toward Gurun, a more favorable defense position in S Kedah some 30 miles S of Jitra. Fighter support is increased as squadron from Singapore joins the few fighters based at Ipoh. Reports of Japanese convoy moving SSW from Saigon result in period of sharply increased British air reconnaissance from Malaya.

BORNEO—Small Miri detachment (Indian co and engineers), having destroyed oil fields and installations in E Sarawak and W Brunei to deny them to enemy, sails for Kuching, capital of Sarawak, where rest of the Indian battalion, with local and administrative attachments, is disposed to defend airdrome. Dutch planes based on Singkawang assist RAF units on Malaya in searching for Japanese shipping heading southward from Indochina.

CHINA—British withdraw from Kowloon under pressure as Japanese continue drive on Hong Kong.

BURMA—Victoria Pt, at S tip of Tenasserim, is evacuated by British.

LIBYA—13 Corps, British Eighth Army, opens attack on Rommel's Gazala line and meets firm resistance. Both sides suffer heavy losses.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

  

Friday, 12 December 1941

US NAVY

UNITED STATES—Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) is established.

           U.S. government seizes French ships in U.S. ports. 

PACIFIC—Secretary of the Navy Knox departs Oahu after inspecting the damage done by the Japanese attack of 7 December.

           Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Yokohama Kokutai) bomb Wake Island in pre‑dawn raid. Later in the day, land attack planes (Chitose Kokutai) bomb Wake.

           Unarmed U.S. freighter Vincent is shelled and sunk by Japanese armed merchant cruisers Aikoku Maru and Hokoku Maru about 600 miles northwest of Easter Island, 22°41'S, 118°19'E, and her entire crew captured.

           Unarmed U.S. freighter Lahaina, shelled and torpedoed by Japanese submarine I 9 the previous day, sinks (see 21December).

           Japanese Naval Aviation Pilot First Class Nishikaichi Shigenori begins, with aid of Harada Yoshio, a Japanese resident of Niihau, to terrorize the inhabitants of the island into returning papers confiscated on 7 December. In response to this campaign of intimidation, the islanders flee to the hills (see 13 December).

           Submarine S 38 (SS‑143) mistakenly torpedoes and sinks Norwegian merchantman Hydra II west of Cape Calavite, Mindoro, P.I., believing her to be a Japanese auxiliary. Hydra II had been en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Hong Kong, when she is diverted to Manila by the outbreak of war.

           During Japanese bombing of shipping off Cebu, in the Visayan Sea, Philippine passenger vessel Governor Wright is sunk, 12°55'N, 123°55'E.

           USAAF B‑17 (19th Bombardment Group) bombs Japanese shipping off Vigan, P.I., damaging transport Hawaii Maru.

           Dutch submarines operate off Malaya against Japanese invasion shipping. K XII torpedoes and sinks army cargo ship Toro Maru off Kota Bharu, 06°08'N, 102°16'E; O 16 torpedoes and damages army cargo ships Tozan Maru, Kinka Maru, and Asosan Maru off Patani/Singora.

           Japanese minelayer/net layer Naryu is damaged by marine casualty, Tomogashima Channel.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FEAF—More than 100 aircraft hit targets at Clark Field, Batangas, and Olongapo. No hits are scored by the single B‑17 that is sent against transports at Vigan.

 

US ARMY

PACIFIC—U.S. troops aboard Allied convoy proceeding from Hawaii toward Far East under escort of CA Pensacola are organized as TF South Pacific and placed under command of Brigadier General Julian F. Barnes.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Japanese make another preliminary landing, at Legaspi, S Luzon. TF of 2,500 men from Palau goes ashore unopposed and secures Legaspi and the airfield. Major General George M. Parker, Jr., whose South Luzon Force consists of 41st and 51st Divisions (PA), sends elements of 51st forward to delay enemy, but contact is not made for several days. Tuguegarao airfield falls to Aparri force early in morning. Japanese planes attack Luzon in force. Iba and Clark Fields are targets, with main force against Iba. Batangas is an alternate target.

MALAYA—General Percival decides to withdraw Indian 3 Corps from Kelantan since airfields there are already in possession of Japanese; movement of surplus supplies to rear is begun. Troops fight delaying actions while awaiting rolling stock in which to withdraw. Japanese penetrate Jitra position and force Indian 11th Division TF back to Kedah River Indian 11th Division force, called Krohcol force, on Kroh–Patani road, also falls back under pressure and at midnight 12–13 passes to direct command of corps. Indian 12th Brigade Group is released from reserve for action on W coast.

