World War II in real time

Day 881 of World War II, January 28th 1942

Eastern Front

Soviet Marshal Konstantin Timoshenko advances into the Ukraine. The Ukrainians are happy to see him, as the Germans have been practicing massacres.

South America

The Third Conference of Foreign Ministers of the (21) American Republics at Rio de Janeiro is concluded. Despite the efforts of Argentina and Chile, Pan-American unity is preserved; within days, all Latin American nations that had not already done so (except Argentina and Chile) sever ties with Germany, Italy, and Japan. Today, Brazil and Paraguay break diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy and Japan.

Battle of the Atlantic

"Sighted sub, sank same." During an antisubmarine sweep astern of convoy HX 172, the crew of a PBO-1 Hudson of USN Patrol Squadron Eighty Two (VP-82) based at NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, attacks a surfaced submarine off Cape Race, Newfoundland. Although the pilot (Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Donald F. Mason) reports "sighted sub, sank same," no U-boat is lost on this date.

Western Desert Campaign

Libya - Rommel’s improvised counteroffensive continues and Panzer Army Afrika rolls on towards Benghazi. Rommel’s thrust yesterday towards British command centre and supply dumps at Mechili (which was only a feint) causes Indian 4th Division at Benghazi to panic, believing the city will be cut off. Instead of striking South to meet the Panzer threat, they prepare to abandon Benghazi and Derna by withdrawing non-combat personnel and destroying port facilities.

Photo: A captured German 28mm sPzB 41 anti-tank gun



Pacific War

AUSTRALIA

The USAAF activates the first U.S. air transport unit in Australia. None of its original complement of 14 officers and 19 enlisted men had been trained for transport operations; they just happened to be available. The aircraft assigned to the unit are two old Douglas B-18 Bolo bombers, one Douglas C-39 (Model DC-2-243) transport which had been flown down from the Philippines and five new Douglas C-53 (Model DC-3A-405) transports recently arrived from the U.S. None of these aircraft has a cargo door, i.e., one wide enough to load and unload cargo other than humans.

BURMA

Pilots of the 1st and 2d Fighter Squadrons, "The Flying Tigers" shoot down six Nakajima "NATE" fighters over and near Mingaladon Airdrome, Rangoon, between 1150 and 1210 hours local.

LOUISADE ARCHIPELAGO

The Japanese land on Rossel Island, the easternmost island of this archipelago. The island is located about 490 miles ESE of Port Moresby, New Guinea, and 420 miles WSW of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, an ideal position to block shipping from either point. The Japanese immediately begin building an airfield.

MALAYA

East Force continues their unopposed withdrawal toward Singapore Island. The Japanese reach Benut and continue southward behind the Indian 11th Division. A gap develops between the two brigades of the Indian 9th Division withdrawing along the railroad and the 22d Brigade becomes isolated from the main body. In Singapore, Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, General Officer Commanding Malaya Command, summons his commanders and finds he has no reserves and only one of the island's 15-inch guns points northward.

Four USAAF Far East Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses from Java stage through Palembang Airdrome on Sumatra and attack Kuala Lumpur.

Only 21 of the 51 Hawker Hurricane fighters that arrived in Singapore on 13 January are still serviceable.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

USAAF Far East Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses based at Singosari Airdrome, Java, attack Kendari Airdrome on Celebes Island.

The RAAF begins evacuating the two flights of No. 13 Squadron, with its few remaining Lockheed Hudson bombers, from Laha Airdrome on Ambon Island.

The British carrier HMS Indomitable delivers 48 Hurricane fighters, destined for Singapore to Java.

PACIFIC

The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise becomes the first heavy ship to refuel at sea by night, doing so in the central Pacific at 2000 hours local from the oiler USS Platte, under blackout conditions. The successful evolution takes five hours.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

In the II Corps area on Bataan, the 41st Infantry, Philippine Army (PA), completes its movement into the Sector C line, taking up positions between 31st and 51st Divisions, PA, elements.

