1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 2–7 MARCH 1942 ]
Germans are unable to relieve isolated II Corps,
Sixteenth Army, SE of Staraya Russa, but succeed
in withdrawing salient SW of Kaluga; contain
Soviet attacks on southern front, which are extended
to region E of Kharkov.
2 March
NEI—Japanese gain further ground in Java,
where Dutch are continuing to resist; claim capture
of Batavia, from which NEI Government has been
forced to move to Bandoeng. Many ships are
scuttled off Java to prevent them from falling into
enemy hands.
NEW GUINEA—Japanese begin heavy air strikes
on New Guinea in preparation for invasion of Huon
Gulf area.
BURMA—Japanese continue to infiltrate westward
between Burma 1st and Ind 17th Divs and
are swinging SW on Rangoon, bypassing Pegu.
3 March
NEI—Dutch continue losing battle for Java
against superior enemy forces.
AUSTRALIA—Japanese planes strike hard at
Broome, where refugees from Java are concentrated,
destroying many planes on ground and in water.
BURMA—Fighting continues in Waw-Pyinbon
area, NE of Pegu. 63d Brig Gp arrives at Rangoon.
4 March
HAWAII—2 Japanese planes drop total of 4
bombs near Punch Bowl crater, Oahu. No damage.
MARCUS I.—U.S. planes from carrier Enterprise
make surprise attack on island just before dawn,
achieving satisfactory results.
P.I.—Gen MacArthur is reorganizing his forces
in the Philippines in preparation for his departure.
Composite Visayan-Mindanao Force is divided into
2 commands. Gen Sharp retains command of forces
on Mindanao; the Visayan forces are placed under
Brig Gen Bradford G. Chynoweth. MacArthur’s
plans envisage the formation of 2 more commands.
Maj Gen George F. Moore’s harbor defense forces
on Corregidor and other islands in Manila Bay will
constitute one, the forces on Luzon the other.
NEI—Dutch continue fighting on Java and
report that destruction of principal installations has
been completed.
CHINA—Gen Stilwell establishes Hq, American
Army Forces, China, Burma, and India, at Chungking,
using his U.S. Task Force in China and
AMMISCA personnel as a nucleus. Gen Magruder’s
directive is altered to place AMMISCA personnel
at disposal of Gen Stilwell.
[ 27 ]
5 March
NEI—Dutch continue a losing battle for Java.
Batavia is reported evacuated.
NEW BRITAIN—Japanese convoy bound for
Huon Gulf, New Guinea, sails from Rabaul, New
Britain, during night 5–6.
INDIA—Gen Breton takes command of U.S.
Tenth Air Force, which is at this time extremely
small, with hq at New Delhi.
BURMA—Lt Gen Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander
arrives at Rangoon to take command of
Burma Army. Gen Hutton remains as Chief of
General Staff. Gen Alexander at once begins offensive
to close gap between Burma 1st and Ind 17th
Divs. Japanese attack Pegu from W and succeed
in entering the town.
USSR—Moscow announces recapture by Red
Army of Yukhnov, NW of Kaluga, on central front.
6 March
AUSTRALIA—U.S. TF sails for New Caledonia.
CHINA—Gen Stilwell confers for the first time
with Chiang Kai-shek in Chungking.
BURMA—Newly arrived 63d Brig, under command
of Ind 17th Div, makes futile effort to clear
block on Rangoon–Pegu road and relieve Pegu
garrison, which is isolated. Gen Alexander orders
Rangoon evacuated since situation in lower Burma
is deteriorating rapidly; denial program is to be put
into effect at midnight 6–7.
7 March
NEI—Japanese conquest of Java is virtually
completed. Radio and cable communications with
Bandoeng cease. Final reports indicate that enemy is
still advancing on all fronts, that the defenders are
completely exhausted, and that all Allied fighter
planes have been destroyed.
NEW GUINEA—Japanese convoy arrives in Huon
Gulf during night 7–8 and under cover of naval
bombardment lands assault forces at Salamaua and
Lae without opposition.
NEW CALEDONIA—Maj Gen Alexander M.
Patch, commander-designate of New Caledonia Task
Force, arrives.
BURMA—Burma Army evacuates Rangoon,
moving along Prome road except for demolition
forces, which are removed by sea. Loss of Rangoon
seriously handicaps supply and reinforcement of
Burma Army, which must now depend on air for
this. Withdrawal from Rangoon is halted at Taukkyan
by enemy roadblock. Bypassed force in Pegu
is ordered to withdraw.