BURMA—Japanese begin small-scale operations, using infiltration tactics. From Thailand, small force crosses into lower Tenasserim unopposed. General Sir Archibald P. Wavell, CinC India, is given responsibility for Burma, previously within Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham's Far Eastern Command, and is promised reinforcements to strengthen the small garrison, fighting strength of which does not exceed 30 battalions during the campaign. Lieutenant General D. K. MacLeod's Burma Army, charged with protecting Burma Road and Tenasserim airfields, is a heterogeneous group of Burmese, Indian, and British forces, some poorly trained, formed into Burma 1st Division (Burma 1st and 2d Brigades and Indian 13th Brigade) and Indian 16th Brigade. The 16 obsolete RAF fighters on hand are augmented by squadron of American Volunteer Group (AVG) fighters, which is flown in to Mingaladon from AVG base in China. Air strength is eventually increased but not enough to alter ground operations materially.

MIDDLE EAST—General Auchinleck receives the first of a number of notices that forces intended for Middle East must be diverted to Far East to help stem Japanese advance. First call is for British 18th and Indian 17th Divisions, 4 light bomber squadrons, and AA and AT guns.

LIBYA—Eighth Army's 30 Corps moves to Libyan-Egyptian frontier to destroy isolated enemy garrisons and open communication lines. 13 Corps begins probing enemy's new line, which extends from Gazala southward.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

 

Thursday, 11 December 1941

US NAVY

EUROPE—Germany and Italy declare war on United States.

UNITED STATES—United States declares war on Germany and Italy.

PACIFIC—Secretary of the Navy Knox arrives on Oahu to personally assess the damage inflicted by the Japanese on 7 December. 

           Submarine Triton (SS‑201), patrolling south of Wake Island, attacks the Japanese ship she has encountered shortly before midnight; she is unsuccessful.

           Wake Island garrison (Commander Winfield S. Cunningham) repulses Japanese invasion force (Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi); Marine shore battery gunfire (1st Defense Battalion) sinks destroyer Hayate and damages destroyers Oite, Mochizuki, and Yayoi, and Patrol Boat No. 33 (high‑speed transport); USMC F4Fs (VMF 211) bomb and sink destroyer Kisaragi and strafe and damage light cruiser Tenryu and armed merchant cruiser Kongo Maru. Later the same day, USMC F4F (VMF 211) bombs and most likely damages submarine RO 66 south of Wake. U.S. submarines deployed off Wake, Triton to the south and Tambor (SS‑198) to the north, take no active part in the battle. Following the abortive assault, Japanese naval land attack planes (Chitose Kokutai) bomb marine gun batteries on Peale islet.

           Japanese submarine I 9 shells unarmed U.S. freighter Lahaina about 800 miles northeast of Honolulu, T.H., 27°42'N,147°38'W (see 12 and 20 December).

           Japanese make landings at Legaspi, Luzon.

           Unarmed U.S. freighter Capillo, damaged by bomb on 8 December 1941, is partially scuttled by U.S. Army demolition party, off Corregidor, P.I. (see 29 December). Freighter Sagoland, damaged by bombs the previous day, sinks in Manila Bay.

ATLANTIC—TU 4.1.5 (Commander William K. Phillips) detaches destroyers Babbitt (DD‑128) and Leary (DD‑158), low on fuel because of the delayed arrival of convoy ON 41 at the MOMP, to proceed to Argentia. En route to that place, Babbitt depth charges sound contact without result at 51°37'N, 43°08'W.

           TU 4.1.6 (Commander John S. Roberts) assumes escort duty at MOMP for convoy ON 43, which has been badly scattered by heavy weather conditions (see 13 and 15 December). Convoy HX 163, being escorted by TU 4.1.3(Commander George W. Johnson), encounters same abominable weather.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—Germany and Italy declare war on US Congress declares war on Germany and Italy.

HAWAIIAN AF—6 B‑18’s fly sea search mission from Hawaiian Islands. Similar missions by B‑17’s, B‑18’s, and A‑20’s are flown each day for the remainder of the year; several submarines are sighted and some are attacked but without positive evidence of hits.

ZONE of the INTERIOR—Second and Fourth AFs are assigned to Western Defense Command.

 

US ARMY

INTERNATIONAL SITUATION—Germany and Italy declare war on U.S., which then replies with declarations against them.

