Thursday, 12 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Destroyer Whipple (DD-217) is damaged in collision with Dutch light cruiser De Ruyter, Prigi Bay, Java.

           USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese shipping off Surumi, damaging transport Kozui Maru and merchant cargo vessel Kinryu Maru.

           Auxiliary [survey vessel] Sumner (AG 32) completes survey work of Bora Bora, Society Islands and publishes Hydrographic Office Field Chart No.1 for those waters.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Dixie Sword founders and sinks in Nantucket Sound, 41°35'N, 69°59'W.

           British freighter Raby Castle comes across lifeboat from torpedoed U.S. tanker W.L. Steed (sunk by German submarine U-103 on 2 February) and rescues the one survivor she finds; sadly, he will die on board on 15 February, of exposure.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES—General Arnold indicate that 16 Heavy Bomber groups, 3 Pursuit groups, and 8 photoreconnaissance squadrons will be sent to UK during 1942.

TENTH AF—Activated at Patterson Field.

EIGHTH AF—General Duncan, CG, requests that his force, inadequate for its intended mission under GYMNAST, be strengthened by several bomb and pursuit groups. This move, if carried out, would require diversion of units originally intended for other task forces.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Tenth Air Force is activated at Patterson Field, Ohio, and assigned to General Stilwell.

LUZON—I Corps regains important trail junction unopposed. In South Sector, Japanese try desperately to escape from Silaiim Pt; break through Philippine line, but are overtaken as they push N toward Silaiim River and are forced steadily toward the sea:

SINGAPORE—Japanese attack strongly at several points and make further gains. During night 12–13, beach defense forces on E and SE coasts are withdrawn to strengthen defense perimeter around town of Singapore. Supply situation is deteriorating rapidly.

MEDITERRANEAN—3 supply ships leave Alexandria (Egypt) for Malta, but all are lost to enemy before reaching destination.

ENGLISH CHANNEL—German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen proceed from Brest up English Channel under attack by RAF and air arm of Royal Navy.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 11 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Shark (SS-174) is sunk by Japanese destroyer Yamakaze about 120 miles east of Menado, Celebes,01°45'N, 127°15'E. There are no survivors from Shark's 58 man crew.

CARIBBEAN—U.S. Army troops arrive at Curacao and Aruba, N.W.I., to assume occupation duty (with the cooperation of the British and Dutch governments) at this naval operating base whose primary mission will be port security, convoy routing, and protection of tankers transporting oil to U.S. ports.

ATLANTIC—PBM (VP 74) rescues nine survivors adrift in a lifeboat from British tanker San Arcadio, sunk by German submarineU-107 on 31 January.

EUROPE—Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), Ambassador to France, receives instructions from President Roosevelt that the U.S. government has learned that French ships are to be used to transport war materiel between France and Tunisia, and that unless the French government gives assurances that no military aid would go forward to any Axis power, and that French ships would not be used in the furtherance of Axis acts of aggression in any theater of war, the ambassador would be recalled to the United States "for consultation in a determination of American future policy with regard to the government of Vichy" (see 20-21 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

LUZON—I Corps makes substantial progress against Big Pocket, but enemy succeeds in withdrawing through gap on N side. In South Sector, Japanese fall back to Silaiim Pt, between Silaiim and Anyasan Rivers, under pressure.

SINGAPORE—Japanese gain further ground; drop appeals for the garrison to surrender.

BURMA—Additional enemy forces cross Salween in Paan area and engulf Battalion of Indian 46th Brigade.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 10 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—USAAF LB-30s bomb and damage Japanese seaplane carrier Chitose in Makassar Strait south of Celebes.

           Japanese submarine I-69 shells Midway but is immediately bombed and damaged by USMC F2As (VMF 221).

ATLANTIC—Submarine R-5 (SS-82) fires three torpedoes at what she later reports as a German U-boat at 35°00'N, 65°45'W, but the attack is not successful. By the time R-5 has reloaded, the enemy is gone. While R-5's captain is criticized for erring in judgment for failing to follow up his contact during darkness and continuing the attack, his inexperience (R-5is his first command) is considered, as is the fact that it is that commanding officer's first war patrol. R-5's quarry may have been U-564, which sinks Canadian motor tanker Victolite at 36°12'N, 67°14'W the same day.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

CHRISTMAS ISLAND—U.S. detachment arrives.

MIDWAY—Shelled by enemy submarine.

LUZON—I Corps is rapidly reducing Big Pocket. South Sector forces are compressing Japanese in Anyasan–Silaiim area.