The Japanese renew their attack against the corps in the evening: some Japanese troops cross the Tiawir River in front of Sector D, where they are halted; others attempt to move forward in Sector C without success.

From the west coast, in the I Corps area, the Japanese move eastward along the corps' main line of resistance to the 1st Division, PA, sector, where defense preparations are not yet completed; during the night of the 28/29th, the Japanese breach the main line of resistance (MLR) there and pour southward through the gap. As the enemy force becomes divided in dense jungle, two pockets, called the Little Pocket and the Big Pocket, are formed, Little Pocket about 400 yards below the MLR and Big Pocket nearly a mile behind the MLR.

In the South Sector, Scouts of 2d Battalion, 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts (PS), attack Longoskawayan Point and advance two thirds of its length before artillery support is obstructed by Pucot Hill. The 3d Battalion of the 45th Infantry, PS, attacks the enemy beachhead at Quinauan Point, but jungle terrain and the enemy make progress slow and costly.

At night the 3d Battalion is reinforced by Company B of the 57th Infantry, PS. In the Anyasan-Silaiim sector, the ground echelon of the USAAF's 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) and Philippine Constabulary elements push almost to the coast of Anyasan Bay, but the Constabulary troops, fearing a counterattack, withdraws in confusion after dark.

Day 883 of World War II, January 30th 1942

YouTube (Fortress Singapore Stands Alone!)



Battle of the Atlantic

Operation Drumbeat - At 6.05 PM 100 miles East of Norfolk, Virginia, U-106 sinks American tanker SS Rochester (4 dead, 31 survivors rescued by US destroyer USS Roe).

45 miles East of Grimsby, England, German bombers heavily damage British minesweeping trawler HMS Loch Alsh which sinks while under tow.

Western Desert Campaign

Libya - Rommel's improvised advance and audacious tactics have sent British 1st Armored Division out of the central desert withdrawing toward Gazala and driven Indian 4th Infantry Division from Benghazi. Panzer Army Afrika pauses to resupply at Benghazi and Mechili.

Photo: "Western Desert, North Africa. Three Douglas Boston A-20 bomber aircraft of the Free French Air Force on patrol in the Middle East. These fast and easily handled American bombers have already proved their worth in desert warfare"



Battle of the Mediterranean

At 9.39 AM 6 miles West of the Greek island of Lefkada, British submarine HMS Thunderbolt attacks a convoy (German freighter Thessalia escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Solferino and Generale Carlo Montanari) with 3 torpedoes that all miss. Solferino drops 29 depth charges but HMS Thunderbolt escaped undamaged. At 2.10 PM, British submarine HMS Thorn sinks Italian submarine Medusa which is running on the surface near the Italian Naval base at Pola, Istria, in the far north of the Adriatic (57 killed, 1 survivor).

United States

The last pre-war automobiles produced by General Motors' Chevrolet Division and Chrysler's DeSoto Division roll off the assembly lines today.

California Governor Culbert Olson revokes the professional and business licenses of 5,000 Japanese, German and Italian aliens in California. The revocations mostly affect Japanese-Americans.

The Congress passes the Emergency Price Control Act which allows the Office of Price Administration (OPA) to place ceilings on prices and rents.

Pacific War

BURMA

The Japanese open a strong attack on Moulmein and seize the airdrome.

HAWAII

USAAF Hawaiian Air Force B-17's of Task Group 8.9 return to Hawaii, having completed a mission (began on 16 January 42) which afforded a pioneer look at the problem of air operations over vast Pacific areas, especially the problems of navigation and the servicing of aircraft.

MALAYA

The British withdrawal to Singapore Island reaches its final stage. East Force is the first unit to cross the causeway and is followed by the Indian 11th Division and West Force. West Force delays withdrawal as long as possible in a futile effort to recover the 22d Brigade of the Indian 9th Division. Remnants of this brigade are eventually ferried across the Strait of Singapore. It is decided to withdraw the Malaya Air Force to the Netherlands East Indies except for a single squadron).

