Tuesday, 24 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TF 16 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.) raids Wake Island to destroy Japanese installations there. SBDs and TBDs (VB 6, VS 6, VT 6) from carrier Enterprise (CV-6) and SOCs (VCS 5) from heavy cruisers Northampton (CA-26) and Salt Lake City (CA-25) bomb installations on Wake. Bombardment unit consisting of Northampton and Salt Lake City and destroyers Balch (DD-363) and Maury (DD-401) (Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance) shells the atoll. Combined efforts of Enterprise's planes (bombing and strafing) and ships' gunfire sink guard boats No.5 Fukyu Maru and No.1 Miho Maru. Fortunately, the bombing and shelling of Wake harms none of the American marines, sailors and construction workers too badly wounded to have been evacuated in the initial increment of POWs, and the civilian workmen (Contractors Pacific Naval Air Bases) retained on the island to continue work on defenses. One SBD (VS 6) is lost, however, and its crew taken prisoner (see 13 March).

            Small reconnaissance seaplane launched from Japanese submarine I-9 reconnoiters Pearl Harbor.

            Panamanian motor freighter Snark is mined while attempting to enter Nouméa, New Caledonia, without a pilot. Destroyer Worden (DD-352) tows the crippled ship out of the channel but has to abandon further salvage when the damaged vessel drifts and grounds hard and fast onto a reef.

            Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) embarks U.S. High Commissioner to the Philippine Islands Francis B. Sayre and his party off Manila Bay (see 9 March). Their original destination is Surabaya, Java.

            Submarines Pike (SS-172) and Pickerel (SS-177) are sent to assist stranded submarine Tarpon (SS-175) in Boling Strait, N.E.I.; in the event that they cannot free the grounded boat, they are to destroy her. Fortunately, Tarpon manages to work herself free by removing anchors, torpedoes, oil and ammunition.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—Heavy Bomber units begin evacuating Java.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Reports of unidentified air planes approaching Los Angeles from the ocean during 24/25 Feb result in ‘Battle of Los Angeles’ in which some 1,400 rounds of 3-in AA ammo is fired against various ‘targets.’ Later the Army will conclude that the ‘battle’ had been touched off by 1 to 5 unidentified aircraft, but the Navy will maintain there was no reason for the firing.

US ARMY

WAKE—U.S. naval TF (Enterprise, 2 cruisers, 7 DD’s), under command of Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., considerably damages Japanese positions by aerial and naval bombardment.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Evacuation of Java continues. General Brereton and his staff leave for India.

INDIA—General Stilwell arrives at Karachi.

USSR—During 10-day battle on northern front, Red Army encircles II Corps of German Sixteenth Army SE of Staraya Russa. German forces to S are containing Soviet efforts to break through to Smolensk on central front and to Dnieper bend in the Ukraine.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 23 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese submarine I-17 shells oil refinery at Ellwood, California.

           Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) is damaged when she runs aground in Boling Strait, N.E.I. and becomes stranded (see 24 February).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Lihue is torpedoed by German submarine U-161 about 275 miles west of Martinique, 14°30'N,64°45'W; Lihue, damaged, engages U-161 in a surface gunnery action before the freighter is subsequently abandoned and the crew rescued by British tanker British Governor. Canadian armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince Henry places a salvage party on board in attempt to save Lihue. Minesweeper Partridge (AM-16) tries to tow Lihue to safety, but the crippled merchantman sinks short of St. Lucia, the intended destination. There are no casualties to either the36 man merchant crew or the 9 man Armed Guard.

           Unarmed U.S. tanker Sun is torpedoed by German submarine U-502 about 54 miles north of Aruba, 13°02'N,70°41'W, and although initially abandoned is reboarded. She is ultimately repaired and returned to service; there are no casualties among the 36 man crew (see 5 July).

           Unarmed U.S. tanker Republic, torpedoed by German submarine U-504 on 21 February, having drifted onto reefs off Hobe Sound, Florida, sinks.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—HQ VIII Bomber Command established in UK General Eaker assumes command.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s fly first mission against Rabaul. Operating out of Townsville, the force suffers mechanical trouble and runs into bad weather. Only 1 Heavy Bomber manages to bomb the target. General Brereton, CG, departs for India after issuing order terminating HQ Fifth AF. Until 3 Sep 42, units of Fifth AF will be initially under control of ABDACOM and then Allied AF (SWPA).