SINGAPORE—General Wavell visits Singapore and orders the island held and all remaining RAF personnel withdrawn to Netherlands East Indies. Japanese deepen penetration to supply depot area. AIF Malaya, which is further reinforced in W Area, falls back to line Kranji–Jurong, partially prepared switch line position; is later forced from this line.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese ,continue conquest of Borneo and Celebes; on Celebes, land force at Makassar.

BURMA—46th Brigade, Indian 17th Division, which has recently relieved Indian 16th Brigade along the Salween in Martaban area, begins fighting withdrawal from Martaban toward Thaton, since Japanese have bypassed Martaban.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 9 February 1942

US NAVY 

GENERAL—Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Chief of the Maritime Commission, is appointed Director of the War Shipping Administration. As WSA director, he is responsible only to the President.

           Admiral William H. Standley, USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations (1935-1937), is named Ambassador to the USSR.

PACIFIC—Twelve USAAF B-17s are released to Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet for operational control; they will cover the advance of TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.) into the South Pacific.

           Transport St. Mihiel (AP-32) is damaged by grounding off MacNamara Point, Alaska.

           Submarine Trout (SS-202) torpedoes and sinks Japanese gunboat Chuwa Maru 53 miles off Keelung, Formosa,25°30'N, 122°38'E.

           Japanese carrier Kaga is damaged when she runs aground on an uncharted reef, Palau, Palau Islands.

           Japanese transport Kurama Maru is torpedoed and sunk, agent unknown, 28°25'N, 122°03'N.

           Japanese destroyer Natsushio, torpedoed by submarine S-37 (SS-142) off Makassar the previous day, sinks.

           Japanese planes bomb Batavia, Surabaya, and Malang, Java.

           Japanese troops land on Singapore Island.

ATLANTIC—Transport Lafayette (AP-53) (ex-French liner Normandie) burns at New York pier and capsizes at her berth.

           Destroyer Roe (DD-418), at approximately 36°24'N, 74°34'W, rescues 14 survivors from British freighter Ocean Venture, sunk the previous day by German submarine U-108.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SEVENTH AF—12 B‑17’s are detached and released to CINCPAC for assignment to TF 11 for operations in S Pacific.

FIFTH AF—Between this day and 18 Feb, Heavy Bombers fly at least 14 missions, but they result in claims of only 3 hits on shipping.

US ARMY

LUZON—In I Corps area, Japanese remnants from Little Pocket are destroyed while seeking to escape. 1st Division is now free to join in battle against Big Pocket, which is being compressed and from which Japanese are trying to escape. In South Sector, 2d Battalion of 57th (PS) replaces 3d Battalion in center of line in Anyasan–Silaiim region and makes limited progress against enemy.

SINGAPORE—Although reinforcements are sent to W Area from other sectors, Japanese reach Tengah airfield. In evening, additional enemy land in area just W of causeway. General Percival orders garrison to defend S part of the island, where Singapore town, Kalang airdrome, the reservoirs, and supply depots are located. Far East War Council meets for the last time.

UNITED KINGDOM—Pacific War Council, composed of representatives from Great Britain, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, and New Zealand, is formed in London.

US MARINE CORPS

Japanese land at Singapore

Sunday, 8 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese submarine I-69, which has been reconnoitering the atoll since 21 January, shells Midway.

           Japanese troops land at Gasmata, New Britain.

           Submarine S-37 (SS-142) attacks Japanese convoy in Makassar Strait, and torpedoes destroyer Natsushio south of Makassar City, Celebes, 05°10'S, 119°24'E. S-37 survives resultant depth-charging (see 9 February).

           Japanese infiltration force at Quinauan Point, Bataan, is mopped up, supported by armed motor launches from submarine tender Canopus (AS-9) (Lieutenant Commander H.H. Goodall). Japanese planes, however, attack the boats, bombing and strafing them, killing three and wounding 15 (including Goodall).

           British submarine HMS Trusty shells Japanese merchant coaster Se Go off Poulo Condore, French Indochina.

ATLANTIC—British freighter Ocean Venture is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-108 at 37°05'N, 74°45'W (see 9February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

 

US ARMY

MIDWAY—Bombarded by Japanese submarine.

LUZON—Lt General Masaharu Homma orders general withdrawal northward to more favorable positions where troops can be rested and reorganized while awaiting reinforcements for final assault on Bataan. I Corps continues battle to destroy Little and Big Pockets and completely encircles latter. Japanese escape from Little Pocket through small gap on E during night 8–9. In South Sector, resistance on Quinauan Pt ends after small naval craft from Mariveles neutralize beaches, then land party of 21st Pursuit Sq, which works inland and meets Scouts pushing toward beaches. Company of 57th Infantry and platoon of 37-mm. guns are released at Quinauan for action against enemy in Anyasan–Silaiim sector. Japanese make final attempt to withdraw forces from SW coast by water and succeed in rescuing 34.