At 1100 hours local, 27 Japanese naval land attack planes bomb Allied shipping at Keppel Harbor; the transport USS Wakefield (AP-21, ex-SS Manhattan), waiting to embark 400 British women and children being evacuated to Ceylon, is damaged by a bomb which kills 5 crewmen; three British transports are also hit. The transport USS West Point (AP-23, ex-SS America) is straddled and showered with fragments, but suffers no damage and provides medical assistance to the crew of USS Wakefield.

Both U.S. transports subsequently embark passengers that include dockyard workers from Singapore and their families, in addition to Royal Navy officers and enlisted men and a small RAF contingent. The ships will then proceed to Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies for additional evacuees, and thence on to Colombo, Ceylon, arriving there on 6 February.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

The Japanese invade 314 square mile Ambon Island which has the second largest naval base in the East Indies. The defenders include Dutch troop and the Australian 2/21 Battalion plus supporting troops. During the night of 30 January two Japanese landings are launched; the 1st Kure Special Landing Force lands at Hitu-Iama and the 228th Infantry lands on the southern coast of Laitimor. The defenders are at a disadvantage to contest the landings, only a few Dutch detachments were in the area. At Hitu-Iama on the north coast the defending infantry and machine-gun crews are quickly overwhelmed and bridges on the road leading to the town of Paso are left intact allowing the Japanese to speedily advance south across the Hitu Peninsula. Other landings occurred around Hutumori; the Japanese split westward to the town, and northward to Paso using captured Ambonese compelled to act as guides.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

In Sector C of II Corps on Bataan, efforts to dislodge the enemy from the Pilar River bridgehead fail and indecisive fighting continues along the main line of resistance (MLR). The I Corps makes slow progress against enemy pockets behind the MLR. While the 1st Division, Philippine Army (PA), attempts to reduce Little Pocket, elements of the 11th Infantry, PA, and 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts (PS), attack Big Pocket from the north and south, respectively. In the South Sector, the 3d Battalion of the 45th Infantry, PS, reinforced, continues to attack the Quinauan Point beachhead. The 2d Battalion of the same regiment, reinforced, supported by the 88th Field Artillery battery, PS, pushes slowly toward the mouth of the Silaiim River.

General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief US Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), takes control of all naval forces in the Philippines.

Day 885 of World War II, February 1st 1942

Eastern Front

The Soviet Army continues its powerful offensive throughout February but with diminishing success as German resistance stiffens with the arrival of reinforcements. Further efforts to break through to Leningrad and Sevastopol are futile, but some success is achieved in other sectors. Soviet forces in the Crimea are reinforced.

Map: Battle of Rzhev 1941



Battle of the Atlantic

British intelligence suffers its most serious setback of the war when the Germans change the Enigma code used by their U-Boats. The British won't break this code, called "Shark," for a year, giving the Germans a major advantage in the Battle of the Atlantic. To make matters worse, the Germans break the British merchant ship code and now the Germans know where the British are, instead of vice versa.

Western Desert Campaign

Libya - With British 1st Armored Division decimated and Indian troops retreating from the Benghazi bulge, General Ritchie orders the 8th Army to withdraw to the Gazala line to regroup.

German occupied Norway

Germans appoint a puppet government under Norwegian Nazi, Major Vidkun Quisling, whose name will become synonymous with traitor.

United States

The USAAF activates the VIII Bomber Command at Langley Field, Virginia; VIII Interceptor Command at Selfridge Field, Michigan; and the IX Interceptor Command at New Orleans AAB, Louisiana.

Pacific War

BURMA

Pilots of the American Volunteer Group shoot down 16 more Japanese planes.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

The ABDA"Combined Striking Force" is established with Rear Admiral Karel Doorman, Royal Netherlands Navy, in command. The force consists of two heavy cruisers, nine light cruisers and 24destroyers. In reality, five of the light cruisers and 14 of the destroyers are obsolete and not fit for modern naval warfare.

