February 3, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 1942

China: Six Ki-30s of the 31st Sentai escorted by 24 Ki-27s of the 77th Sentai raided Toungoo and claimed damage to two aircraft on the ground. Indeed one Blenheim of 113 Squadron was riddled with bomb splinters and a Burma Volunteer Air Force Tiger Moth which had just landed, tipped up onto it nose in its haste to get away again immediately the attack ended. The pilot had attempted taking off without the wheel chocks having been removed. To meet the raid two Buffaloes had been scrambled, but made no contact. At least one 2nd AVG Squadron P-40 pilot Bob Keeton took off in such a hurry that he failed to take his helmet and oxygen mask. Nonetheless, he climbed to 20,000 feet, where he lost consciousness due to oxygen starvation, his aircraft then falling away. As he recovered, he saw below him a Japanese bomber at which he fired, but observed no result. Apparently a member of the AVG ground crew reported seeing a bomber crash in flames near the airfield and this was credited to Keeton; this was the AVG's 100th official victory. In fact, there are no Japanese losses.

Burma: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek agrees to let Chinese 5th Army take over Toungoo front. Balance of Chinese 6th Army is ordered to move into Burma. Ind 48th Brig is ordered to zone of Ind 17th Div, under which it is to fight.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: Bad weather from now until February 18, 1942 along with effective interception by fighters, thwarts attempts of heavy bombers in Java to deliver damaging blows on shipping and airfields in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). B-17's from Singosari bomb shipping off Balikpapan. Lost is B-18 Bolo 36-338 pilot Lt. Col Austin A. Straubel (KIA).

RAAF: Five Catalinas bomb Japanese ships in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Cruisers and transports were observed and attacked with a possible direct hit and several near misses claimed on one large vessel northwest of Dawapia Rocks (The Beehives). Damaged are Catalina A24-3 and Catalina A24-5.

IJN: Between 3:00am to 3:30am six Japanese flying boats bomb Port Moresby. Although no great damage was inflicted with one man killed on the ground. This bombing raid sets the stage for the future of Port Moresby. One man is KIA. Over Rabaul, newly arrived A5M4 Claudes from the Chitose Kokutai fly continuous Combat Air Patrols (CAP) and intecept the flying boats operating in tandem with searchlight crews on the ground.

IJN: Japanese planes from Kendari begin air attacks on Soerabaja, Madionen, and Malang on Java. Japanese naval land attack planes from Takao Kokutai bomb Surabaya; other naval land attack planes from 1st Kokutai bomb Malang and returning report Allied naval force off Madoera. These raids indicate for the first time that substantial Japanese air forces have been moved south. Japanese aircraft bomb Morokrembangan Seaplane Base. The air raid destroys Do 24K-1 X-6, Do 24K-1 X-30, Do 24K-1 X-31 and Do 24K-2 X-37.

A6M2 Zeros including Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) took off from Kendari Airfield on a fighter sweep over Surabaya and Malang on Java.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, II Corps, finding enemy bridgehead clear, advances OPL in that sector. I Corps continues to make little headway against enemy pockets in sectors of 1st and 11th Divs. In South Sector, Scouts and tanks are still unable to make much progress against Quinauan Pt beachhead. Progress is also limited in Anyasan-Silaiim sector although tanks of 192d Tank Bn and arty assist Scouts there.

U.S. Navy: USS Trout (SS-202) arrives Corregidor to delivers ammunition and is loaded with 20 tons of gold bars and silver pesos from banks in the Philippines plus mail and dispatches overnight.