WAKE—Wake garrison (about 450 marines of 1st Defense Battalion) repels invasion attempt. Japanese naval force arrives off Wake early in morning and at dawn opens fire. Shore batteries force the vessels to withdraw with landing force still embarked. 4 aircraft of VMF‑211, all that remain serviceable of the original fighter squadron on Wake, pursue and attack enemy force as it retires toward the Marshalls. 2 planes that survive this action intercept shore-based Japanese aircraft that try to attack Wake later in the morning. Wake is subsequently subjected to almost daily air strikes as enemy continues softening the defense in preparation for landing.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Japanese Aparri force on Luzon continues rapidly S along Route 5 toward Tuguegarao. Laoag and its airfield fall to Vigan force. Japanese begin mining San Bernardino and Surigao Straits. Commercial vessels withdraw from Manila Bay.

MALAYA—Indian 9th Division, Indian 3 Corps, abandons the 2 remaining airfields in Kelantan (Gong Kedah and Machang) in order to protect communications. Japanese exert strong pressure against one Indian 11th Division column on Kroh-Patani road and force the other, on road to Singora, back toward partially prepared positions at Jitra. RAF, now greatly depleted in strength, adopts policy of conducting bomber operations only at night until adequate fighter support is available and of using fighters primarily for defense of Singapore Naval Base and for protection of convoys bringing reinforcements. Indian 3 Corps troops are thus denied much close air support.

BURMA—Japanese begin offensive against lower Burma with air attack on Tavoy airdrome.

 

US MARINE CORPS

UNITED STATES —U. S. declares war on Germany and Italy,

WAKE—Wake Island defenders repulse Japanese landing attempt.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Japanese make additional landings in Philippines

 

Wednesday, 10 December 1941

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—PBYs (VP 52) supported by seaplane tender (destroyer) Greene (AVD‑13) and small seaplane tender Thrush (AVP‑3), begin antisubmarine patrols over the south Atlantic from Natal, Brazil, and thus inaugurate operations from Brazilian waters.

           Battleship New Mexico (BB‑40), en route to Hampton Roads, Virginia, accidentally rams and sinks U.S. freighter Oregon, bound for Boston, Massachusetts, south of Nantucket Lightship, 35°55'N, 69°45'W. 

           TU 4.1.1 (Captain Marion Y. Cohen) assumes escort duty for convoy HX 164; the ships will not be attacked by enemy submarines. While escorting oiler Mattole (AO‑17) to join the main convoy, destroyer Gleaves (DD‑423) carries out depth charge attack on sound contact at 45°50'N, 53°35'W. The contact is later classified as "doubtful" submarine.

PACIFIC—Cavite Navy Yard, P.I., is practically obliterated by Japanese land attack planes (Takao Kokutai and 1st Kokutai). Destroyers Peary (DD‑226) and Pillsbury (DD‑227), submarines Seadragon (SS‑194) and Sealion (SS‑195), minesweeper Bittern (AM‑36), and submarine tender Otus (AS‑20), suffer varying degrees of damage from bombs or bomb fragments; ferry launch Santa Rita (YFB‑681) is destroyed by direct hit. Submarine rescue vessel Pigeon (ASR‑6) tows Seadragon out of the burning wharf area; minesweeper Whippoorwill (AM‑35) recovers Peary, enabling both warships to be repaired and returned to service. Bittern is gutted by fires. Antiaircraft fire from U.S. guns is ineffective. During bombing of Manila Bay area, unarmed U.S. freighter Sagoland is damaged.

           While flying to safety during the raid on Cavite, Lieutenant Harmon T. Utter's PBY (VP 101) is attacked by three Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 0 carrier fighters (ZERO) (3rd Kokutai); Chief Boatswain Earl D. Payne, Utter's bow gunner, shoots down one, thus scoring the U.S. Navy's first verifiable air‑to‑air "kill" of a Japanese plane in the Pacific War. Utter, as a commander, will later coordinate the carrier air strikes that lead to the destruction of Japanese battleship Yamato (see 7 April 1945).

           Japanese forces land on Camiguin Island and at Gonzaga and Aparri, Luzon. Off Vigan, minesweeper W.10 is bombed and sunk by USAAF P‑35 at 17°32'N, 120°22'E; destroyer Murasame and transport Oigawa Maru are strafed; the latter, set afire, is beached to facilitate salvage. USAAF B‑17s bomb and damage light cruiser Naka and transport Takao Maru; the latter is run aground at 17°29'N, 120°26'E (see 5 March 1942). Off Aparri, minesweeper W.19 is bombed by a B‑17 and grounded (total loss) at 18°22'N, 121°38'E; light cruiser Natori is also damaged by a B‑17. TheB‑17 is probably the one flown by Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr., who is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously, for heroism when Japanese fighters attack his bomber over Clark Field as he returns from his mission over Aparri.

