Monday, 9 February 1942

US NAVY 

GENERAL—Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Chief of the Maritime Commission, is appointed Director of the War Shipping Administration. As WSA director, he is responsible only to the President.

           Admiral William H. Standley, USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations (1935-1937), is named Ambassador to the USSR.

PACIFIC—Twelve USAAF B-17s are released to Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet for operational control; they will cover the advance of TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.) into the South Pacific.

           Transport St. Mihiel (AP-32) is damaged by grounding off MacNamara Point, Alaska.

           Submarine Trout (SS-202) torpedoes and sinks Japanese gunboat Chuwa Maru 53 miles off Keelung, Formosa,25°30'N, 122°38'E.

           Japanese carrier Kaga is damaged when she runs aground on an uncharted reef, Palau, Palau Islands.

           Japanese transport Kurama Maru is torpedoed and sunk, agent unknown, 28°25'N, 122°03'N.

           Japanese destroyer Natsushio, torpedoed by submarine S-37 (SS-142) off Makassar the previous day, sinks.

           Japanese planes bomb Batavia, Surabaya, and Malang, Java.

           Japanese troops land on Singapore Island.

ATLANTIC—Transport Lafayette (AP-53) (ex-French liner Normandie) burns at New York pier and capsizes at her berth.

           Destroyer Roe (DD-418), at approximately 36°24'N, 74°34'W, rescues 14 survivors from British freighter Ocean Venture, sunk the previous day by German submarine U-108.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SEVENTH AF—12 B‑17’s are detached and released to CINCPAC for assignment to TF 11 for operations in S Pacific.

FIFTH AF—Between this day and 18 Feb, Heavy Bombers fly at least 14 missions, but they result in claims of only 3 hits on shipping.

US ARMY

LUZON—In I Corps area, Japanese remnants from Little Pocket are destroyed while seeking to escape. 1st Division is now free to join in battle against Big Pocket, which is being compressed and from which Japanese are trying to escape. In South Sector, 2d Battalion of 57th (PS) replaces 3d Battalion in center of line in Anyasan–Silaiim region and makes limited progress against enemy.

SINGAPORE—Although reinforcements are sent to W Area from other sectors, Japanese reach Tengah airfield. In evening, additional enemy land in area just W of causeway. General Percival orders garrison to defend S part of the island, where Singapore town, Kalang airdrome, the reservoirs, and supply depots are located. Far East War Council meets for the last time.

UNITED KINGDOM—Pacific War Council, composed of representatives from Great Britain, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, and New Zealand, is formed in London.

US MARINE CORPS

Japanese land at Singapore