Thursday, 5 March 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Salmon (SS-182) torpedoes Japanese transport Taito Maru north of Lombok, N.E.I., 05°35'S, 112°35'E.

            Japanese transport Takao Maru, damaged and driven aground off Vigan, Luzon, on 10 December 1941, is destroyed by Filipino saboteurs.

ATLANTIC—Coastal yacht Alabaster (PYc-21) collides with unidentified merchant ship while patrolling off Cape May, New Jersey, but since the damage suffered by neither ship is serious enough to hamper their operations, both vessels continue on their way.

            Unarmed U.S. freighter Collamer, straggling from convoy HX 178, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-404 off the coast of Nova Scotia, 44°18'N, 63°10'W. British freighter Empire Woodcock rescues the 24 survivors from the 31 man crew.

            Unarmed U.S. freighter Mariana is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-126 east of Nassau, Bahamas,22°14'N, 71°23'W. There are no survivors from the 36 man crew.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—General Brereton who arrived in India from NEI on 25 Feb, formally takes command of Tenth AF, which at this time has 8 tactical aircraft (B‑17’s).

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Civil Air Patrol begins flying patrols off the E coast. XII Interceptor Command (later redesignated XII Fighter Command) is activated at Drew Field.

US ARMY

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Dutch continue a losing battle for Java. Batavia is reported evacuated.

NEW BRITAIN—Japanese convoy bound for Huon Gulf, New Guinea, sails from Rabaul, New Britain, during night 5–6.

INDIA—General Breton takes command of U.S. Tenth Air Force, which is at this time extremely small, with HQ at New Delhi.

BURMA—Lt General Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander arrives at Rangoon to take command of Burma Army. General Hutton remains as Chief of General Staff. General Alexander at once begins offensive to close gap between Burma 1st and Indian 17th Divisions. Japanese attack Pegu from W and succeed in entering the town.

USSR—Moscow announces recapture by Red Army of Yukhnov, NW of Kaluga, on central front.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 4 March 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 16.5 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.) raids Marcus Island; SBDs (VB 6, VS 6) from carrier Enterprise (CV-6) bomb Japanese installations there.

            Operation K: two Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Yokosuka Kokutai), refueled by submarines I-15 and I-19 at French Frigate Shoals, bomb Oahu, T.H., but cause no damage (see 10 March).

            Submarine Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes and sinks Japanese tanker No.2 Kaijo Maru 145 miles south of Truk,00°56'N, 149°31'E.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) torpedoes and sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taki Maru off Amami O Shima, south of Kyushu, 28°37'N, 129°10'E.

            Submarine S-39 (SS-144) torpedoes and sinks Japanese oiler Erimo south of Billiton Island, 04°19'S, 108°25'E.

            Submarine Sargo (SS-188), while approaching Fremantle, Australia, is mistakenly attacked and damaged by an RAAF Hudson.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SEVENTH AF—A lone Japanese aircraft attempts to attack Honolulu but drops its bombs short of the city. Overcast conditions prevent successful pursuit by Seventh AF airplanes.

US ARMY

HAWAII—2 Japanese planes drop total of 4 bombs near Punch Bowl crater, Oahu. No damage.

MARCUS ISLAND—U.S. planes from carrier Enterprise make surprise attack on island just before dawn, achieving satisfactory results.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General MacArthur is reorganizing his forces in the Philippines in preparation for his departure. Composite Visayan-Mindanao Force is divided into 2 commands. General Sharp retains command of forces on Mindanao; the Visayan forces are placed under Brigadier General Bradford G. Chynoweth. MacArthur’s plans envisage the formation of 2 more commands. Maj General George F. Moore’s harbor defense forces on Corregidor and other islands in Manila Bay will constitute one, the forces on Luzon the other.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Dutch continue fighting on Java and report that destruction of principal installations has been completed.

