February 15, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 1942

British Army: The British Army on Singapore under the command of Lieutenant General Arthur Percival at the Ford Factory officially surrenders Singapore to the Japanese Army under the command of General Tomoyuki Yamashita. Afterwards, roughly 80,000 British, Indian, Australian and Malayan soldiers on Singapore became Prisoners Of War (POW) the largest British led surrender in the history of the British Empire. They join roughly 50,000 Allied POWs cpatured earlier during the Malayan Campaign. Prime Minister Winston Churchill calls the fall of Singapore to the Japanese "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history".

Singapore: Malayan campaign ends with surrender of Singapore, the west anchor of Malay Barrier, to Japanese. Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) 25th Army under the command of General Tomoyuki Yamashita at the Ford Factory accepts the surrender of the British Army under the command of Lieutenant General Arthur Percival at the Ford Factory on Singapore. At nightfall, more than 64,000 Allied tropps including British, Indian and Australian unconditionally surrender.

NEI: Japanese Army paratroops secure vital oil refineries at Palembang on Sumatra. The Japanese now establishes sea and air control of the Karimata Channel and Gaspar Strait. Japanese invasion fleet enters river mouth near Palembang on Sumatra and unloads troops despite repeated and costly attacks by Allied planes from Palembang II Airfield. Dutch and RAF personnel withdraw from Palembang, where demolition of refineries is only partially completed. Br personnel holding landing grounds in central and northern Sumatra are ordered to the west coast for withdrawal.

U.S. Army transport Meigs, U.S. freighters Mauna Loa and Portmar, and Australian coaster Tulagi, escorted by heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30), destroyer Peary (DD-226) and Australian corvettes HMAS Swan and HMAS Warrego sails from Darwin, Australia, for Timor (see 16 and 19 February).

Having proceeded through Gaspar Strait to the north of Banka and failed to contact the Japanese force (which has already reached Banka Strait), ABDA striking force under Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN is attacked by Japanese naval land attack planes (Genzan, Mihoro, and Kanoya Kokutais) as well as carrier attack planes from carrier Ryujo. Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart is straddled, while near misses damage destroyers USS Barker (DD-213) and USS Bulmer (DD-222), which will need to retire to Australia for repairs.

Philippines: At Santo Thomas University three detainees attempt to escape but all three were captured and shot.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, in II Corps area, Japanese attack in limited strength to ease pressure against troops withdrawing northward from I Corps sector. I Corps continues to make steady progress against salient in MLR.