On Ambon Island, the Japanese capture 10 Australian soldiers and bayonet them to death. The Japanese commander says the POWs would be "a drag" on his advance.

MARSHALLS-GILBERTS RAIDS

USN Task Force Eight (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.), formed around the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, raids the Marshall Islands concentrating on Kwajalein and Wotje, with the heavy cruiser USS Chester bombarding Maleolap Atoll. At Kwajalein, SBD Dauntlesses of Bombing Squadron Six and Scouting Squadron Six and TBD Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Six from USS Enterprise sink a transport and damage the light cruiser HIJMS Katori, submarine I-23, a minelayer, an auxiliary netlayer, an auxiliary submarine chaser, a submarine depot ship, an oiler, a tanker, and an army cargo ship; in the bombing of shore installations, Rear Admiral Sukeyoshi Yatsushiro (Commander Sixth Base Force) becomes the first Imperial Navy flag officer to die in combat when an SBD scores a direct hit on his headquarters. Off Wotje, gunfire from heavy cruisers USS Northampton and USS Salt Lake City sink a gunboat while the destroyer USS Dunlap shells and sinks an auxiliary submarine chaser. Japanese retaliatory air attacks by six Mitsubishi G3M, "Nell" medium bombers of the Chitose Kokutai (Chitose Naval Air Corps) on TF-8 results in damage to USS Enterprise (near-miss of a crashing land attack plane) and heavy cruiser USS Chester (by bomb dropped by carrier fighter). Three SBDs are shot down over Roi Island by Mitsuibishi A5M, Navy Type 96 Carrier Fighters and one "Claude" is shot down by a VS-5 SBD gunner.

Photo: A SBD-2 Dauntless dive bomber of either VB-6 or VS-6 on the carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) prepares for takeoff during the 1 February 1942 Marshall Islands Raid



USN TF-17 (Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), formed around aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, raids the Gilbert Islands targeting enemy installations on Jaluit, Makin, and Mili. Aircraft from USS Yorktown cause less damage than the attacks on the Marshall Islands, due to a scarcity of targets at the objective; nevertheless, SBDs of VS-5 bomb and strafe a gunboat at Makin and destroy two Kawanishi H6K, "Mavis" flying boats at anchor, while SBDs of VB-5 bomb and strafe a cargo ship at Jaluit. Rear Admiral Fletcher detaches three of his four destroyers to look for downed TBD of VT-5 reported in the water astern of TF-17. During the search, a Japanese "Mavis" flying boat of the Yokohama Kokutai attacks (but does not damage) destroyer USS Sims. Soon thereafter, two F4F Wildcats of Fighting Squadron Forty Two splash the flying boat. The TBD crew, however, is never found in the prevailing poor weather.

Photo: BD dive bombers from the USS Yorktown (CV-5) over Makin Atoll during the February 1942 Marshalls-Gilberts raids. Aircraft in background is flown by flight leader LCDR Bill Burch. Aircraft in foreground is piloted by Ensign Thomas A. Reeves



TF-11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), formed around aircraft carrier USS Lexington supports the operations from the vicinity of Christmas Island in the Line Islands.

Photo: A U.S. Navy SOC Seagull floatplane flies over Wotje Atoll, during the attack on the Japanese airfield there by gunfire from USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) and USS Northampton (CA-26) and fighters from USS Enterprise (CV-6), 1 February 1942. The original picture caption identifies the burning facilities as an ammunition dump and two fuel dumps



Photo: The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) fires her after 8"/55 guns while bombarding a Japanese-held island in February 1942. This view has long been identified has a scene from the 24 February bombardment of Wake. However, it may have been taken on 1 February, during the bombardment of Wotje, in the Marshall Islands. Note the Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplane in the foreground, with the cruiser's after stack and aircraft crane immediately to the right



PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

On Bataan, the II Corps prepares to attack in Sector C to clear the enemy bridgehead from which Japanese continue to withdraw. I Corps continues its efforts to reduce pockets south of the main line of resistance with negligible success.

