US NAVY
ATLANTIC—First U.S. Expeditionary Force to Europe in World
War II arrives in Northern Ireland.
U.S.
freighter West Ivis is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-125 off
the eastern seaboard. There are no survivors from either the 36 man civilian
crew or the 9 man Armed Guard.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
ARMY AIR FORCES—General Arnold recommends to Army CoS that
AAFIB be composed of a HQ and 3 cmds-bomber, interceptor, and base.
US ARMY FORCES BRITISH ISLES—First increment of US troops
arrives in N Ireland.
FAR EAST AF—Fighters from Bataan bomb and strafe Nichols
and Nielson Fields on Luzon during 26/27 Jan, inflicting considerable damage on
aircraft and fuel storage.
US ARMY
LUZON—Philippine
II and I Corps complete withdrawal to final defense line on Bataan in morning,
closely followed by Japanese. The new line, which is to be continuous for the
first time, extends from Orion on E to Bagac on W and is generally behind Pilar–Bagac
road. Gaps develop in each corps sector when USAFFE withdraws Philippine Division
as its reserve. Units are hastily shifted to replace 31st (U.S.) and 57th (PS) Regiments
in II Corps line and 45th Infantry (PS) in I Corps line. II Corps, responsible for
E Bataan from coast to Pantingan River, organizes its line into 4 sectors, from
E to W: Sector A, 31st Infantry of 31st Division (PA); Sector B, Provisional Air
Corps Regiment; Sector C, elements of 31st Division (PA) and remnants of 51st Division
(PA); Sector D, 41st and 21st Divisions (PA) and 33d Infantry, less 1st Battalion,
of 31st Division (PA). In addition, beach defense forces are organized as
Sector E. 1st Battalion of 33d Infantry, 31st Division (PA), and regiment of PA
combat engineers constitute corps reserve. Japanese patrol along E slopes of Mt
Samat almost to MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE but do not discover gap in line, which
exists for several hours. I Corps line, extending from Pantingan River to W
coast, is divided into Right and Left Sectors: Right Sector is manned by 2d PC Regiment
(less one Battalion) on E and 11th Division (PA) on W; disposed in Left Sector
are elements of 1st Division (PA) on E and 91st (PA) on W. Beach defense forces
make up South Sector. 26th Cavalry (PS) is held in corps reserve. Japanese open
offensive, driving S along West Road toward Binuangan River. 91st Division (PA)
contains these attacks. In South Sector, Japanese maintain beachheads at
Quinauan and Longoskawayan Pts and move reinforcements toward former. USAFFE
sends 88th FA (PS) to W coast from II Corps sector, one of its gun batteries to
Quinauan Pt and another to Longoskawayan Pt.
MALAYA—Japanese amphibious force lands in E Malaya at Endau
and moves rapidly inland. Some damage is done to the convoy by RAF planes as it
approaches Endau and by naval vessels after it has anchored, but British lose
HMS Thanet in the action. Indian 11th Division makes another
unsuccessful attempt to relieve Batu Pahat force, which withdraws by
infiltration, leaving wounded behind.
NORTHERN IRELAND—First convoy of U.S. troops arrives.
US MARINE CORPS
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