           British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battle cruiser HMS Repulse (Admiral Sir Tom S.V. Phillips, RN) are sunk by Japanese land attack planes off Kuantan, Malaya. Four U.S. destroyers that had been sent to help screen Phillips’s ships, having arrived at Singapore too late to sortie with the British force, search unsuccessfully for survivors before returning to Singapore.

           Governor of Guam, M.I. (Captain George J. McMillin) surrenders the island to Japanese invasion force (Rear Admiral Goto Aritomo). District patrol craft YP‑16 and YP‑17; open lighters YC‑664, YC‑665, YC‑666, YC‑667, YC‑6687, YC‑670, YC‑671, YC‑672, YC‑673, YC‑674, YC‑685, YC‑717, YC‑718; dredge YM‑13; water barges YW‑50, YW‑55, YW‑58; and miscellaneous auxiliary Robert L. Barnes (AG‑27) are all lost to the Japanese occupation of that American Pacific possession.

           SBD (CEAG) from carrier Enterprise (CV‑6) sinks Japanese submarine I 70 in Hawaiian Islands area, 23°45'N,155°35'W. Plane is flown by a VS 6 pilot.

           Japanese naval land attack planes (Chitose Kokutai) bomb Marine installations on Wilkes and Wake islets, Wake Island. During the interception of the bombers, Captain Henry T. Elrod, USMC, executive officer of VMF 211, shoots down a Mitsubishi G3M2 Type 96 land attack plane (NELL); this is the first USMC air‑to‑air "kill" of the Pacific War. Japanese submarines RO 65, RO 66, and RO 67 arrive off Wake. Shortly before midnight, submarine Triton (SS‑201), patrolling south of the atoll, encounters a Japanese warship, probably a picket for the oncoming assault force (see 11December).

           Unarmed U.S. freighter Mauna Ala, re‑routed back to Portland, Oregon, because of Japanese submarines lurking off the U.S. west coast, runs aground off the entrance to the Columbia River; she subsequently breaks up on the beach, a total loss.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FEAF—B‑17’s, P‑40’s, and P‑35’s attack a convoy landing troops and equipment at Vigan and at Aparri in N Luzon. 1 transport at Vigan is destroyed. The strikes include the much publicized attack of Captain Colin P Kelly Jr (14th Bomb Squadron) on a warship off Aparri. Captain Kelly, who is killed when his B‑17 is shot down by fighters as he is returning to Clark Field, is later posthumously awarded the DSC for destroying a battleship. However, later information reveals that he attacked the heavy cruiser Ashigara, probably scoring near misses.

 

US ARMY

CENTRAL PACIFIC—Japanese invade Guam and overwhelm small U.S. garrison; continue preinvasion bombing of Wake.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Two Japanese TF's, each consisting of some 2,000 men, arrive off N Luzon from Formosa. Landings begin simultaneously at Aparri and near Vigan, but rough sea forces alteration in plans. The Aparri force gets 2 companies ashore at Aparri and the rest at Gonzaga, over 20 miles to E; upon closing on Aparri, pushes 6 miles S and seizes Camalaniugan airstrip. The Vigan force lands small group at Pandan, near Vigan, and the rest at point 4 miles S; quickly secures Vigan and sends elements N along Route 3 toward Laoag. No opposition is offered by 11th Division (PA), which is responsible for defense of N coast. U.S. planes attack shipping of the invasion force. Captain Colin Kelly becomes the first U.S. hero of World War II in this action by hitting what was supposed to be a Japanese BB; subsequent investigation has revealed that there were no BB's present. Fighter aircraft from Batan Island provide cover for enemy. Japanese planes bomb and strafe Nichols and Nielson Fields, near Manila, and Del Carmen Field, near Clark, achieving particularly damaging results at Nichols. Cavite naval base also suffers heavily from enemy air attack. FEAF, by this time half strength, decides to confine its future activities to reconnaissance flights.

MALAYA—Japanese gain control of waters E of Malaya and air over N Malaya. The small British Eastern Fleet is severely crippled by loss of Repulse and Prince of Wales off Kuantan to enemy planes. Adm Sir Tom Phillips, CinC Eastern Fleet, is killed in this action and is replaced by Vice Adm Sir Geoffrey Layton. As enemy continues destructive attacks on airfields in NW Malaya, RAF abandons airfield at Sungei Patani and withdraws all serviceable aircraft from Butterworth. From Butterworth, RAF bomber squadron, reduced to 2 aircraft, withdraws to Taiping and RAAF fighter squadron (6 repairable aircraft) to Ipoh. Japanese begin series of heavy air attacks against Penang Island Indian 9th Division withstands attacks while organizing delaying positions S of Kota Bharu. Indian 11th Division columns operating along Thailand frontier attempt to delay enemy. Far East Council is formed at Singapore.

