Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Feb 26 – March 4, 1942

Feb 26, 1942: Fighting rages near Pegu in Burma, as Japanese troops seek to exploit bridgehead gained at Sittang River

Feb 27, 1942: Japanese Navy wins victory in Java Sea as it clashes with fleet of US, British, Australian and Dutch vessels

Feb 28, 1942: Japanese forces land on island of Java, Dutch East Indies

March 1, 1942: Cruiser USS Houston is sunk by Japanese Navy in Battle of Sunda Strait. Image shows contemporary Japanese artist’s version of the event

March 2, 1942: Japanese troops move into Batavia, present-day Jakarta, in Dutch East Indies

March 3, 1942: Fighting continues northeast of Rangoon as the Japanese Army seeks to force its way to the Burmese capital

March 4, 1942: US Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell (see photo above) sets up Headquarters, American Army Forces China, Burma and India in the Chinese wartime capital of Chongqing

Japanese in second surprise raid on Hawaii. Two Kawanishi H8K “Emily” flying boats launch unsuccessful attack on island of Oahu, dropping a few bombs, but leaving no casualties

Categories: War

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