US NAVY
ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker Esso Nashville is
torpedoed by German submarine U-124 off Frying Pan Lightship
Buoy,33°35'N, 77°22'W. High speed transport McKean (APD 5) rescues eight
survivors from two lifeboats; Coast Guard cutters Tallapoosa (WPG-52)
and Agassiz (WPC-126) recover the rest (21 men and 8 men, respectively).
After Esso Nashville breaks in two, tug Umpqua (AT-25) tows the
after end of the vessel to Morehead City, North Carolina. Later, U-124 torpedoes
tanker Atlantic Sun off Beaufort (North Carolina) Lightship, but
inflicts little damage; there are no casualties among the 40 man merchant
complement or the 5 man Armed Guard and Atlantic Sun reaches Beaufort without
further incident.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
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US ARMY
PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General
Wainwright, as commander of U.S. Forces in the Philippines (USFIP), which
supersedes USAFFE, establishes HQ on Corregidor and appoints General Beebe his
chief of staff. Maj General Edward P. King, Jr., is to be commander of Luzon Force.
AUSTRALIA—Lt General George H. Brett, U.S. Army, becomes
commander of combined air forces, retaining command of USAFIA.
CHINA BURMA INDIA—Assam-Burma-China Ferry Command is activated.
It consists of 25 Pan-American transports, which are soon diverted from mission
of taking supplies to China in order to supply forces withdrawing from Burma.
BURMA—Burma 1st Division, upon being relieved on Toungoo
front by 200th Division, Chinese 5th Army, begins movement to Irrawaddy front,
leaving large area S of Toungoo undefended. General Stilwell, now in Burma,
issues orders for Chinese participation in defense of line Toungoo–Prome.
Chinese 5th Army is charged with defense of Toungoo. Its 200th Division is reinforced
by attachment of Temporary 55th Division (T-55th) of Chinese 6th Army, which is
to move to Pyawbwe. In army reserve, Chinese 22d Division is directed to
Taungdwingyi, where it is to be prepared to assist British in Prome area while
Chinese 96th Division is to move to Mandalay. Crippling enemy air attack on
Magwe airdrome reduces the already meager air force defending Burma.
LIBYA—British Eighth Army continues raids on forward
landing grounds of Axis forces as diversion for convoy to Malta. Raids are
partially successful, drawing off part of enemy’s aircraft, but convoy is unable
to reach Malta intact and later suffers additional damage under air attack
while unloading.
US MARINE CORPS
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