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Japanese submarine I-17 fires 13 rounds of 5 1/2-in shells from range of 2,500 yds at oil refinery N of Santa Barbara. Pursuit and bomber aircraft sent to the area are unable to destroy the sub.

US ARMY

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS—U.S. and Great Britain sign mutual-aid agreement on settlement of lend-lease obligations.

UNITED STATES—Enemy submarine shells Bankline Oil Refinery near Santa Barbara, California. This is the first attack of the war on U.S. mainland.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO—U.S. Fifth Air Force makes first attack against Rabaul, New Britain. 6 B–17’s from Townsville, Australia, strike with unobserved results.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese report conquest of Ambon completed. General Brett f lies from Java, which is in imminent danger, to Australia.

BURMA—Violent fighting for Sittang River bridgehead continues. Indian 17th Division destroys Sittang bridge at 0530 to prevent enemy from using it, although 16th and 46th Brigades are still E of the river. Remnants of these brigades eventually cross in small craft or by swimming, but battle of Sittang bridgehead is disastrous for Indian 17th Division; 46th Brigade must be broken up to provide replacements.

MIDDLE EAST—Auchinleck revises plans for defense of Northern Front, instructing British Ninth and Tenth Armies to impose maximum delay on enemy in the event of Axis offensive.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 22 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) disembarks Philippine President Manuel Quezon and his party (embarked since 20February) at San Jose, Panay, P.I., to continue their journey out of the archipelago.

ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker Cities Service Empire is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128 25 miles north of Bethel Shoals, 28°00'N, 80°22'W. Destroyer Biddle (DD-151) rescues survivors from life rafts while Coast Guard cutter Vigilant (WPC-154) goes alongside and rescues men directly from the burning ship. All told, 3 of the 9 man Armed Guard are lost, in addition to 11 of the 41 man civilian complement.

           Unarmed U.S. tanker W.D. Anderson is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-504 about 12 miles northeast of Jupiter Point Lighthouse, 27°09'N, 79°56'W. The sole survivor of the 36 man crew swims ashore at Stewart, Florida.

           Unarmed U.S. freighter West Zeda is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 about 125 miles southeast of Trinidad, B.W.I., 09°13'N, 69°04'W. Schooner Emeralda rescues the entire 35 man crew, who suffer no casualties in the encounter with the U-boat.  

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

UNITED STATES—President Roosevelt orders General Mac- Arthur to leave the Philippines.

BURMA—Japanese open strong attacks against

2 brigades of Indian 17th Division E of Sittang River in Mokpalin area before withdrawal through Sittang bridge bottleneck can be accomplished.

UNITED KINGDOM—Hq of U.S. Army Bomber Command, USAFBI, is established under General Eaker.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 21 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Triton (SS-201) sinks Japanese merchant cargo vessel Shokyu Maru in East China Sea, 60 miles south of Quelpart Island, 32°10'N, 126°28'E.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker J.N. Pew is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-67 about 225 miles west of Aruba, D.W.I, 12°40'N, 74°00'W; two survivors reach the coast of Colombia, 35 miles east of Riohacha (see 14 March).

           Unarmed U.S. tanker Republic is torpedoed by German submarine U-504 about three miles east of Jupiter Inlet, Florida, 27°05'N, 80°15'W; three crewmen perish in the initial explosion, while two drown in the abandonment. One lifeboat reaches shore unaided (18 men on board) while U.S. tanker Cities Service Missouri rescues six men from a second boat (see 23 February).

EUROPE—Admiral Leahy receives instruction to see Admiral Darlan immediately about German submarine U-156's receiving assistance at Martinique. Unless the Vichy French can assure the U.S. government that no Axis ships or planes will be allowed to enter French ports or territory in the Western Hemisphere, and that unless such assurances are rigidly maintained, the United States "will take such action in the interest of security of the Western Hemisphere as it may judge necessary and in accordance with existing inter-American obligations." Leahy writes in his diary that everything points to his early recall to Washington "for consultation" (see 16 April).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—General Brett, Dep CG ABDACOM, informs WD of his decision to evacuate Fifth AF and other US troops from Java. Fifth AF bombers at Java bases fly about 20 strikes, usually in 2-and 3-aircraft elements, against shipping in Java Sea and against targets on Bali from this date through 1 Mar. 11 strikes are complete failures; the remainder, although causing some damage to vessels and airfield facilities, fail to deter the invasion of Java.

