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Singapore: Allied personnel are withdrawn from Tebrau Airfield near the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula to Singapore.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