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02/01/42
Eighth AF
VIII BC is activated at Langley Field and VIII IC at Selfridge Field.
02/01/42
FEAF
P-40's from Bataan bomb and strafe landing barges off Quinauan Point
during 1/2 Feb. These strikes, in conjunction with naval and field
arty fire, cause considerable damage and casualties but fail to
prevent the landings which take place S of the point, although the
attempt to reinforce troops already on the point is thwarted.
02/02/42
Hawaiian AF
VII IC is activated in Hawaii, with Gen Davidson as cmdr. Gen Hale
cmds VII BC.
02/03/42
FEAF
Bad weather from now until 18 Feb, along with effective interception
by ftrs, thwarts attempts of HBs in Java to deliver damaging blows on
shipping and A/Fs in NEI. B-17's strikes from Singosari against
shipping at Balikpapan (8 Feb) and an A/F at Kendari (9 Feb) are
repulsed by ftr attacks. B-17's on a shipping strike claim hits on a
carrier near Sinjai.
02/05/42
AAF
Far East, Caribbean, Hawaiian, and Alaskan AFs are redesignated
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eleventh AFs, respectively.
02/06/42
CCS
WD announces creation of US-British CCS in Washington.
02/09/42
Seventh AF
12 B-17's are detached and released to CINCPAC for assignment to TF
11 for operations in S Pacific.
02/09/42
Fifth AF
Between this day and 18 Feb, HBs fly at least 14 missions, but they
result in claims of only 3 hits on shipping.
02/12/42
AAF
Gen Arnold indicate that 16 HB gps, 3 Pur gps, and 8 photorcn sqs
will be sent to UK during 1942.
02/12/42
Tenth AF
Activated at Patterson Field.
02/12/42
Eighth AF
Gen Duncan, CG, requests that his force, inadequate for its intended
mission under GYMNAST, be strengthened by several bomb and pur gps.
This move, if carried out, would require diversion of units
originally intended for other task forces.
02/14/42
Seventh AF
A B-17 flies photo rcn of Wake I."
02/15/42
SE Asia
Japanese forces on Malay Peninsula capture Singapore.
02/15/42
UK
Lt Col Townsend Griffiss, aide to Gen Chaney, is killed when the
aircraft on which he is a passenger is mistakenly shot down by RAF
Polish fliers. He is first US airman to die in line of duty in Europe
since the US entered World War II. Eighth AF base at Bushy Park is
later named Camp Griffiss in his honor.
02/17/42
Tenth AF
Col Harry A Halverson becomes CO."
02/17/42
Eleventh AF
Colonel Lionel H Dunlap arrives from ZI and becomes CO of the
Eleventh.
02/19/42
Fifth AF
Operating out of Malang, Madioen, and Jogjakarta, A-24's, with P-40
escort, and B-17's attack vessel landing 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 bmrs weeping W over
Java. Japanese airplane attack Darwin, bombing vessels loaded with
troops destined for defense of Koepang on Timor I. 10 P-40's sent to
Darwin to escort the convoy are almost entirely wiped out by the
attack.
02/19/42
Seventh AF
VII AFBC is activated.
02/20/42
AAFIB
Gen Eaker arrives in UK with 6 staff officers.
02/21/42
Fifth AF
Gen Brett, Dep CG ABDACOM, informs WD of his decision to evacuate
Fifth AF and other US troops from Java. Fifth AF bmrs at Java bases
fly about 20 strikes, usually in 2-and 3-aircraft elements, against
shipping in Java Sea and against tgts on Bali from this date through
1 Mar. 11 strikes are complete failures; the remainder, although
causing some damage to vessels and A/F facilities, fail to deter the
invasion of Java.
02/23/42
Eighth AF
HQ VIII BC established in UK Gen Eaker assumes cmd.
02/23/42
Fifth AF
B-17's fly first mission against Rabaul. Operating out of Townsville,
the force suffers mechanical trouble and runs into bad weather. Only
1 HB manages to bomb the tgt. Gen Brereton, CG, 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
AF (SWPA).
02/23/42
ZI
Japanese submarine I-17 fires 13 rounds of 5 1/2-in shells from range
of 2,500 yds at oil refinery N of Santa Barbara. Pur and bmr aircraft
sent to the area are unable to destroy the sub.
02/24/42
Fifth AF
HB units begin evacuating Java.
02/24/42
ZI
Reports of unidentified air planes approaching Los Angeles from the
ocean during 24/25 Feb result in 'Battle of Los Angeles' in which
some 1,400 rounds of 3-in AA ammo is fired against various 'targets.'
Later the Army will conclude that the 'battle' had been touched off
by 1 to 5 unidentified aircraft, but the Navy will maintain there was
no reason for the firing.
02/25/42
AAF
AWPD recommends removal of GYMNAST from list of current projects.
This proposal, if adopted, would leave Eighth AF uncommitted to any
operation.
02/25/42
USAFBI
Gen Chaney instructs Gen Eaker and staff to VIII BC to proceed to HQ,
RAF BC for study of bombing operations, and to make rcn of certain
A/Fs and submit plans for reception and assignment of AAF units.
02/27/42
Fifth AF
Battle of Java Sea. Allied air and naval units try to stop convoy of
some 80 ships approaching Java from NE. All available B-17's, A-24's,
P-40's and LB-30's are put into the air but achieve only
insignificant results. An Allied naval force, 5 cruisers and 11
destroyers, under Adm Doorman, Royal Netherlands Navy, meets the
enemy near Surabaya and is decisively defeated, losing 5 ships. Most
of 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 mi S of
Tjilatjap. The pilots are rescued by other vessels in the convoy, but
the enemy sinks these ships with the exception of a destroyer, which
delivers 2 of the pilots to Perth.
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