US ARMY

LUZON—Lull settles over entire front as both sides dig in and prepare for further action. Japanese have completed withdrawal from I Corps area; diversionary forces employed against II Corps are ordered back to Balanga area.

BURMA—Removed from jurisdiction of ABDA Command and placed under command of CinC, India. 7th Armored Brigade arrives at Rangoon from Middle East; is soon committed on Pegu front. Indian 17th Division continues toward Sittang bridge near Mokpalin with Japanese in close pursuit.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 20 February 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet directs Atlantic and Pacific Fleets to establish Amphibious Forces.

PACIFIC—TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), en route to attack Rabaul, is spotted by Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Yokohama Kokutai). Although the American attack is cancelled, Japanese naval land-based bombers (4th Kokutai) attack TF 11, centering their efforts upon Lexington (CV-2). In the ensuing battle off Bougainville, combat air patrol F4Fs (VF 3) and SBDs (VS 2) (the latter utilized in the anti-torpedo plane role) and ships' antiaircraft fire annihilate the enemy formations. In the battle, Lieutenant Edward H. O'Hare (VF 3) shoots down five bombers in six minutes, a phenomenal performance that earns him the Medal of Honor.

           Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) embarks Philippine President Manuel Quezon, his wife and two children, Vice President Sergio Osmeña, and other Philippine government officials off Mariveles.

           In the wake of the Japanese carrier strike the day before, Darwin, Australia, is abandoned as an Allied naval base. RAF and USAAF air operations from the field outside the port, however, will continue.

           Japanese invade Timor Island, N.E.I.

           Destroyer Stewart (DD-224), damaged by shellfire in the Battle of Badoeng Strait the previous night, suffers further damage when, improperly shored and placed on blocks, she rolls on her port side in a Dutch floating drydock at Surabaya, Java.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Delplata is torpedoed by German submarine U-156 about 60 miles west of Martinique, 14°45'N,62°10'W. Small seaplane tender Lapwing (AVP-1) rescues the 52 survivors (including the 13 man Armed Guard) and then scuttles the irreparably damaged merchantman with gunfire.

           Unarmed U.S. freighter Azalea City is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 about 125 miles east-southeast of Ocean City, Maryland, 38°00'N, 73°00'W. There are no survivors from the 38 man crew.

EUROPE—Admiral William D. Leahy writes to President Roosevelt that he expects a recall "for consultation" since the French have not responded positively to Roosevelt's message of 11 February. President Roosevelt, while sympathetic to Admiral Leahy's position, subsequently informs his ambassador to Vichy that "to hold the fort [in Vichy] is as important a military task as any other in these days." Leahy is thus retained in France. On the same day that Leahy writes to the President, however, German submarine U-156 puts in to Martinique to put ashore one of the men wounded by the premature barrel explosion on 16 February (see 21 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES IN BRITIAN—General Eaker arrives in UK with 6 staff officers.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Grants billion-dollar loan to USSR.

LUZON—In Manila Bay area, Japanese artillery bombardment of fortified islands reaches peak intensity.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Timor, where Australian 2/40th Battalion defends Penfoie airdrome.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Newly formed U.S. naval TF, consisting of USS Lexington with screen of cruisers and DD’s, heads toward Rabaul, New Britain, to disperse Japanese concentrations but when attacked by enemy planes withdraws without executing mission. Japanese suffer heavy plane losses and postpone operations scheduled against New Guinea.

BURMA—Indian 17th Division begins withdrawal behind Sittang River, 48th Brigade leading.

UNITED KINGDOM—Maj General Ira C. Eaker, who is to command VIII Bomber Command, arrives by air to prepare for reception of U.S. air force (Eighth); reports to Maj General James E. Chaney, CG USAFBI.

US MARINE CORPS

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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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