January 27, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 27 JANUARY 1942

CENTRAL PACIFIC (Hawaiian Air Force): B-17's of Task Group 8.9 (TG 8.9) return to Canton.

FEAF: At 7:50am six B-17s including three from the 19th BG and three from the 7th BG led by Major Robinson took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) on a bombing mission against Japanese shipping off Balikpapan. Inbound to the target, B-17E 41-2466 aborts due to bad weather and returned. At 12:50pm the five remaining B-17s make their first bomb run at 5,000' and damage two damages two F1M2 Petes aboard Sanuki Maru. At 1:09pm the B-17s make their second bomb run. The B-17s claim two F1M2 Petes shot down, a transport sunk and hits on a cruiser [sic Sanuki Maru]. In fact, they only cause damage and two near misses off the port side of the Sanuki Maru that damages two F1M2 Petes aboard and cause damage and flooding.

General Lewis H. Brereton was relieved as commanding general of USAFIA and reverted to his prior position as commander of Far East Air Force (FEAF) and the same day left Singosari Airfield (Malang).

Singapore: Allied personnel are withdrawn from Tebrau Airfield near the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula to Singapore.

New Guinea: L-14-H2 "R. M. A. Carmania" VH-ADS was damaged at Wau Airfield, damaged when a truck backed up into the propeller and damaged the engine crankcase.

U.S. Army: On Luzon in the II Corps area, Japanese begin assault against MLR in afternoon. After feint down East Road, main attack is made against Sectors C and D. Sector C is thinly manned and in the process of being reinf by 41st Inf from Sector D. Japanese force the outposts back and get small advance group across Pilar River. In I Corps area, enemy renews efforts to break through MLR on west coast and is again brought to a halt by 91st Div (PA). In South Sector, Gen Wainwright sends 3d Bn of 45th Inf to Quinauan Pt and 2d Bn of 57th Inf (PS) to Longoskawayan Pt to dislodge or destroy enemy along SW coast. Meanwhile, after preparatory fire from all available guns is conducted against Longoskawayan Pt, infantry attacks but is unable to clear it. Scouts of 2d Bn, 57th Inf, relieve naval bn there during night 27-28. Japanese are contained but cannot be cleared from Quinauan Pt. Waterborne reinforcements for this position land short of objective, between Anyasan and Silaiim Rivers, before dawn and put beach defenders, 1st Bn of 1st Philippine Constabulary, to flight. 17th Pursuit Sq, from reserve, and 2d Bn of 2d Philippine Constabulary, from MLR to north, move against Japanese but are halted about 1,000 yards.

USMC: Elements of the 4th Marine Regiment participate in an attack to contain Japanese on Longoskawayan Point on the Bataan Peninsula.