January 11, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 11 JANUARY 1942

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Far East Air Force): Seven B-17s took off from Singosari Airfield on a bombing mission against Japanese transports off Tarakan Island but due to bad weather only three reached the target but failed to cause any damge. Damaged is B-17D "Swoose" 40-3097.

Malaya: A lull develops in ground action as Ind 3 Corps continues withdrawal into Johore, but enemy planes remain active and begin series of strikes against Muar.

NEI: Japan declares war on the Netherlands to coincide with attacks against the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Japanese forces invade NEI at two locaitons. Central assault force, with air support from Jolo lands at rich oil center of Tarakan, off E coast of Dutch Borneo, while E assault force from Davao, Mindanao, invades Celebes at Menado and Kema. Naval paratroop force is dropped on airfield just south of Menado. Allied planes are unable to halt enemy, and the small Dutch garrisons are quickly overwhelmed. Japanese soon put Tarakan and Menado into use as air bases from which to support operations to the south.

U.S. Army: On Luzon in II Corps area, Japanese advancing down east coast of Bataan drive back OPL of 57th Inf (PS), cross Calaguiman R, and after nightfall begin assault on MLR, forcing 57th Inf to fall back a little. Fighting continues throughout night 11-12. Reserves are committed and 57th Inf counterattacks, regaining most of lost ground by dawn of 12th. To W, another enemy column shifts W in sector of 41st Div (PA) and is contained by that div. Advance elements of still another column, pushing slowly S in central Bataan toward 51st Div (PA), reach, Orani R by morning.

U.S. Navy: USS Saratoga while operating at sea 500 miles southwest of Oahu, was hit by a submarine torpedo and forced to retire for repairs. Patrol Squadron 22, with PBY-5 Catalinas, joins Patrol Wing 10 (PatWing 10) at Ambon, the first aviation reinforcements from the Central Pacific to reach southwest Pacific Forces opposing the Japanese advance through the Netherlands East Indies (NEI).

USAT Liberty is damaged by torpedoes fired by Japanese submarine I-166 roughly 10 miles southwest of Lombok Strait and was taken under tow then beached at Tulamben on the northeastern coast of Bali Island.

IJN: Japanese submarine I-20 shells Pago Pago.