In the South Sector, Philippine Scouts renew the battle against the Quinauan Point beachhead but progress is still limited. Scout casualties by this time are estimated at 50 percent. Japanese reinforcements for Quinauan Point are spotted, during the night of 1-2 February and attacked by the remaining four P-40s of the USAAF FEAF, motor torpedo boats, and artillery and infantry weapons from shore. The Japanese are forced to land instead in the Anyasan-Silaiim area.

Map: Japanese landings on Bataan 23 January – 1 February 1942



SINGAPORE

The British defenders finally dig entrenchments, but because of the panic and retreat, there's no civilian labor. Daily air raids sap morale and impede work. After the daily attacks, Air Raid Precautions (ARP) trucks pick up bodies and dump them in communal graves. Aviation fuel is dumped instead of being used to set the Johore Straits afire. Singapore's defenses are being prepared at the last minute.

Day 887 of World War II, February 3rd 1942

Eastern Front

German forces of Heeresgruppe Mitte launch a counterattack at Vjasma, cutting off and encircling several Soviet divisions.

Battle of the Atlantic

A Panamanian freighter is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine 'U-103' approx. 15 miles south of Fenwick Island light located on the Delaware/Maryland border in the U.S.

Photo: "A Fairey Fulmar making a low-level attack on the stern of HMS VICTORIOUS after completing a turn of fighter patrol duty." This photo was taken aboard HMS Victorious while refueling near Iceland ca. 3 February 1942



Western Desert Campaign

Allied withdrawal from Rommel continues in Libya. British 1st Armored Division abandons Mechili in the desert and Indian 4th Division retreats from Derna on the coast.

United States

The major league baseball club owners hold a special meeting to discuss wartime regulations, they decide to allow 14 night games for each club, with the Washington Senators allowed 21. Two All-Star Games will be played, one with a military All-Star team. Curfews are set for night games with no inning to start after 0050 hours local.

Canada

The Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force is renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (Women's Division).

Pacific War

AUSTRALIA

Thirteen P-40s of the USAAF Far East Air Force's 20th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) depart Darwin, Northern Territory, for Java.

BURMA

Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek agrees to let the Chinese 5th Army take over the Toungoo front and the balance of the Chinese 6th Army is ordered to move into Burma. The Indian 48th Brigade is ordered to the zone of the Indian 17th Division, under which it is to fight.

Pilots of the 2d Fighter Squadron, "The Flying Tigers" shoot down a Japanese Army bomber over Toungoo Airdrome at 1600 hours local.

INDIAN OCEAN

Port T, a top secret British naval base on Addu Atoll, in the Indian Ocean, becomes operational.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

The Japanese begin preinvasion air attacks on Java. Japanese Navy aircraft from Kendari on Celebes Island attack Soerabaja, Madionen, and Malang. While returning to base, the crew of a Japanese aircraft reports the presence of Allied naval off Madoera.

At Singosari Airdrome, four fully loaded USAAF Far East Air Force B-17s are destroyed and a fifth B-17 is shot down. Three Royal Netherlands Navy Catalina flying boats are destroyed at Soerabaja and a FEAF B- 18 Bolo bringing radar technicians from Australia to Java is shot down with the loss of everyone aboard the aircraft. At the fighter base, Blimbing Airdrome, FEAF P-40s are unable to climb to altitude to intercept the bombers but they manage to shoot down two Japanese fighters and a bomber vs. one P-40 lost.