SINGAPORE—Japanese intensify bombardment and about 2045 begin landing in force on NW coast; despite opposition at beaches, gain firm bridgehead and start toward Tengah airfield, driving wedge in Australian line in W Area.

NEW BRITAIN—Japanese seize Gasmata.

US MARINE CORPS

 

Saturday, 7 February 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—President signs Executive Order 9054 establishing War Shipping Administration (WSA) to bring the control and operation of all U.S. merchant shipping under a single head. The WSA's most pressing task is to mobilize the shipping capacity of the country (the majority of which is still in private hands by the end of the year 1941) to bring it under single control so that vessels can be allocated more readily on the basis of overall shipping needs of the U.S. and the Allies (see 9 February).

PACIFIC—Commander Naval Forces Southwest Pacific Area (Vice Admiral William A. Glassford) establishes headquarters at the port of Tjilatjap, on Java's south coast.

           Yacht Isabel (PY-10) rescues all 187 survivors from Dutch freighter Van Cloon, which had been torpedoed and shelled earlier that day by Japanese submarine I-155 and beached in a sinking condition off Java, 06°25'S, 111°25'E.

           Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 reconnoiters Sydney, Australia. 

           Japanese submarines RO-61 and RO-62 are damaged in collision, Kwajalein atoll.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter West Jaffrey is stranded off Halfbald Island, Nova Scotia, 43°36'N, 66°02'W, and wrecked. There are no casualties to either the merchant crew or the 14 man Armed Guard.

           Coast Guard cutter Nike (WPC-112) rescues all 37 survivors of U.S. tanker China Arrow, sunk by German submarineU-103 off Winter Quarter Lightship on 5 February.

           U.S. freighter Mary is damaged in collision with freighter Palimol at 24°50'N, 66°00'W, and proceeds to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for repairs.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

 

US ARMY

PACIFIC—ANZAC Force is placed under command of Vice Admiral Herbert F. Leary, USN.

LUZON—I Corps opens all-out attack, under command of CG, Left Sector, against enemy pockets and partially encircles both. 1st Division is employed against Little Pocket. 92d Infantry of 91st Division (PA) makes main attack against Big Pocket from W and is supported by elements of 11th, Philippine, and 51st Divisions. In South Sector, after Scouts on left flank come up against enemy positions in Anyasan–Silaiim area and are brought to a halt, Filipino air corps troops and Constabulary Battalion are committed to form continuous line from Silaiim Bay to Quinauan Pt. Methodical destruction of enemy remnants at Quinauan Pt continues. Japanese relief force attempting to evacuate troops from SW coast is attacked by P–40’s and shore guns and forced back to Olongapo.

US MARINE CORPS

 

Friday, 6 February 1942

US NAVY 

GENERAL—Naval Coastal Frontiers--Eastern, Gulf, Caribbean, Panama, Hawaiian, Northwest, Western, Philippine--are redesignated as Sea Frontiers.

           U.S. and Britain establish Combined Chiefs of Staff.

PACIFIC—Japanese land reinforcements at Lingayen Gulf.

           Japanese artillery on the Cavite coast, near Ternate, shell Corregidor, Fort Hughes, Fort Frank, Fort Drum and anchorage of Inshore Patrol off South Harbor, Corregidor; river gunboat Luzon (PR-7) is hit by a shell in her vacant admiral’s quarters; there are no casualties.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Major Wheeler, en route from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-107. There are no survivors from the 35 man crew.

           British freighter Hartlepool comes across lifeboat from torpedoed U.S. tanker W.L. Steed (sunk by German submarineU-103 on 2 February) and rescues the two survivors she finds; one of them will die in hospital on 10 February of exposure (see 12 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

COMBINED CHIEFS OF STAFF—WD announces creation of US-British CCS in Washington.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Naval Coastal Frontiers are redesignated Sea Frontiers.

LUZON—In I Corps area, Japanese receive reinforcements and attack late in day to relieve pockets. While some elements increase pressure against 1st and 11th Philippine Divisions, others drive toward Big Pocket until stopped by 11th Division 800 yards from objective. Small salient in corps MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE is thus formed and called Upper Pocket. In Manila Bay area, Japanese artillery, emplaced along S shore of Manila Bay in vicinity of Ternate, begins daily bombardment of fortified islands. Forts Drum and Frank receive main weight of shells.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese now hold Samarinda, on E coast of Dutch Borneo.

US MARINE CORPS

U. S. and Great Britain establish Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS).