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

Thursday, 26 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine S-38 (SS-143) bombards Japanese radio station on enemy-occupied Bawean Island, that had been set up the previous day.

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

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. bulk carrier Marore is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-432 off the North Carolina coast, 35°33'N, 74°58'W. U.S. tanker John D. Gill rescues 25 survivors; 15 more men land at Coast Guard Big Kinnakeet Lifeboat Station. There are no casualties.

            U.S. tanker R.P. Resor is torpedoed by German submarine U-578 five miles off Sea Girt, Delaware, 39°47'N,73°26'W; of the 41 man merchant crew and 8 Armed Guard sailors on board, one civilian and one Armed Guard sailor are rescued by submarine chaser PC-507. Coast Guard cutters Icarus (WPC-110) and Antietam (WPC-128), yacht Zircon (PY-16) and coastal minesweeper AMc-200 converge on the scene; Eagle Boat PE-55 attacks sound contact in the vicinity without result (see 1 March).

            U.S. tanker Cassimir is sunk in collision with U.S. freighter Lara 48 miles from Frying Pan Shoals lightship, 33°28'N,77°34'W.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Japanese amphibious force, consisting of a Battalion of infantry and a FA battery, sails from Olongapo, Luzon, for Mindoro.

AUSTRALIA—U.S. TF bound for New Caledonia reaches Australia.

INDIAN OCEAN—USS Langley (ACV), with 32 fighters on board, is sunk en route to Java by Japanese planes.

BURMA—Hard fighting is developing in Waw area, NE of Pegu, as enemy continues infiltration westward from Sittang River.

LIBYA—13 Corps is responsible for defenses organized in depth over 36-mile area from Gazala to Bir Hacheim. 30 Corps prepares defensive positions on frontier and has detachment at Giarabub.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 25 February 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Coast Guard assumes responsibility for U.S. port security.

PACIFIC—Japanese force lands on Bawean Island, 85 miles north of Surabaya, Java, and sets up a radio station (see 26February).

            Submarines Perch (SS-176) attacks what she identifies as a Japanese merchantman but is damaged by shellfire and is forced to break off action. Perch remains on patrol.

            Japanese cargo ship Fukushima Maru runs aground on a reef and is wrecked, Katsura Bay, 35°09'N, 140°18'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES—AWPD recommends removal of GYMNAST from list of current projects. This proposal, if adopted, would leave Eighth AF uncommitted to any operation.

US ARMY FORCES BRITISH ISLES—General Chaney instructs General Eaker and staff to VIII Bomber Command to proceed to HQ, RAF Bomber Command for study of bombing operations, and to make reconnaissance of certain airfields and submit plans for reception and assignment of AAF units.

US ARMY

ABDA COMMAND—Is dissolved and defense of Java is left to the Dutch, who are to be assisted by Br, Aus, and U.S. detachments.

BURMA—Japanese are infiltrating into Pegu Yomas through gap of some 30–40 miles that exists between Burma 1st Division at Nyaunglebin and Indian 17th Division at Pegu, threatening Rangoon–Mandalay road.

INDIA—General Stilwell, who receives rank of Lt Gen, AUS, confers with GHQ, India, at New Delhi.

US MARINE CORPS

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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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