PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARMY AIR CORPS MUSEUM! [MORE]
Ads help support our web operation, if you would like to turn them OFF for this visit;
2/1/42 VIII Bomber Command is activated at Langley Field in Virginia and VIII Interceptor Command is activated at Selfridge Field in Michigan.
2/1/42 P-40’s from Bataan Peninsula bomb and strafe landing barges off Quinauan Point on the western coast of the Bataan Peninsula. These strikes, in conjunction with US naval and field artillery fire, cause considerable damage and casualties but fail to prevent the Japanese landings which take place South of the point.
2/2/42 The VII Interceptor Command is activated in Hawaii, with General Davidson, commanding. General Hale commands VII Bomber Command.
2/5/42 In restructuring of the Far East, Caribbean, Hawaiian, and Alaskan Air Forces commands are re-designated Fifth Air Force (AF), Sixth AF, Seventh AF, and Eleventh
AF, respectively.
2/6/42 The US War Department (WD) announced the creation of US-British CCS in Washington. The Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) was the supreme military staff for the western Allies during World War II.
2/9/42 12 B-17‘s of the 7th Air Force are detached and released to CINCPAC (Commander In Chief, Pacific) for assignment to Navy Task Force (TF) 11 for operations in South Pacific.
2/9/42 Between the 9th and the 18th, heavy bombers (HBs) of the 5th Air Force in the Southwest Pacific fly at least 14 missions, but they result in claims of only 3 hits on Japanese shipping.
2/12/42 General Hap Arnold announces that 16 heavy bomber groups and 3 pursuit groups and 8th photo recon squadrons will be sent to the United Kingdom (UK) during 1942.
2/12/42 The Tenth Air Force is activated at Patterson Field in Ohio. The 10th AF would deploy overseas to the CBI (China Burma India).
2/14/42 A B-17 of the 7th Air Force, flies a photo recon mission of Wake Island.
2/15/42 In southeast Asia, Japanese forces on the Malay Peninsula capture Singapore.
2/15/42 In the United Kingdom (UK) Lieutenant Colonel Townsend Griffiss, aide to General Chaney, is killed when the aircraft on which he is a passenger is mistakenly shot down by RAF (British Royal Air Force) Polish fliers. He is first US airman to die in line of duty in Europe since the US entered World War II. The 8th Air Force base at Bushy Park is later named Camp Griffiss in his honor.
2/17/42 Colonel Harry A. Halverson becomes the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 10th Air Force.
2/17/42 Colonel Lionel H. Dunlap arrives in Alaska from the Zone of the Interior (ZI) and becomes Commanding Officer (CO) of the Eleventh Air Force.
2/19/42 Operating out of Malang, Madioen, and Jogjakarta, US A-24’s, with P-40 fighter/pursuit escort, and B-17‘s of the 5th Air Force attack vessels landing Japanese troops on Bali. The attacks, carried out during the afternoon of 19 Feb and throughout the morning of 20 Feb, cause considerable damage to vessels but fail to halt the landings. P-40’s shoot down or turn back several bombers sweeping west over Java. Japanese airplane attack Darwin, bombing vessels loaded with troops destined for defense of Koepang on Timor Island. 10 US P-40’s sent to Darwin to escort the convoy are almost entirely wiped out by the attack.
2/19/42 In the 7th Air Force, the VII Bomber Command is activated.
2/20/42 General Ira Eaker arrives in the UK with 6 staff officers forming the AAFIB, Army Air Force In Britain.
2/21/42 General Brett, Deputy Commanding General, ABDACOM, informs the War Department of his decision to evacuate Fifth AF and other US troops from the islands of Java. Fifth AF bombers at Java bases fly about 20 strikes, usually in 2-and 3-aircraft elements, against shipping in Java Sea and against targets on the island of Bali from this date through 1 March. 11 of these strikes are
complete failures; the remainder, although causing some damage to Japanese vessels and air force facilities, fail to deter the enemy’s invasion of Java.
2/23/42 Headquarters VIII Bomber Command (HQ VIII BC) of the 8th Air Force is established in the United Kingdom (UK) under the command of General Ira Eaker.
2/23/42 Fifth AF B-17’s fly their first mission against Rabaul. Operating out of Townsville, Australia, the force suffers mechanical trouble and runs into bad weather. Only 1 heavy bomber (HB) manages to bomb the target. General Brereton, 5th AF, Commanding General, departs for India after issuing order terminating HQ Fifth AF. Until 3 Sep 42, units of Fifth AF will be initially under control of ABDACOM and then Allied Air Force Southwest Pacific Area (AAF SWPA).
2/23/42 Japanese submarine I-17 fires 13 rounds of 5 1/2-inch shells from range of 2,500 yards at an oil refinery North of Santa Barbara on the California Coast. Pursuit and bomber aircraft sent to the area are unable to destroy the sub.
2/24/42 US Heavy Bomber units of the 5th Air Force begin evacuating bases on Java.
2/25/42 General James Chaney of (USAFBI) US Air Force British Isles, instructs General Eaker and staff of VIII Bomber Command to proceed to HQ, RAF BC (Headquarters, Royal Air Force Bomber Command) for study of bombing operations, and to make recommendations of certain A/Fs and submit plans for reception and assignment of US AAF
units.
2/27/42 Allied air units of the 5th Air Force fight the Battle of the Java Sea. They try to stop a Japanese convoy of some 80 ships approaching Java from the Northeast. All available B-17’s, A-24’s, P-40’s and LB-30’s are put into the air but achieve very few results. During this time most of the Fifth AF ground echelon in Java is evacuated by sea. The Sea Witch delivers 27 crated P-40’s to Tjilatjap, Java, but these will be destroyed to prevent their falling into Japanese hands. 32 P-40’s aboard the USS Langley, which sailed from Australia for India on 23 Feb, are lost when the Langley is sunk by aircraft 100 miles South of Tjilatjap. The pilots are rescued by other vessels in the convoy, but the Japanese sink these ships with the exception of a destroyer, which delivers 2 of the pilots to Perth, Australia.
Do you have WWII memorabilia that you are not sure what to do with it? The children don't want it? Then let us help you preserve this history by donating these items to the Army Air Corps Library and Museum. We are accepting donations in the form of uniforms, medals, ribbons, patches, photos, memorabilia, papers, gear and equipment. We also accept monetary donations to support our operations and long term plans. This website is part of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, and as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit, your qualifying donations are tax deductible.
Read about how we need your support and use donations.
Historical Artifacts: We are looking for photos, documents and other types of artifacts including uniforms, medals, insignia, gear, manuals, and training material. We accept electronic/scans or originals of pictures and paper records. A General Order could be an award document that contains information on many servicemen. Special Orders may contain transfers or other information. Flight records, accident reports, maintenance logs, after action reports, pilot encounter reports, diaries and biorgraphies; all of these types of documents help us support or mission: preserving your history! Contact us today for instructions on sending us this material. Contact Today
Are you an AAC, AAF or USAF Veteran, family member, historian or WW2 enthusiast? We Need YOU! Contact us today to see how you can help the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a Texas Not-For-Profit Corporation. We need your help! We are looking for volunteers that can help us with the following tasks. Typing and Transcriptionists: One of our big projects is extracting data from the thousands of documents we have and putting this data into a database where we can display the information on a website such as this one. We also need assistance with retyping unit history documents.
