US NAVY
CARIBBEAN—Operation NEULAND begins with simultaneous
attacks on Dutch and Venezuelan oil ports to disrupt production and flow of
petroleum products vital to the Allied war effort; German submarine U-156 shells
refinery on Aruba, N.W.I. and torpedoes and damages U.S. tanker Arkansas as
she lies alongside Eagle Dock; a second torpedo misses the ship and runs up on
the beach. There are no casualties among the 37 man crew. The enemy does not
emerge from the action unscathed, however, for the explosion of a shell
prematurely in a gun barrel injures two men on board U-156, which will
receive permission to put in to Martinique (see 20-21 February).
ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker E.H. Blum blunders into
U.S. minefield off Cape Henry, Virginia, 36°57'N, 75°52'W and is damaged by
mine and breaks in half (see 17 February).
Coast Guard
cutter Calypso (WPG-104) rescues 42 survivors from Brazilian steamship Buarque,
that had been sunk by German submarine U-432 the day before (see 17
February).
PACIFIC—Japanese planes bomb U.S. Timor-bound convoy,
escorted by heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) and destroyer Peary (DD
226); U.S. Army transport Miegs and U.S. freighter Mauna Loa are
damaged by near-misses. On board the latter, one crewman is killed; of the 500
troops embarked, one is killed and 18 wounded. Houston's heavy
antiaircraft fire saves the convoy from destruction, but the imminent fall of
Timor results in the recall of the convoy and its routing back to Darwin (see
19 February).
US ARMY AIR FORCE
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US ARMY
CARIBBEAN—German
submarines attack Aruba Island., off coast of Venezuela.
LUZON—I Corps reduces salient in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE to
area 75 by 100 yards. In South Sector, enemy remnants from Silaiim Pt,
attempting to escape northward, are detected about 7 miles from the point and
destroyed in 2-day fight. In Manila Bay area, Japanese destroy section of
pipeline on Cavite shore through which Fort Frank on Carabao Island. received fresh
water. Distillation plant is put into operation at Fort Frank.
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Withdrawal of British personnel and
operational aircraft from Sumatra to Java is completed. Equipment is left behind
at Oesthaven. Allied convoy bound for Timor is recalled to Darwin because of
heavy attacks by Japanese planes.
US MARINE CORPS
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