CHINA—General Stilwell establishes HQ, American Army Forces, China, Burma, and India, at Chungking, using his U.S. Task Force in China and AMMISCA personnel as a nucleus. General Magruder’s directive is altered to place AMMISCA personnel at disposal of General Stilwell.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 3 March 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Submarine Perch (SS-176), depth-charged and irreparably damaged by Japanese destroyers Ushio and Sazanami, is scuttled by her crew in Java Sea. All hands (59 men) survive the boat's loss and are taken prisoner.

            Gunboat Asheville (PG-21) is sunk by gunfire of Japanese destroyers Arashi and Nowaki south of Java, 12°33'S,111°35'E. Asheville's sole survivor will perish in POW camp in 1945.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Mary is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 about 250 miles northeast of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana, 08°25'N, 52°50'W (see 9 March).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES—CCS take under consideration recommendation to continue SUPERGYMNAST as an ‘academic study’ only. Thus the proposed N African venture ceases to affect Eighth AF until it is revived later as TORCH.

FIFTH AF—Japanese airplanes attack airfield and harbor at Broome, Australia at 1000, shortly after arrival of 8 Heavy bombers evacuating men from Java. The Japanese destroy 2 B‑17’s, 2 B‑24’s, 12 seaplanes, and 2 Hudsons, and kill at least 45 Dutch civilians and 20 US airmen.

US ARMY

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Dutch continue losing battle for Java against superior enemy forces.

AUSTRALIA—Japanese planes strike hard at Broome, where refugees from Java are concentrated, destroying many planes on ground and in water.

BURMA—Fighting continues in Waw-Pyinbon area, NE of Pegu. 63d Brigade Group arrives at Rangoon.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 2 March 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese Main Body, Southern Force (Vice Admiral Kondo Nobutake) overtakes fleeing Allied ships southwest of Bali; heavy cruiser Maya and destroyers Arashi and Nowaki sink British destroyer HMS Stronghold; heavy cruisers Atago and Takao attack what they initially identify as a "Marblehead-class" cruiser and sink her with gunfire; their quarry is actually destroyer Pillsbury (DD-227), which is lost with all hands at 14°30'S, 106°30'E.

            Submarine Perch (SS-176) is depth-charged and damaged by Japanese destroyer Ushio, Java Sea.

            Submarine S-38 (SS-143) attacks Japanese light cruiser Kinu but the latter evades all four torpedoes fired, 06°27'S,112°12'E.

            Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) torpedoes and sinks Japanese aircraft transport Kamogawa Maru north of Lombok Strait,08°06'S, 115°57'E.

            Japanese troops land at Zamboanga, Mindanao, P.I.

            Bataan-based USAAF P-40s sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.11 Kyo Maru in Subic Bay.

ATLANTIC—Antisubmarine Warfare Unit, Atlantic Fleet is established at Boston, Massachusetts.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—5 B‑17’s and 3 Light Bomber-30’s (the last airplane taking off just before midnight) evacuate the last 260 men from Jogjakarta, the last airfield on Java in Allied hands. Ground forces are within 20 mi at this time. Bataan-based P‑40’s attack shipping in Subic Bay. The pilots claim considerable damage to the ships, but 4 of the few P‑40’s remaining on Bataan are lost.

US ARMY

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese gain further ground in Java, where Dutch are continuing to resist; claim capture of Batavia, from which Netherlands East Indies Government has been forced to move to Bandoeng. Many ships are scuttled off Java to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese begin heavy air strikes on New Guinea in preparation for invasion of Huon Gulf area.

BURMA—Japanese continue to infiltrate westward between Burma 1st and Indian 17th Divisions and are swinging SW on Rangoon, bypassing Pegu.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 1 March 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC & PACIFIC— Base Force, Pacific Fleet is redesignated Service Force Pacific; Train, Atlantic Fleet is redesignated Service Force Atlantic.

PACIFIC—Battle of Sunda Strait continues as heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) and Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth (Captain Hector M.L. Waller, RAN), heading for Sunda Strait, are attacked by three Japanese cruisers and nine destroyers (Rear Admiral Kurita Takeo). In the melee, Houston (05°50'S, 105°55'E) and Perth are sunk by torpedoes and gunfire of Japanese heavy cruisers Mogami and Mikuma; Japanese minesweeper W.2 and transports Ryuho Maru, Tatsuno Maru, Sakura Maru and Horai Maru are sunk, and landing ship Shinshu Maru damaged, by torpedoes fired by heavy cruiser Mogami; destroyers Shirakumo and Harukaze are damaged by gunfire. Houston's commanding officer, Captain Albert H. Rooks, killed while his ship is being abandoned, is later awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously) in recognition of his heroism, courage, gallantry and distinguished service during the period between 4 and 27 February.

            Japanese oiler Tsurumi is torpedoed by Dutch submarine K-XV east of Nicholas Point, Banten Bay, Java.

            In another action in the wake of the Battle of the Java Sea, Japanese heavy cruisers Myoko, Ashigara, Haguro and Nachi engage three Allied ships (Captain Oliver L. Gordon, RN) fleeing Java, sinking British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and destroyer HMS Encounter. U.S. destroyer Pope (DD-225), the third ship, escapes the cruisers but is located and bombed by floatplanes from seaplane carriers Chitose and Mizuho. Damaged by one close-miss, Pope is then located by carrier attack planes from Ryujo and bombed; scuttling is in progress when Myoko and Ashigara deliver the coup de grace with gunfire at 04°00'S, 111°30'E.

            Japanese planes bomb Surabaya, Java; destroyer Stewart (DD-224), previously damaged on 19 and 20 February 1942, is damaged again, by bomb.

            Japanese naval forces sweep the waters south of Java. Destroyer Edsall (DD-219) is sunk by gunfire of battleships Hiei and Kirishima, heavy cruisers Tone and Chikuma, and planes from carriers Akagi and Soryu; the amount of main battery shells expended in the attempt to sink the U.S. ship amounts to 297 15-inch and 844 eight-inch. Edsall's five enlisted survivors are executed at Kendari subsequently. Oiler Pecos (AO-6), with Langley (AV-3) survivors on board as well as evacuees from Java, is bombed and sunk by carrier bombers from Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu, south of Christmas Island, 14°27'S, 106°11'E.

            Submarine Perch (SS-176) is depth-charged and damaged by Japanese destroyers Amatsukaze and Hatsukaze, 73 miles west of Bawean Island, Java Sea, 06°30'S, 113°50'E.

            As Japanese invasion of Java proceeds, Allied planes bomb enemy ships off the beaches: RAF Wildebeests damage light cruiser Kinu, transport Johore Maru, and army cargo ship Tokushima Maru. Dutch Martin 139s, RAF Blenheims, RAAF (or RAF) Hudsons also claim damage to Japanese ships.

            ABDA Command is dissolved as the fall of Java looms.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 reconnoiters Hobart, Tasmania.

ATLANTIC—PBO (VP 82), on an antisubmarine sweep, bombs and sinks German submarine U-656 south of Newfoundland,46°15'N, 53°15'W. U-656 is the first U-boat sunk by U.S. Navy forces during World War II.

            Tug Sagamore (AT-20) attempts to tow damaged U.S. tanker R.P. Resor (torpedoed by German submarine U-578 on 27February) to shallow water to permit salvage, but to no avail. The gutted ship sinks about 31 miles east of Barnegat, New Jersey.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—Last Heavy Bomber mission flown from Java.

US ARMY

MIDWAY—MAG 22 is formed from squadrons on the island.

LUZON—Japanese 14th Army, during period 6 January to date, has suffered severe setback on Luzon and sustained almost 7,000 casualties (2,700 killed and over 4,000 wounded).

