January 2, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 2 JANUARY 1942

IJA: Japanese Army occupies Manila and Cavite.

U.S. Army: The Pentagon receives a depressing radio message from the Philippines: "Manila, Cavite lost; MacArthur fights on, holding Corregidor."

USN: The first organized lighter-than-air units of World War II, Airship Patrol Group 1, Commander George H. Mills commanding, and Airship Squadron 12, Lieutenant Commander Raymond F. Tyler commanding was established at NAS Lakehurst.

USAAF: Assigned to Project "X" delivery of aircraft to the Philippines but will be deverted to Australia including A-24 Dive Bomber (U.S. Army version of the SBD Dauntless) are A-24 41-15783, A-24 41-15797, A-24 41-15798, A-24 41-15819, A-24 41-15820, A-24 41-15822, A-24 A-24 41-15???, A-24 41-15???, A-24 41-15??.