Thursday, 12 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Destroyer Whipple (DD-217) is damaged in collision with Dutch light cruiser De Ruyter, Prigi Bay, Java.

           USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese shipping off Surumi, damaging transport Kozui Maru and merchant cargo vessel Kinryu Maru.

           Auxiliary [survey vessel] Sumner (AG 32) completes survey work of Bora Bora, Society Islands and publishes Hydrographic Office Field Chart No.1 for those waters.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Dixie Sword founders and sinks in Nantucket Sound, 41°35'N, 69°59'W.

           British freighter Raby Castle comes across lifeboat from torpedoed U.S. tanker W.L. Steed (sunk by German submarine U-103 on 2 February) and rescues the one survivor she finds; sadly, he will die on board on 15 February, of exposure.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES—General Arnold indicate that 16 Heavy Bomber groups, 3 Pursuit groups, and 8 photoreconnaissance squadrons will be sent to UK during 1942.

TENTH AF—Activated at Patterson Field.

EIGHTH AF—General Duncan, CG, requests that his force, inadequate for its intended mission under GYMNAST, be strengthened by several bomb and pursuit groups. This move, if carried out, would require diversion of units originally intended for other task forces.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Tenth Air Force is activated at Patterson Field, Ohio, and assigned to General Stilwell.

LUZON—I Corps regains important trail junction unopposed. In South Sector, Japanese try desperately to escape from Silaiim Pt; break through Philippine line, but are overtaken as they push N toward Silaiim River and are forced steadily toward the sea:

SINGAPORE—Japanese attack strongly at several points and make further gains. During night 12–13, beach defense forces on E and SE coasts are withdrawn to strengthen defense perimeter around town of Singapore. Supply situation is deteriorating rapidly.

MEDITERRANEAN—3 supply ships leave Alexandria (Egypt) for Malta, but all are lost to enemy before reaching destination.

ENGLISH CHANNEL—German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen proceed from Brest up English Channel under attack by RAF and air arm of Royal Navy.

US MARINE CORPS

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