LIBYA—Siege of Tobruk is lifted after 8 months as Polish garrison breaks out of town early in morning and joins other British Eighth Army forces in Acroma area. Forward supply base is soon organized at Tobruk.

 

US MARINE CORPS

CENTRAL PACIFIC—Guam surrenders to Japanese landing force.

 

Tuesday, 9 December 1941

 US NAVY

CHINA—China declares war on Japan, Germany, and Italy.

PACIFIC—Japanese seize Tarawa and Makin, Gilbert Islands.  

           Japanese submarines RO 63, RO 64, and RO 68 bombard Howland and Baker Islands in the mistaken belief that American seaplane bases exist there.

           Transport William Ward Burrows (AP‑6), en route to Wake Island, is re‑routed to Johnston.

           Japanese submarine I 10 shells and sinks unarmed Panamanian‑flag motorship Donerail 200 miles southeast of Hawaii, 08°00'N, 152°00'W. There are only eight survivors of the 33‑man crew; all seven passengers perish.

           Japanese Naval Aviation Pilot First Class Nishikaichi Shigenori, from the carrier Hiryu, who had crash‑landed his Mitsubishi A6M2 fighter Type 0 carrier fighter on Niihau on 7 December, is placed under guard by the islanders; attempts this day and the next to transport him to Kauai are frustrated by bad weather (see 12‑14 December).

           Japanese naval land attack planes (Chitose Kokutai) bomb defense installations on the islets of Wilkes and Wake, Wake Island.

           Japanese occupy Bangkok, Thailand.

           River gunboat Mindanao (PR‑8), en route from Hong Kong to Manila, encounters Japanese fishing vessel No. 3 South Advance Maru, stops her, and takes her 10‑man Formosan crew prisoner. Mindanao leaves the craft adrift at 16°42'N,118°53'E, and steams on, reaching her destination the following day.

           Submarine Swordfish (SS‑193), in initial U.S. submarine attack of the war, torpedoes Japanese ship 150 miles west of Manila at 14°30'N, 119°00'E. Her claim of a sinking, however, is not confirmed in enemy records.

ATLANTIC—TU 4.1.5 (Commander William K. Phillips) continues its escort duty with convoy ON 41; destroyers Babbitt (DD‑128) and Mayo (DD‑422) depth‑charge sound contacts; Babbitt's at 57°19'N, 33°09'W. Destroyer Schenck (DD‑159), operating independently from TU 4.1.5 while escorting U.S. freighter Ozark, carries out "well conducted" depth charge attack on sound contact at 52°19'N, 39°37'W.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FEAF—Shortly after 0300 aircraft attack Nichols Field. This attack, added to the previous day’s raids on Clark and Iba Fields, leaves FEAF strength reduced by half. Only 17 of 35 B‑17’s remain in commission; about 55 P‑40’s,3 P‑35’s, and close to 30 other aircraft (B‑10’s, B‑18’s, and observation airplanes) have been lost in aerial combat or destroyed on the ground. During morning and afternoon, B‑17’s from Mindanao fly reconnaissance missions and land on Clark and San Marcelino Fields. Several more B‑17’s are flown from Mindanao to these Luzon bases for resistance against possible invasion attempt.

ZONE of the INTERIOR—Fighters at Mitchel Field are dispatched to intercept hostile airplane reported (falsely) to be approaching the E coast.

 

US ARMY

CENTRAL PACIFIC—Japanese continue preinvasion bombing of Wake and Guam; invade Gilbert Islands.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Continuing neutralization of airpower on Luzon, enemy bombers strike Nichols Field, near Manila.

THAILAND—Japanese occupy Bangkok without opposition.

MALAYA—Japanese force Indian 9th Division of Indian 3 Corps from Kota Bharu airfield and continue air attacks on other fields, including Kuantan. RAF abandons Kuantan airfield for Singapore Island and Alor Star airfield, on NW coast, for Butterworth. RAF bomber attack on Singora airfield (Thailand) proves very costly since fighter protection is lacking. Dutch planes arrive at Singapore to augment strength of RAF.

CHINA—Declares war on Japan, Germany, and Italy.

 

US MARINE CORPS

CENTRAL PACIFIC—Japanese occupy Tarawa and Makin Islands in Gilberts.