February 11, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 1942

Singapore: Japanese gain further ground on Singapore and air drop appeals for the garrison to surrender.

Burma: Additional enemy forces cross Salween in Paan area and engulf bn of Ind 46th Brig.

RAAF: Three Hudsons: Hudson A16-91 pilot W/Cdr John M. Lerew, Hudson A16-103 pilot Sq Ldr William A. "Pedro" Pedrina and Hudson A16-126 pilot F/O Graham Ian Gibson and bomb and sank two transports at Gasmata Harbor. This was the first low level mast height attack on Japanese shipping in the New Guinea campaign. The Hudsons are intercepted by A6M4 Claudes from Chitose Kōkūtai (Chitose Air Group) led by Ensign Satoshi Yoshino who claims two shot down. Lost are Hudson A16-91 pilot W/Cdr John M. Lerew (survived, 3 MIA) and Hudson A16-126 pilot F/O Graham Ian Gibson (MIA).

IJN: RAAF Hudsons bomb and damaged Kozui Maru and Kinryu Maru in Gasmata Harbor. Four A5M4 Claudes from Chitose Kōkūtai (Chitose Air Group) led by Ensign Satoshi Yoshino intercept Hudsons over Gasmata with Ensign Satoshi Yoshino claiming two shot down.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, I Corps makes substantial progress against Big Pocket, but enemy succeeds in withdrawing through gap on N side. In South Sector, Japanese fall back to Silaiim Point, between Silaiim and Anyasan Rivers, under pressure.

U.S. Navy: USS Shark SS-174 is sunk off Menado likely by destroyer Yamakaze spotted a surfaced submarine and opens fire with her 127mm guns and machine guns and claimed it as sunk. Shark was the first U.S. submarine sunk by Japanese anti-submarine efforts.