December 16, 1941
World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

Monday, 16 December 1941

FEAF: At 5:50am P-40E Warhawk pilot 1st Lieutenant Boyd D. Wagner and P-40E Warhawk pilot 1st Lt. Russel M. Church of the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) armed with six 30 pound fragmentation bombs each took off from Clark Field on on a mission to attack Japanese forces at Vigan Airfield and Vigan where 29 Japanese fighters were spotted the previous day and after winning a coin toss to fly the mission. Escorting the pair was P-40E Warhawk pilot Allison Strauss who flew top cover for the pair at 15,000'. Arriving over the target, the P-40s encountered intense anti-aircraft fire as Wagner made a dive bombing attack against a Japanese ship off Vigan and claimed several hits. Meanwhile, Church dive attempted to bomb parked planes at Vigan Airfield but was hit by anti-aircraft fire that hit nose and causing it to catch fire. Over the radio, Wagner ordered him to turn back and bail out but instead he continued his attack releasing his bombs among parked planes and soon after making his attack then exploded and crashed. Afterwards, both Wagner and Strauss made a single strafing pass over Vigan Airfield. While starting a second run, a single Ki-27 Nate managed to take off and Wagner spotted it, flipped over while near the ground, throttled back then shot it down as his fifth aerial victory claim, thereby becoming the first U.S. Army Air Force "ace" of World War II.

Malaya: Indian 11th Div completes withdrawal behind Muda R in Wellesley Province and defeats enemy efforts to secure foothold on S bank. Ind 3 Corps decides to withdraw Ind 11th Div behind Krian R. however, since it is greatly weakened by sustained fighting without benefit of tank and adequate air support. Fighting develops on Grik road N of Grik, night 16-17, as small detachment guarding the road encounters main body of Japanese Patani force thrusting toward Kuala Kangsar in effort to isolate Ind 11th Div on W coast. On E coast, Kelantan troops begin withdrawal by rail as movement of supplies and equipment is completed. Penang I. fortress is evacuated as planned during night 16-17.

Borneo: Japanese invade British Borneo, landing on the north coast at Miri in Sarawak and at Seria in Brunei.

China: U.S. War Department gives Brig Gen John Magruder, head of American Military Mission to China (AMMISCA), permission to divert Chinese lend-lease to the British, provided Chinese agree.

USN: Task Force 14 (TF 14) under the command of Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher with USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Astoria (CA-34), and USS Tangier (AV-8), oiler USS Neches (AO-5) escorted by four destroyers with a Marine expeditionary force which including elements of the 4th Defense Battalion and presonnel from Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) and supplies departs Pearl Harbor rendezvous southwest of Oahu then depart bound for Wake Island.

IJN: Battleship Yamato 大和 meaning "Great Harmony" and as a poetic name for Japan is commissioned in Kure.

In the early morning, Japanese submarine I-7 roughly 26 miles west of Kailua surfaces and launches her Watanabe E9W1 "Slim" floatplane piloted by CPO Kaga Mitsunobu with observer, FPO2C Okamoto on a reconnaissance flight over Pearl Harbor. They observe four battleship and an aircraft carrier off East Loch. They also counts five cruisers and 30 smaller vessels including three destroyers south of Ford Island. At 9:45am they land next to I-7, swim aboard and the floatplane is scuttled and the submarin dives and departs.

The returning Pearl Harbor Attack Force under the command of Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi detaches carriers Hiryū and Sōryū, heavy cruisers Tone and Chikuma, and two destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki reinforce the second planned attack on Wake Island.

Japanese bombers from Chitose Kōkūtai (Chitose Air Group) bomb Wake Island.

Submarine Tambor (SS-198), damaged by operational casualty, retires from the waters off Wake Island.

Submarine Swordfish (SS-193), attacking Japanese convoy south of Hainan Island, torpedoes army transport Atsutasan Maru, 18°06'N, 109°44'E.

Gunboat Erie (PG-50) boards Panamanian motor vessel Santa Margarita and orders her to proceed to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Later the same day, the gunboat tows disabled motor boat Orion into Puntarenas.

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?