1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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to let Ch 5th Army take over Toungoo front. Balance
of Ch 6th Army is ordered to move into
Burma. Ind 48th Brig is ordered to zone of Ind
17th Div, under which it is to fight.
4 February
P.I.—USAFFE takes direct control of Panay and
Mindoro garrisons, which were previously part of
Visayan–Mindoro Force, established early in
January under command of Brig Gen William F.
Sharp.
LUZON—II Corps front is relatively quiet. In
I Corps area, Japanese in Big Pocket repel still
another tank-infantry attack. In South Sector, Scouts
and tanks continue attack against Quinauan Pt and
this time succeed in compressing enemy into small
area at tip. In Anyasan–Silaiim sector, tank-infantry
attacks against enemy still make slow progress.
MADOERA STRAIT—U.S.–Dutch naval force of 4
cruisers and. 7 DD’s, under command of Rear Adm
Karel W. Doorman of Royal Netherlands Navy,
sets out to attack enemy shipping off Balikpapan but
is detected and attacked by enemy planes in Madoera
Strait and abandons mission. USS Houston and
USS Marblehead are damaged in the action.
NEI—Small Aus garrison of Ambon I. (largely
2/21 Bn) surrenders to Japanese.
LIBYA—13 Corps, Br Eighth Army, completes
withdrawal to line Gazala–Bir Hacheim and is fortifying
it. Axis forces hold line Tmimi–Mechili. Lull
ensues until summer during which both sides conduct
harassing operations and prepare to renew offensive.
British gradually relieve battle-weary forces
with fresh troops as they become available.
5 February
U.S.—Caribbean Air Force is redesignated Sixth
Air Force; Pacific Air Command becomes Seventh
Air Force; Alaskan Air Force is redesignated
Eleventh Air Force.
LUZON—I Corps plans to attack with all available
forces against enemy pockets. In South Sector,
Japanese are driven to edge of cliff overlooking
beaches at Quinauan Pt. Little progress is made
against enemy in Anyasan–Silaiim sector.
SINGAPORE—Convoy bringing final elements of
Br 18th Div and some Ind reinforcements arrives.
Slowest ship of the convoy, Empress of Asia, is sunk
by enemy planes before reaching destination.
Japanese air attacks on docks at Singapore prevent
other ships of the convoy from unloading some of
their cargo.
BURMA—Gen Wavell again visits Burma and
inspects situation W of the Salween opposite
Moulmein.
[ 5–8 FEBRUARY 1942 ]
6 February
U.S.—Naval Coastal Frontiers are redesignated
Sea Frontiers.
LUZON—In I Corps area, Japanese receive reinforcements
and attack late in day to relieve pockets.
While some elements increase pressure against 1st
and 11th Philippine Divs, others drive toward Big
Pocket until stopped by 11th Div 800 yards from
objective. Small salient in corps MLR is thus formed
and called Upper Pocket. In Manila Bay area, Japanese
arty, emplaced along S shore of Manila Bay in
vicinity of Ternate, begins daily bombardment of
fortified islands. Forts Drum and Frank receive
main weight of shells.
NEI—Japanese now hold Samarinda, on E coast
of Dutch Borneo.
7 February
PACIFIC—ANZAC Force is placed under command
of Vice Adm Herbert F. Leary, USN.
LUZON—I Corps opens all-out attack, under
command of CG, Left Sector, against enemy pockets
and partially encircles both. 1st Div is employed
against Little Pocket. 92d Inf of 91st Div (PA)
makes main attack against Big Pocket from W and
is supported by elements of 11th, Philippine, and
51st Divs. In South Sector, after Scouts on left
flank come up against enemy positions in Anyasan–
Silaiim area and are brought to a halt, Filipino air
corps troops and Constabulary bn are committed to
form continuous line from Silaiim Bay to Quinauan
Pt. Methodical destruction of enemy remnants at
Quinauan Pt continues. Japanese relief force attempting
to evacuate troops from SW coast is attacked
by P–40’s and shore guns and forced back to
Olongapo.
8 February
MIDWAY—Bombarded by Japanese submarine.
LUZON—Lt Gen Masaharu Homma orders general
withdrawal northward to more favorable positions
where troops can be rested and reorganized
while awaiting reinforcements for final assault on
Bataan. I Corps continues battle to destroy Little
and Big Pockets and completely encircles latter.
Japanese escape from Little Pocket through small
gap on E during night 8–9. In South Sector, resistance
on Quinauan Pt ends after small naval craft
from Mariveles neutralize beaches, then land party
of 21st Pursuit Sq, which works inland and meets
Scouts pushing toward beaches. Co of 57th Inf and
platoon of 37-mm. guns are released at Quinauan for
action against enemy in Anyasan–Silaiim sector.
Japanese make final attempt to withdraw forces from
SW coast by water and succeed in rescuing 34.
SINGAPORE—Japanese intensify bombardment
and about 2045 begin landing in force on NW coast;