Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, April 16 – 22, 1942

April 16, 1942: Employing ‘scorched earth’ tactics, British forces set fire to oil fields at Yenangyaung, Burma, ahead of advancing Japanes April 17, 1942: End of Bataan Death March in … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, April 9 – 15, 1942

April 9, 1942: Japanese Army victorious on Bataan peninsula after US and Philippine troops surrender April 10, 1942: More than 60,000 American and Filipino prisoners falling into Japanese hands in … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, April 2 – 8, 1942

April 2, 1942: Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet, part of Task Force 18, leaves San Francisco Bay with modified bombers on board, on a secret mission led by Lieutenant Colonel James … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, March 26 – April 1, 1942

March 26, 1942: Japanese carrier force leaves Dutch East Indies for the Indian Ocean March 27, 1942: In Burma, Japanese Army continues onslaught on Toungoo while amassing forces on Irrawaddy … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, March 19 – 25, 1942

March 19, 1942: Japanese forces prevail in Battle of Tachiao, the first struggle for control of the Yunnan-Burma Road March 20, 1942: General Douglas MacArthur, recently arrived in Australia after … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, March 12 – 18, 1942

March 12, 1942: British aircraft carrier HMS Formidable leaves Cape Town for the Indian Ocean in preparation of possible Japanese offensive there March 13, 1942: Japanese Army sends Sakaguchi Detachment … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, March 5 – 11, 1942

March 5, 1942: Lieutenant General Sir Harold Alexander arrives in Rangoon to take command of the Burma Army. Photo is from later in 1942, after Alexander assumes command in the … Continue Reading →

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 … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Feb 19 – 25, 1942

Feb 19, 1942: Japanese carrier-based planes raid the port city of Darwin in the first attack on the Australian mainland Feb 20, 1942: Edward Henry (“Butch”) O’Hare, pilot on board … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Feb 12 – 18, 1942

Feb 12, 1942: US-led troops, many of them local Filipino draftees, offer resistance as Japanese forces apply pressure along entire front on Bataan peninsula Feb 13, 1942: Japanese paratroopers land … Continue Reading →