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

THURSDAY, 12 MARCH 1942

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): Ten P-40 Warhawks arrive by ship from Australia to Karachi and are reassembled at Karachi Airfield. Arriving at Karachi Airfield are: HQ 7th Bombardment Group and 88th Reconnaissance Squadron from Australia; the air echelon of the 88th RS remains at Townsville with B-17's; 88th Bombardment Squadron will be redesignated 436th Bombardment Squadron on April 22, 1942. Their last mission from Australia is March 14, 1942; first mission is CBI is 4 June; and 16th and 25th Pursuit Squadrons, 51st Pursuit Group, from the US with P-40's; first mission is in July 1942.

South Pacific: U.S. forces arrive on New Caledonia and begin expansion of Tontouta Airfield into a major air base to support operations.