NEW GUINEA

Japanese aircraft bomb Port Moresby, New Guinea.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

On Bataan, the II Corps, finding the enemy bridgehead clear, advances the outpost line in that sector. I Corps continues to make little headway against enemy pockets in sectors of the 1st and 11th Divisions, Philippine Army. In the South Sector, Philippine Scouts and tanks are still unable to make much progress against the Quinauan Point beachhead. Progress is also limited in Anyasan-Silaiim sector although tanks of the U.S. 192d Tank Battalion and artillery assist the Scouts there.

The submarine USS Trout unloads 3,500 rounds of ammunition; refuels; loads two torpedoes, and requests additional ballast. Since neither sandbags nor sacks of concrete are available, she is given 20 tons of gold bars and silver pesos to be evacuated from the Philippines.

She also loads securities, mail, and State Department dispatches before submerging shortly before daybreak to wait at the bottom in Manila Bay until the return of darkness. She gets underway that night using the gold as ballast on the return voyage to Pearl Harbor.

Day 889 of World War II, February 5th 1942

Battle of the Atlantic

20 miles Southeast of Cape May, New Jersey, U-103 uses torpedoes and the deck gun to sink 2 large Mobil tankers (each carrying over 80,000 barrels of fuel); India Arrow at 1.53 AM (26 dead, 12 survivors picked up next day by 2 men out fishing in a 24-ft boat) and China Arrow at 6.08 PM (all 37 crew picked up from 3 lifeboats 3 days later by US Coast Guard cutter USS Nike).

At 10.36 PM 330 miles West of Ireland, U-136 sinks British corvette HMS Arbutus escorting convoy ON-63 (43 killed, 47 survivors).

Arctic naval operations

Soviet submarine Shch-421 sinks German steamer Konsul Schulte in the Porsanger Fjord, off Honningsvaag (Northernmost point of mainland Norway).

Western Desert Campaign

General Erwin Rommel's offensive is halted by the British at Gazala, just west of Tobruk. The British forces lose 40 tanks, 40 field guns and 1,400 troops. This was a disaster for the Allies in more ways than one; now the Allied convoys to Malta must pass between Axis occupied Crete and Axis airfields in Benghazi. The Axis forces are also in trouble; they have run to the end of their supply line, and his southern flank is hanging in mid-air, vulnerable to British raiders like the Special Air Service. Both sides gasp for breath in the intense desert heat. Rommel's engineers repair the damaged port of Benghazi, and motorize some units with captured British trucks (which are actually captured American lend-lease 2-1/2 ton trucks, which are very survivable). Another gain for Rommel is the recapture of Axis ammunition stocks in Benghazi, which had been left behind in the December retreat, and inactivated by removing their lighters. Now these stocks are made serviceable.

Pacific War

AUSTRALIA

The air echelon of the USAAF 5th Air Force's 91st Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), ceases operating from Brisbane, Queensland, with A-24 Dauntlesses and begins a movement to Malang, Java. The ground echelon is based on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

BURMA

General Archibald Wavell, Commander in Chief ABDA Command, again visits Burma and inspects the situation west of the Salween River opposite Moulmein.

MALAYA

In Malaya the Commonwealth army has retreated into Singapore and the causeway is breached by explosive demolition. Only 14 serviceable Hurricanes remain on the Island along with 6 or so Buffaloes all other aircraft have been pulled back to P1 P2 on Sumatra. Japanese recon reported over 50 aircraft at Palembang and an air strike was planed for the following day.

General Yamashita moves into the former Imperial Palace of the Sultan of Johore on the northern side of the causeway looking down on Singapore Island. The assault across the causeway was planed for the 9th of February.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

Twelve P-40s of the USAAF 5th Air Force's 20th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) are refueling at den Pasar Airdrome on Bali when the field is attacked by 20 Japanese aircraft. Four P-40s are destroyed on the ground and seven get airborne; the seven shoot down four Zero fighters while the Zero pilots shoot down four of the seven P-40s. Later in the day, the four surviving P-40's arrive at Blimbing Airdrome on Java and are merged with the 5th Air Force's 17th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional).

