January 19, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 19 JANUARY 1942

China: Early in the morning, six of 113 Squadron’s newly-returned Blenheims flew down to Tavoy, escorted by two P- 40s and two Buffaloes, to evacuate 30 RAF ground staff cut off there by the Japanese advance. Squadron Leader Duggan Smith, who was leading, had been briefed to land only if a white cross could be seen on the airfield, signifying that it was still in friendly hands. No such indication was seen and, over the airfield, they encountered a number of 31st Sentai Ki-30s, escorted by seven Ki-27s of the 77th Sentai, on their way to attack the airfield in support of advancing Japanese troops. The Ki-27s engaged and Squadron Leader Duggan Smith’s aircraft (Z7630/A) was hit in the tailplane, and had the pilot’s hatch and radio aerial shot away. However all the Blenheims managed to evade their attackers by using cloud cover, and returned safely. The escort - now down to one P-40 and the two Buffaloes - became involved in dogfights, the AVG pilot, Frank Lawlor, reporting being chased "all over the sky" by six Ki-27s. Sergeant Sadler, in one of the Buffaloes, attacked one Ki-27 which easily evaded him and got on his own tail. The New Zealander gained cloud cover before any damage had been inflicted. The Blenheim crews reported that the escort had shot down one of the attackers, and Lawlor may have made a claim, but this does not appear to have been credited to him. The Japanese pilots suffered no losses and claimed three shot down, two by Captain Kaoru Kakimi of the HQ chutai, and one by Sergeant Major Shibata of the 2nd chutai. Before the day was out the Burma Rifies had given up Tavoy to the invaders.

Malaya: Bitter fighting continues in Muar-Yong Peng area. 53d Brig of Br 18th Div, under command of Ind 11th Div, takes responsibility for strategic positions W of Yong Peng--a defile and bridge--but loses them. Muar force (Ind 45th Brig and 2 Aus bns), now isolated, is ordered to withdraw.

Burma: -Japanese seize Tavoy and Tavoy Airfield. Because of this, it is decided to withdraw the Mergui garrison by sea to Rangoon immediately, although Mergui has not yet been attacked. Balance of the Chinese 93d Div (6th Army) is ordered to move into Burma.

Borneo: British North Borneo is surrendered to Japanese at Sandakan.

American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers": In the morning three P-40 pilots from 2nd Squadron: Howard, Petach and Layher claimed a single-engined reconnaissance aircraft identified as an ‘Army 98’, which they engaged over Mesoht airfield. However, no Japanese loss has been found which might relate to this.

CENTRAL PACIFIC (Hawaiian Air Force): B-17's of Task Group 8.9 fly antisubmarine mission from Canton.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Far East Air Force): B-17's, flying out of Malang attack shipping off Jolo. The air echelon of the 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Singosari to Jogjakarta with B-17's. The ground echelon is in Brisbane, Australia. The air echelons of the 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfer from Singosari to Jogjakarta with B-17s, their ground echelons transfer from Brisbane to Jogjakarta.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, II Corps continues efforts to regain positions along Balantay R on W flank, 45th Inf (-) (PS) reaching river in region between 31st Inf (U.S.) and 41st Div (PA). 31st Inf, however, is under increasingly strong pressure. Enemy column driving down Abo-Abo R valley reaches positions near Guitol and is engaged by 31st Div and elements of 21st Div (PA). I Corps restores OPL in counterattack but is forced to abandon it after nightfall. Elements of 92d Inf (PA) are sent to block enemy infiltrators from Mt Silanganan, on corps E flank.

USN: PT-67 is assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 4 (MTBS 4) at Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center, Melville, RI.

PT-31 in the early morning, abandoned and scuttled by puncturing the fuel tanks then used hand grenades that caused a fire and explosions on reef north of Mayagao Point on Bataan.

IJA: Japanese forces occupy Sandakan on northeast Borneo.

Rabual: After unloading war cargo, MS Herstein is moved to the Burns, Philp & Company wharf and begins loading dried copra.