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese, now in undisputed control of air and sea, make rapid progress on the ground on Java. Allied planes based on Java are virtually wiped out, many of them on the ground. After a final effort to stall enemy by air, surviving air personnel begin assembling in Jogjakarta, the last remaining airfield in Java, for withdrawal to Australia. Since Java ports are untenable, Allied naval command is dissolved and ships are directed to withdraw to Australia. U.S. DD’s Edsall and Pillsbury and PG Asheville, as well as a few British corvettes, are unable to make good their escape. Of Admiral Doorman’s original Java Sea striking force (5 cruisers and 10 DD’s), only 4 U.S. DD’s succeed in reaching Australia. Cruisers Houston (U.S.) and Perth (Aus) and DD’s Pope (U.S.), Encounter (Br), and Evertsen (Dutch) are lost while trying to escape.

BURMA—Burma 1st Division covers concentration of Chinese 5th Army in Toungoo area. 200th Division of the army, which is already disposed in this area, regains Nyaunglebin and Pyuntaza, on Rangoon–Mandalay road. General Wavell arrives in Burma and orders Rangoon held as long as possible, at least until reinforcements en route (63d Brigade Group) arrive. Indian 17th Division returns toward Waw, which is to be defended.

USSR—Soviet advance comes to a halt during March. Battle line remains about the same throughout month, despite continued fighting on all fronts. Germans are unable to relieve isolated II Corps, Sixteenth Army, SE of Staraya Russa, but succeed in withdrawing salient SW of Kaluga; contain Soviet attacks on southern front, which are extended to region E of Kharkov.

US MARINE CORPS

Battle of Sunda Strait.

Saturday, 28 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Battle of Java Sea, begun late the previous afternoon, concludes. Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro torpedoes and sinks Dutch light cruiser De Ruyter (Doorman's flagship, in which he is lost) while Nachi torpedoes and sinks Dutch light cruiser Java; remnants of the Allied force flee to Surabaya, sheltering briefly there before trying to escape to Australia. In the wake of the battle, submarine S-37 (SS-142) encounters boat from the sunken De Ruyter and recovers two U.S. Navy sailors who had been serving in a liaison capacity in the Dutch ship. Before continuing on patrol, the U.S. submariners provide the Dutch seamen with rations. S-37's sistership S-38 (SS-143) rescues survivors from sunken British destroyer HMS Electra.

           Japanese land on north coast of Java. Battle of Sunda Strait begins shortly before midnight as heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) and Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth (Captain Hector M. L. Waller, RAN), attempting to retire from Java, accidentally encounter Japanese transport force and escorting ships (Rear Admiral Takagi Takeo) in Banten Bay, Java, and engage them (see 1 March).

           Minesweeper Whippoorwill (AM-35), while searching waters south of Tjilatjap for survivors of sunken seaplane tender Langley (AV-3), rescues crew of British freighter City of Manchester, that had just been torpedoed, shelled and sunk by Japanese submarine I-153 at 08°16'S, 108°52'E. Gunboat Tulsa (PG-22), in the vicinity on the same errand, takes on board the injured British merchant sailors and treats the wounded.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-578 torpedoes and sinks destroyer Jacob Jones (DD-130) off the Delaware capes, 38°42'N,74°39'W.

           Unarmed U.S. tanker Oregon is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-156 about 150 miles northeast of Mona Passage, 20°44'N, 67°52'W; U-156 machineguns the crew trying to launch one of the lifeboats, killing six men. One group of 26 survivors reaches Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on 4 March; U.S. tanker Gulfpenn rescues other group of four men the following day.

           PBY (VP 73) mistakenly bombs and damages submarine Greenling (SS-213) outside submarine sanctuary off New London, Connecticut.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

UNITED STATES—War Department directive gives General Wheeler mission of expediting flow of supplies and equipment to General Stilwell.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—After severe air attacks on air and naval installations, Japanese 16th Army invades Java during night 28 February–1 March, going ashore on N coast and making main effort near Batavia. Allied planes attack enemy shipping before and during landing. Admiral Doorman’s naval force, split into small groups, heads toward Soenda Strait in effort to escape from Java Sea; some of the vessels are not heard from again. Sea Witch, with 27 crated P–40’s on board, reaches Tjilatjap safely, but P–40’s are destroyed to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.