Japanese planes bomb Allied shipping off Soembawa Island; after destroyer USS Paul Jones is damaged by a near-miss, she then rescues survivors of a Dutch merchantman, which had run aground in an attempt to avoid Japanese bombs.

Offshore NEI - USS Houston and Dutch cruiser HNLMS Tromp arrived in Tjilatjap via the Lumbok Straits; Houston has 60 dead and 100 or so wounded and her aft 8 inch gun turret is destroyed after being hit by air attacks while patrolling north of Java. The cruiser USS Marblehead arrives in the same port just after midnight. She is so badly damaged that she returns to the US via India for repair. The remaining ships in the Strike Force ~ De Ruyter and a squadron of Dutch destroyers continues on to Batavia. HMAS Vampire leaves Batavia for East Indies Station, she escorts two ships of trade Melchior Treub (3,242 tons) and Ophir (4,115 tons) to Colombo, Vampire was the only ship from Admiral Phillip's Force Z to survive the campaign, although she did not survive the war.

The mine sweepers HMAS Ballarat and Toowomba rescue survivors of themerchant Loch Ranza (4,958 Tons) along with radar gear contained within that ships cargo manifest.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

On Bataan, the I Corps plans to attack with all available forces against enemy pockets. In the South Sector, the Japanese are driven to the edge of a cliff overlooking beaches at Quinauan Point. Little progress is made against the Japanese in the Anyasan-Silaiim sector.

Submarine USS Seadragon evacuates 21 Army and Navy personnel; 23 torpedoes; 4,000 pounds of submarine spares; and 3,000 pounds of radio equipment. The radio equipment and some of the Navy personnel are from the naval communications/ radio intelligence unit on Corregidor; they will set up facilities on Java.

SINGAPORE

The Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Asia (17,000 tons) was hit by incendiary bombs dropped by Japanese aircraft. The ships were moored off Sultan Shoal in Singapore Roads. The big liner was ablaze from bow to stern, HMAS Bendigo, Yarra and Woolongong pulled along side to take off survivors, while at the same time fighting off enemy aircraft. On board were troops of the British 18th Division, most of whom at been aboard ship for three months, after an odyssey that took the ship from the UK to Halifax, Nova Scotia, then back to the Pacific via South Africa.Yarra was taking troops off the stern while Bendigo worked her way to the bow, but due to the liners bow flare couldn't get close enough; the Australian sailors told the soldiers to jump, not realizing, that being "poms" most of the soldiers couldn't swim. The medical officer aboard Yarra commented that the surf life saving resuscitation skills acquired earlier in life by some members of the crew came in handy on this day. During this action Acting Leading Seaman Taylor the captain of No.2 gun aboard HMAS Yarra was Mentioned in Dispatches for keenness, courage and the example he set to all ratings. This was the first of two MIDs for Taylor. After the Yarra took the last two survivors, the Master and the Chief Engineer off the bow of the liner Yarra had on board no less than 1,804 survivors. Yarra's Captain stated "I was becoming a little dubious of the stability of HMAS Yarra, and on getting clear gave orders for all hands to sit."

Photo: The Empress of Asia on fire and gradually sinking after being attacked by Japanese dive-bomber aircraft en route from India to Singapore. To the extreme-right of the photograph, the Sultan Shoal Lighthouse can be seen



UNITED STATES

HQ USAAF redesignates the four named overseas air forces with an Arabic numeral: the Alaskan Air Force becomes the 11th Air Force; the Caribbean Air Force becomes the 6th Air Force; the Far East Air Force becomes the 5th Air Force; and the Hawaiian Air Force becomes the 7th Air Force.

Day 891 of World War II, February 7th 1942

Eastern Front

Siege of Leningrad Day 153 - Soviet offensive Northwest of Moscow to relieve Leningrad is also stalling out. Germans hold another salient South of Lake Ilmen, from their railhead at Staraya Russa to Demyansk. Soviet 11th Army, 34th Army, and 3rd Shock Army press in on the German defenses.

