Wednesday, 4 March 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 16.5 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.) raids Marcus Island; SBDs (VB 6, VS 6) from carrier Enterprise (CV-6) bomb Japanese installations there.

            Operation K: two Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Yokosuka Kokutai), refueled by submarines I-15 and I-19 at French Frigate Shoals, bomb Oahu, T.H., but cause no damage (see 10 March).

            Submarine Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes and sinks Japanese tanker No.2 Kaijo Maru 145 miles south of Truk,00°56'N, 149°31'E.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) torpedoes and sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taki Maru off Amami O Shima, south of Kyushu, 28°37'N, 129°10'E.

            Submarine S-39 (SS-144) torpedoes and sinks Japanese oiler Erimo south of Billiton Island, 04°19'S, 108°25'E.

            Submarine Sargo (SS-188), while approaching Fremantle, Australia, is mistakenly attacked and damaged by an RAAF Hudson.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SEVENTH AF—A lone Japanese aircraft attempts to attack Honolulu but drops its bombs short of the city. Overcast conditions prevent successful pursuit by Seventh AF airplanes.

US ARMY

HAWAII—2 Japanese planes drop total of 4 bombs near Punch Bowl crater, Oahu. No damage.

MARCUS ISLAND—U.S. planes from carrier Enterprise make surprise attack on island just before dawn, achieving satisfactory results.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General MacArthur is reorganizing his forces in the Philippines in preparation for his departure. Composite Visayan-Mindanao Force is divided into 2 commands. General Sharp retains command of forces on Mindanao; the Visayan forces are placed under Brigadier General Bradford G. Chynoweth. MacArthur’s plans envisage the formation of 2 more commands. Maj General George F. Moore’s harbor defense forces on Corregidor and other islands in Manila Bay will constitute one, the forces on Luzon the other.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Dutch continue fighting on Java and report that destruction of principal installations has been completed.

CHINA—General Stilwell establishes HQ, American Army Forces, China, Burma, and India, at Chungking, using his U.S. Task Force in China and AMMISCA personnel as a nucleus. General Magruder’s directive is altered to place AMMISCA personnel at disposal of General Stilwell.

US MARINE CORPS

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