February 4, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
WEDNESDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 1942
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Headquarters (HQ), 9th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), and 88th Reconnaissance Squadron begin a movement from Brisbane to Karachi. The 9th is operating from Jogjakarta with B-17's; the 88th is operating from Hickam Field with
B-17's.
ABDA: Battle of Makassar Strait (Battle of the Flores Sea, Action off Madura Strait) American, British, Dutch, Australian Flotilla (ABDAFLOAT) warships are bombed by Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) land based bombers with two cruisers damaged.
Australian Army / IJA: Four separate massacres of prisoners occurred at Tol and Waitavalo. In total, 141 Australian Army soliders from "Lark Force" that retreated from Rabaul across New Britain were captured and executed with the majority massacred at Tol Plantation.
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