February 10, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 1942

Singapore: Generak Wavell visits Singapore and orders the island held and all remaining RAF personnel withdrawn to NEI. Japanese deepen penetration to supply depot area. AIF Malaya, which is further reinf in W Area, falls back to line Kranji-Jurong, partially prepared switch line position; is later forced from this line.

Burma: 46th Brig, Ind 17th Div, which has recently relieved Ind 16th Brig along the Salween in Martaban area, begins fighting withdrawal from Martaban toward Thaton, since Japanese have bypassed Martaban.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (7th Air Force): 12th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 50th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), arrives on Christmas Island from the US with P-39s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Air echelon of the 88th Reconnaisssance Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), begins a movement from Hickam Field to Fiji with B-17's. The ground echelon is enroute from Australia to India. Three LB-30s from 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG) took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) and bomb and damage Japanese seaplane carrier Chitose in Makassar Strait south of Celebes.

NEI: Japanese continue occupation of Borneo and Celebes.

MLD: Do 24-1 X-29 force landed and sank with three crew missing off Java.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, I Corps is rapidly reducing Big Pocket. South Sector forces are compressing Japanese in Anyasan-Silaiim area.

Australia: DH.83 Fox Moth "Irene" VH-UUS departs New Guina for Australia.

Pacific: U.S. detachment arrives on Chirstimas Island.

USMC: The 2d Joint Training Force, commanded by Major General Clayton B. V ogel, was redesignated the Amphibious Force. U.S. Pacific Fleet.