December 26, 1941
World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

Friday, 26 December 1941

China: The "Tulsa Incident" concludes with conciliatory meeting between Chiang Kai-shek and Gen Magruder during which it is agreed to send an AMMISCA officer to Rangoon.

Malaya: Ipoh is evacuated by Ind 11th Div troops, but Ind 12th Brig Gp fights rear-guard action at Chemor, to north.

IJA: Japanese soldiers occupy Rosales.

U.S. Army: General Douglas MacArthur declares Manila an "open city" in the hopes of saving the city from being bombed and civilian casualties. North Luzon Force, except for 194th Tank Bn, falls back from the Agno to line Santa Ignacia-Guimba-San Jose. South Luzon Force continues to withdraw in two columns and organizes their first line of defense of Sariaya.

USN: Naval defense forces under Adm Rockwell move to Corregidor.

USMC: Marines from the battalion at Cavite move to Corregidor.

IJN: Six A6M2 Zeros from the 3rd Kokutai took off from Davao Airfield to strike Lake Tondano Seaplane Base (MVK Kalkas). During the attack, five flying boats were sunk including: Do-24K X-11, Do-24K X-12, Do-24K X-25 of GVT 2 and Do-24K X-26 of GVT 5 plus S-43B Baby Clipper PK-AFT.

Japanese naval land attack planes from Takao Kōkūtai (Takao Air Group) and 1st Kōkūtai (1st Air Group) bomb shipping in Manila Bay. Destroyer USS Peary (DD-226) is damaged by near-misses.

Motor torpedo boat PT-33, damaged by grounding on December 24, 1941 is burned to prevent capture five miles northwest of Cape Santiago on Luzon at roughly 13°46'N, 120°40'E.

Dutch Army planes bomb and sink Japanese minesweeper W-6 and collier No. 2 Unyo Maru off Kuching on Sarawak, 01°34'N, 110°21'E.

Japanese destroyer Murasame and minesweeper W-20 are damaged by marine casualties off Takao on Formosa.

Seaplane tender USS Tangier (AV-8) lands reinforcements on Midway.

USMC: Battery "B," 4th Defense Battalion and ground echelon of VMF-221 and additional equipment including radar arrive on Midway.

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