Wednesday, 11 March 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur and Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell depart Luzon, with their respective staffs, in motor torpedo boats PT-32, PT-34, PT-35, and PT-41, bound for Mindanao. For his role in the evacuation, as well as other operations in the Philippines since the start of hostilities, Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley, Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, will receive the Medal of Honor (see 13 March).

            Submarine Pollack (SS-180), operating in the East China Sea about 270 miles east of Shanghai, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Fukushu Maru, 30°53'N, 126°20'E and passenger-cargo ship Baikal Maru, 31°00'N, 126°32'E.

            U.S. passenger ship Mount McKinley is stranded off Unimak Island, Aleutians; wrecked subsequently by heavy seas, the ship will be written off as a total loss.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Texan is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-126 about 40 miles east of Nuevitas, Cuba, 21°32'N, 76°24'W; Cuban fishing boat Yoyo rescues survivors.

            Unarmed U.S. freighter Caribsea is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-158 about 14 miles east of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, 34°40'N, 76°10'W; U.S. freighter Norlindo rescues survivors.

            Coastal minesweeper AMc-202, at 40°32'N, 71°40'W, rescues seven survivors from Brazilian steamship Cairo, sunk by German submarine U-94 on 9 March, and transports them to New London, Connecticut.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General MacArthur and his family and staff embark from Corregidor in 4 PT boats for Mindanao.

BURMA—Burma Army regroups in preparation for defense of upper Burma. In Irrawaddy Valley, Indian 17th Division is disposed in Tharrawaddy area. In Sittang Valley, Burma 1st Division, after successful diversionary attacks against Shwegyin and Madauk, E of Nyaunglebin, withdraws, except for 13th Brigade, to positions N of Kanyutkwin. General Stilwell is placed in command of Chinese 5th and 6th Armies. Chinese 6th Army is holding Shan States. Chinese 5th Army, except for 200th Division disposed in Toungoo area, is to concentrate at Mandalay. 

MALTA—Military garrison is placed under command of CinC MEF. Naval and RAF garrisons are under command of CinC Mediterranean and Air Officer Commanding in Chief, respectively. Lt General Sir William Dobbie, Governor of Malta, remains commander in chief.

US MARINE CORPS

Gen MacArthur leaves Philippines for Australia.