Soviet forces attack Rzhev, to the west of Moscow.

Photo: A Soviet Aerosan RF-8/GAZ-98 snowmobile in action, February 1942



Continuation War

The month-long battles at Maaselk Isthmus culminate today as the Finnish reinforced 19th Brigade (Col. Kai Savonjousi) finish destroying the encircled Soviet 367th Rifle Division in Krivi. The recapture of Krivi, which the Red Army had captured on the first day of their offensive on 1 Jan, brings the battles to close, and the front-line is back where it was before the Soviet offensive.The encircled Russians fought back furiously, and the last two days have been bloody. The final Finnish offensive starts at 3 am, and by 2.45 pm the pocket has been destroyed. Finns count 4000 Russian corpses from the battlefield, only 152 POWs are taken. Finnish losses are 121 killed or missing. During the last month, both sides have suffered heavy losses and are now very exhausted.

Air War over Europe

During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 32 Hampdens on a minelaying mission in the Frisian Islands; Luftwaffe fighters attack and three Hampdens are lost.

Germany

The Nazi armaments and munitions minister, Fritz Todt, returning to Berlin after talks with Hitler, is killed when his plane crashes on take-off. Albert Speer is appointed as Minister of Munitions in his place.

Western Desert Campaign

Libya - Panzer Army Afrika reaches the British defensive line running from Gazzala on the coast 30 miles inland to the fort at Bir Hacheim. Neither side has the resources and spirit to attack so here they will wait, recover and resupply. Despite losing many ships in recent months to German submarines and air attack, Royal Navy continues efforts to disrupt Rommel’s supply lines across the Mediterranean. British destroyers HMS Zulu and HMS Lively from Malta seek Italian merchant ships running to Libya but sink only trawler Grongo and tiny steamer Aosta (survivors rescued by Italian motor torpedo boats).

Photo: A12 infantry tank Mk II "Matilda" II comes ashore from a landing craft during combined operations training involving 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade at Ras Sudr in Egypt



United States

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9054 establishing the War Shipping Administration (WSA) to bring the control and operation of all U.S. merchant shipping under a single head. The WSA's most pressing task is to mobilize the shipping capacity of the country (the majority of which is still in private hands by the end of the year 1941) to bring it under single control so that vessels can be allocated more readily on the basis of overall shipping needs of the U.S. and the Allies.

The federal government orders passenger car production stopped and the automobile industry converted to wartime purposes. The government offers automakers guaranteed profits regardless of production costs throughout the war years. Furthermore, the Office of Production Management allocates US$11 billion to the construction of war manufacturing plants that would be sold to the automobile manufacturers at remarkable discounts after the war.

Pacific War

AUSTRALIA

The Japanese submarine I-25 launches a Yokosuka E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane to reconnoiter Sydney, New South Wales.

BORNEO

Nine USAAF 5th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses based at Singosari Airdrome on Java, attempt to bomb Japanese shipping at Balikpapan but are driven off by fighters.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

Four additional USAAF 5th Air Force P-40s arrive at Blimbing Airdrome on Java from Australia.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

On Bataan, the I Corps opens an all-out attack against enemy pockets and partially encircles both. The 1st Division, Philippine Army (PA) is employed against Little Pocket. The 92d Infantry of the 91st Division, PA, makes the main attack against Big Pocket from the west and is supported by elements of the 11th and 51st Divisions, PA.

In the South Sector, after the Philippine Scouts on the left flank come up against enemy positions in the Anyasan-Silaiim area and are brought to a halt, Filipino air corps troops and a Philippine Constabulary battalion are committed to form a continuous line from Silaiim Bay to Quinauan Point. The methodical destruction of Japanese remnants at Quinauan Point continues. A Japanese relief force attempting to evacuate troops from the southwestern coast is attacked by P-40s and shore guns and forced back to Olongapo.