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