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.

USN: 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).

USN: 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/IJA: Japan declares war on the Netherlands to coincide with attacks against the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Japanese forces land at at Tarakan, Borneo and Celebes.