February 9, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 1942

UK: Pacific War Council, composed of representatives from United Kingom, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, and New Zealand, is formed in London.

China: As the battle on the ground raged around Moulmein and Ann, the 8th Sentai twice attack British troops in the latter area, under cover of 50th Sentai Ki-27s, while three Blenheims escorted by four 135 Squadron Hurricanes and six AVG-escorted Lysanders attacked Japanese troops in the same area, before Moulmein finally fell to the invaders.

Singapore: Although reinforcements are sent to western area from other sectors on Singapore, Japanese reach Tengah Airfield. In evening, additional enemy land in area just west of the causeway. Gen Percival orders garrison to defend the south part of Singapore, where Singapore town, Kalang Airfield, the reservoirs, and supply depots are located. Far East War Council meets for the last time.

ALASKA: 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group transfers from Elmendorf Field to Fort Greeley on Kodiak with B-18's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA - 12 B-17's are detached and released to Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) for assignment to Task Force (TF) 11 for operations in the S Pacific.

NEI: Japanese Navy Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (Sasebo SNLF) capture Makassar without opposition as the Dutch garrison of roughly 1,000 troops under the command of Colonel M. Vooren attempted to withdraw inland but were captured.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: Between February 9–18, heavy bombers fly at lesst 14 missions, but they result in claims of only 3 hits on shipping. B-17s attack Kendari Airfield but are repulsed by fighter attacks. B-17's on a shipping strike claim hits on a carrier near Sinjai on Sumatra.

FEAF: P-40B Warhawks escort a Boeing Stearman Model 75 biplane pilot Jesús A. Villamor to take photographs over Ternate. Lost is P-40E Warhawk pilot Stone (MIA).

U.S. Army: On Luzon, in I Corps area, Japanese remnants from Little Pocket are destroyed while seeking to escape. 1st Div is now free to join in battle against Big Pocket, which is being compressed and from which Japanese are trying to escape. In South Sector, 2d Bn of 57th (PS) replaces 3d Bn in center of line in Anyasan-Silaiim region and makes limited progress against enemy.

IJN: A Japanese submarine I-69 sufaces and shells Sand Island in Midway Atoll. The submarine was spotted by US Marine F2A Buffalos, strafed, and damaged, but managed to escape.

At 2:50am Kinryu Maru and Kozui Maru enter Thilenius Harbor (Gasmata Harbor) off Gasmata. By 3:35am their troops are loaded aboard Daihatsu landing craft that conduct an amphibious landing without resistance No. 2 Maizuru Special Naval Landing Force (No. 2 Maizuru SNLF) plus airfield engineers from the 8th Base Force that occupy Gasmata and Gasmata Airfield. Afterwards, both ships remain anchored in Gasmata Harbor.

JAAF: Lost are Ki-27 Nate pilot Kurosawa (KIA). Ki-27 Nate pilot Kanamaru force lands at Pilar Airfield and was later destroyed by U.S. artillery fire.

NEI: Japanese planes bomb Batavia, Surabaya, and Malang, Java.

U.S. Navy: Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Chief of the Maritime Commission, is appointed Director of the War Shipping Administration (WSA) and is responsible only to the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Admiral William H. Standley, USN (Ret.) former Chief of Naval Operations (1935-1937) is named U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union.

Twelve USAAF B-17s are released to Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet for operational control; they will cover the advance of TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.) into the South Pacific.

Transport USS St. Mihiel (AP-32) is damaged by grounding off MacNamara Point, Alaska.

Submarine Trout (SS-202) torpedoes and sinks Japanese gunboat Chuwa Maru 53 miles off Keelung, Formosa, 25°30'N, 122°38'E.

Japanese carrier Kaga is damaged when she runs aground on an uncharted reef in Palau.

Japanese transport Kurama Maru is torpedoed and sunk at roughly Lat 28°25'N Long 122°03'N.

Japanese destroyer Natsushio torpedoed by submarine S-37 (SS-142) off Makassar the previous day, sinks.

USMC: The first formal meeting of the JCS was attended by General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, USA; Lieutenant General Henry H. Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Corps; Admiral Stark, CNO; and Admiral King, CominCh.