February 24, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 1942

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Heavy bomber units begin evacuating Java.

USN: First Wake Island Raid a striking force under the command of Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey composed of USS Enterprise (CV-6) with a cruiser and destroyer screen attacked Wake and Marcus. In the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), lost is PBY Catalina 28-5MNE (MIA) over Makassar Strait.

IJN: G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M2 Zeros from 4th Kōkūtai (4th Air Group) bomb 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. Destroyed on the ground is Hudson A16-167 and a Gannet transport.

RAAF: Three flyingboats: Catalina A24-2, Catalinas A24-17 and Catalinas A24-13 took off from Port Moresby Flying Boat Base on a bombing mission against Rabaul. Lost is Catalina A24-13 (MIA).