Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Tuesday, 3 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Trout (SS-202) delivers ammunition to Corregidor, P.I., and removes gold, silver, securities and mail. She uses the gold as ballast on the return voyage to Pearl Harbor. 

           Japanese naval land attack planes (Takao Kokutai) bomb ABDA operating base at Surabaya; other naval land attack planes (1st Kokutai) bomb Malang, Java. These raids indicate for the first time that substantial Japanese air forces have been moved south. En route home from Malang, 1st Kokutai aircraft report presence of Allied naval force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) off Madoera (see 4 February).

ATLANTIC—Panamanian freighter San Gil is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-103 approximately 15 miles south of Fenwick Island light, 38°05'N, 74°40'W. Two crewmen perish in the attack; Coast Guard cutter Nike (WPC-112) rescues the 38 survivors.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—Bad weather from now until 18 Feb, along with effective interception by fighters, thwarts attempts of Heavy Bombers in Java to deliver damaging blows on shipping and airfields in NEI. B‑17’s strikes from Singosari against shipping at Balikpapan (8 Feb) and an airfield at Kendari (9 Feb) are repulsed by fighter attacks. B‑17’s on a shipping strike claim hits on a carrier near Sinjai.

US ARMY

LUZON—II Corps, finding enemy bridgehead clear, advances OPL in that sector. I Corps continues to make little headway against enemy pockets in sectors of 1st and 11th Divisions. In South Sector, Scouts and tanks are still unable to make much progress against Quinauan Pt beachhead. Progress is also limited in Anyasan–Silaiim sector although tanks of 192d Tank Battalion and artillery assist Scouts there.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese begin preinvasion air attacks on Java. From Kendari, Celebes, enemy aircraft strike hard at Soerabaja, Madionen, and Malang.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese begin bombing Port Moresby, garrisoned by small Australian force.

BURMA—Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek agrees to let Ch 5th Army take over Toungoo front. Balance of Ch 6th Army is ordered to move into Burma. Indian 48th Brigade is ordered to zone of Indian 17th Division, under which it is to fight.

US MARINE CORPS

 

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