US NAVY
PACIFIC—Japanese naval land attack planes (Genzan
Kokutai) bomb Allied shipping at Keppel Harbor, Singapore, Straits
Settlements; transport Wakefield (AP-21), waiting to embark passengers,
is damaged by a bomb, as are British transports (ex-passenger liners) Duchess
of Bedford and Empress of Japan and freighter Madura. Transport
West Point (AP-23) is straddled and showered with fragments, but suffers
no damage. She provides medical assistance to Wakefield. Both U.S.
transports subsequently embark passengers that include dockyard workers from
Singapore and their families, in addition to Royal Navy officers and enlisted
men and a small RAF contingent. The ships will then proceed to Batavia, Java,
N.E.I., and thence on to Colombo, Ceylon.
ATLANTIC—Coast Guard cutter Alexander Hamilton (WPG-34),
torpedoed by German submarine U-132 the previous day, is scuttled by
gunfire of destroyer Ericsson (DD-440) off Reykjavik, Iceland.
Unarmed
U.S. tanker Rochester is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German
submarine U-106 off the Chesapeake Lightship, 37°10'N, 73°58'W; three
crewmen perish in the initial torpedo explosion. Destroyer Roe (DD-418) rescues
the 29 survivors.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
HAWAIIAN AF—B‑17’s of TG 8.9 return to Hawaii, having
completed a mission (began on 16 Jan 42) which afforded a pioneer look at the
problem of air operations over vast Pacific areas, especially the problems of
navigation and the servicing of aircraft.
US ARMY
PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General
MacArthur takes control of all naval forces in the Philippines.
LUZON—In Sector C of II Corps, efforts to dislodge enemy
from Pilar River bridgehead fail. Indecisive fighting continues along MAIN LINE
OF RESISTANCE. I Corps makes slow progress against enemy pockets behind MAIN
LINE OF RESISTANCE. While 1st Division attempts to reduce Little Pocket, elements
of 11th and 45th Regiments attack Big Pocket from N and S, respectively. In
South Sector, 3d Battalion of 45th Infantry, reinforced, continues to attack
Quinauan Pt beachhead. 2d Battalion of same regiment, reinforced, supported by 88th
FA battery, pushes slowly toward Silaiim River mouth.
MALAYA—British withdrawal to Singapore reaches its final
stage. East Force is the first unit to cross causeway and is followed by Indian
11th Division and West Force. West Force delays withdrawal as long as possible
in futile effort to recover 22d Brigade of Indian 9th Division. Remnants of
this brigade are eventually ferried across Strait of Singapore. It is decided
to withdraw Malaya Air Force to Netherlands East Indies except for a single
squadron.
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Ambon (Amboina), second
largest naval base in Netherlands East Indies, and are opposed by garrison of
Dutch and Australians. Allied air and naval forces have already been withdrawn
because of enemy air attacks.
BURMA—Japanese open strong attack on Moulmein and seize the
airdrome.
US MARINE CORPS
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