BURMA—British Imperial forces fall back on Pegu from Payagyi and Waw in anticipation of general withdrawal.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 27 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Battle of Java Sea is fought as Allied naval force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) of five cruisers and11 destroyers in Java Sea near Surabaya attacks Japanese support force (Rear Admiral Takagi Takeo) covering Java invasion convoy. Japanese gunfire proves ineffective, as heavy cruisers Nachi and Haguro expend 1,271 8-inchrounds but achieve only five hits. Of those five, four are duds: one each on Houston (CA-30) and British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter, and two on Dutch light cruiser De Ruyter. The only shell that does explode reduces Exeter's speed. Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro torpedoes and sinks Dutch destroyer Kortenaer; survivors are rescued by British destroyer HMS Encounter. Japanese destroyer gunfire sinks British destroyer HMS Electra (see 28 February); while British destroyer HMS Jupiter is sunk by mine laid earlier that day by Dutch minelayer Gouden Leeuw. Allied gunfire damages Japanese destroyers Asagumo and Minegumo; U.S. destroyers' torpedo attack proves ineffective (see 28 February).

           Seaplane tender Langley (AV-3), carrying 32 USAAF P-40s earmarked for the defense of Java, is bombed by Japanese naval land attack planes (Takao Kokutai) 75 miles south of Tjilatjap, Java, 08°58'S, 109°02'E. Irreparably damaged, the ship that had once been the U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier (she had been converted to a seaplane tender in 1936) is shelled and torpedoed by destroyer Whipple (DD-217). Necessity to clear the area precludes knowing exactly when Langley sinks.

           U.S. freighter Sea Witch delivers 27 crated USAAF P-40s to Tjilatjap, Java, but the planes will be destroyed on the docks to deny their use by the victors.

           Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) damages Japanese fleet tanker Manju Maru 28°55'N, 138°15'E.

ATLANTIC—Joint U.S.-Mexican Defense Commission is established.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—Battle of Java Sea. Allied air and naval units try to stop convoy of some 80 ships approaching Java from NE. All available B‑17’s, A‑24’s, P‑40’s and Light Bomber-30’s are put into the air but achieve only insignificant results. An Allied naval force, 5 cruisers and 11 destroyers, under Adm Doorman, Royal Netherlands Navy, meets the enemy near Surabaya and is decisively defeated, losing 5 ships. Most of Fifth AF ground echelon in Java is evacuated by sea. The Sea Witch delivers 27 crated P‑40’s to Tjilatjap, Java, but these will be destroyed to prevent their falling into Japanese hands. 32 P‑40’s aboard the USS Langley, which sailed from Australia for India on 23 Feb, are lost when the Langley is sunk by aircraft 100 mi S of Tjilatjap. The pilots are rescued by other vessels in the convoy, but the enemy sinks these ships with the exception of a destroyer, which delivers 2 of the pilots to Perth. The Langley, America’s first aircraft carrier, was sunk.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—President Roosevelt, by executive order, authorizes creation of joint Mexican–U.S. Defense Commission. Brigadier General Raymond A. Wheeler, now in Iran, is named commander of SOS CBI; General Wheeler is also to continue as chief of Iranian Mission.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Japanese force lands on NE Mindoro, where a town and airfield are overrun. No effort is made to secure rest of island. Enemy blockade about the Philippines is thus tightened.

JAVA SEA—Organized Allied naval resistance collapses during Battle of Java Sea. Combined naval TF under Rear Admiral Doorman attacks Japanese convoy approaching Java and is decisively defeated. British DD’s Electra and Jupiter and Dutch DD Kortenaer are sunk, as are Dutch cruisers De Ruyter and Java. Japanese sustain some damage but not enough to interfere with their plan for completing conquest of Netherlands East Indies.

INDIA—General Wavell arrives in New Delhi from Java.

FRANCE—British successfully raid radio location station at Bruneval during night 27–28, dropping parachute force of 120.

US MARINE CORPS

Battle of Java Sea