December 15, 1941
World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

Monday, 15 December 1941

USN: Admiral Ernest J. King is offered and accepts the post of Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet. Patrol Wing 8 (PatWing 8) transferred from NAS Norfolk to NAS Alameda for duty on the west coast.

British Army: In Malaya, Ind 3 Corps remains under strong pressure on west coast. During night 15-16, Ind 11th Div begins withdrawal from Gurun positions to Muda R. Garrison of Penang Island fortress, opposite Butterworth, prepares to withdraw.

RAF: Abandons Butterworth Airfield.

RNZAF: Lost on a training flight is Hudson NZ2007 (KIA).

RAAF: Hudson piloted by F/Lt Erwin from No. 24 Squadron made a photographic reconnaissance over Kapingamarangi Atoll. A merchant ship between 4,000 and 5,000 tons which put to sea as the Hudson flew over and which opened fire with light anti-aircraft guns without harming the Hudson or the crew, was the only vessel of size sighted. There were 19 barges, two lighters and a launch lying off shore and te enemy had built two slipways on the beach. The merchant ship appeared to be making its best speed on a northerly cours. An obvious target for attack, it was selected for the first combat strike in the area. Later that day, a flight of three Hudsons piloted by Erwin, F/Lt Murphy and Paterson from No. 24 Squadron found the ship 20 miles to the north of Kapingamarangi Atoll and bombed it without obtaining a direct hit; one 'near miss' was observed. The ship replied with light and ineffectual anti-aircraft fire. When northern area HQ received the report of this operation, the reaction was sharply critical. Two days later, a letter to the squadron complained that the bombing mission two days earlier had been wasted effort and described the bombing attack as "lamentable".

IJN: Japanese flying boats from Yokohama Kōkūtai (Yokohama Air Group) bomb Wake Island.

Before sunset, I-75 surfaces and fires 16 shells at Kahului Harbor on Maui. Ashore, the Maui Pineapple Cannery is hit by two shells, causing damage estimated at $654.38.

At 6:10pm Japanese submarine I-22 surfaces and shells Johnson Island and destroys a 1,200-gallon oil tank. In the path of the gunfire is USS William Ward Burrows (AP-6) apparently unseen by the submarine with one shell landing astern and another passes over her forecastle the ship is not hit and escapes without damage.

Philippines: General Lewis H. Brereton receives permission to withdraw the remaining B-17's southward to Darwin. Air defense of the Philippines is limited to a few fightes only. Philippine steamship Vizcaya is scuttled in Manila Bay.

USMC: Task Force 14, (TF 14) under the command of Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher carrying a Marine expeditionary force which included elements of the 4th Defense Battalion and Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) departs Pearl Harbor aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Astoria (CA-34), and USS Tangier (AV-8), USS Neches (AO-5) and four destroyers bound for Wake Atoll.

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