February 12, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 1942

USA: Tenth Air Force is activated at Patterson Field, Ohio and assigned to General Stilwell.

Singapore: Japanese attack strongly at several points and make further gains. During night 12-13, beach defense forces on E and SE coasts are withdrawn to strengthen defense perimeter around town of Singapore. Supply situation is deteriorating rapidly.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Air echelon of the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Nandi Airport on Fiji from Hawaii with B-17's. The ground echelon is enroute from Australia to India. B-17s bomb Japanese shipping off Surumi, damaging transport Kozui Maru and merchant cargo vessel Kinryu Maru.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, I Corps regains important trail junction unopposed. In South Sector, Japanese try desperately to escape from Silaiim Pt; break through Philippine line, but are overtaken as they push N toward Silaiim R and are forced steadily toward the sea.

U.S. Navy: Destroyer USS Whipple (DD-217) is damaged in collision with Dutch light cruiser Hr. Ms. De Ruyter in Prigi Bay on Java.

Auxiliary [survey vessel] Sumner (AG 32) completes survey work of Bora Bora and publishes Hydrographic Office Field Chart No.1 for those waters.

New Guinea: Avro 618 Ten "Faith in Australia" VH-UXX took off from Port Moresby with passenger Mr. Norman Roberts Wilde, Guinea Airways, company director (aviation) on an evacuation flight to Cairns Airfield.