Japanese Blitzkrieg (2)

“Prince of Wales” & “Repulse”

After hearing President Roosevelt’s ‘Infamy’ speech, the British War Cabinet suggested to their Prime Minister to continue their same gentle approach in dealing with America.  Churchill replied, “Oh!  That is the way we talked to her while we were wooing her; now that she is in the harem, we talk to her quite differently.”

9 December, the Thai capital of Bangkok became occupied by the Japanese.  The Gilbert Islands, Tarawa atoll and Makin of the Central Pacific were now in the hands of the enemy.

Royal Engineers prepare to blow a bridge at Kuala Lampur

In Burma, Betong fell on 10 December and Alor Setar, on the northwest coast, 3 days later, which secured all the airfields in the northern sector.  Britain had the 9th and 11th British/Indian divisions along with some Malayan and Australian units for defense.  Their 110 planes (only 50 remained after the initial attack) were up against Japan’s 530 aircraft of Force Z.

Wake Island location

Adm. Kimmell, at Pearl Harbor, a midst the cleanup, had already made plans to send relief to Wake Island and deploy the 3 cruiser groups Japan had failed to locate: (1)- Adm. Wilson Brown’s to the Marshalls to keep the enemy busy in the south; (2)- Adm. Fletcher’s to Wake directly with a new fighter squadron, and; (3)- Adm. Halsey to guard Pearl Harbor and then follow behind Brown’s group.

Frank Mason’s rendition of the “Prince of Wales” & “Repulse” destructions

10 December, off Kuantan, in the South China Sea, the HMS Prince of Wales and the Repulse were by enemy submarine torpedoes and aircraft in a series of 4 attacks that lasted 2 hours; 840 seamen were KIA.

On Guam, the Government House in Agana was bombed.  The Japanese force of 8 destroyers, 2 gunboats, 6 sub-chasers, 2 minesweepers, 2 tenders and the 5th Defense Force had arrived.  The Guam Insular Force Guard (GIFG) and a small American garrison (about 400 men) were quickly defeated as over 5,000 troops of the Japanese South Seas Detached Force landed at Tumon Bay and Talafofo Bay.  The GIFG had 4 KIA and 22 WIS; the US forces lost 13 KIA and 13 WIA.

Clark Field shortly before attack

By this date about half of the Far East Air Force was destroyed on the ground at Clark, TBU and Nicholls airfields in the Philippines.  The Japanese 16th Division landed in southeast Luzon at Lamon Bay and cut across to Tiaong on their way to Manila.  By the 13th, Filipino and US forces were about to be surrounded.

For an excellent post about the Philippine attack, I suggest this article by Rosalinda Morgan…

https://subliblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/09/remembering-dec-8-1941/

 

Wake Island

11 December, on Wake Island, the defenses repulsed an attempted Japanese landing with the remaining maintenance crews still on the island all volunteering to act as soldiers.  Despite the 3 days of enemy bombardment, the US shore gunners sank 2 destroyers and damaged a cruiser.  The Japanese fleet they were up against included the 6th Destroyer Squadron under RAdm. Sadamichi Kajioka on his flagship Yubari, 2 medium transports, 2 submarines, 2 light cruisers Tenryu and Tatsuta, 2 destroyers under RAdm. Kuninori Marumo.  The aerial bombing would continue for 8 days.

Click on images to enlarge.

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For Family Service – 

courtesy of fellow blogger, Patty B.

To view an example – check out the Family History category for fellow blogger Jim Reillly – CLICK HERE!

To visit Patty B – CLICK HERE!

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Humor of the Day –

 

These humorous postcards are courtesy of Chris, who you can locate RIGHT HERE!

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

Herman Boles – Mongomery, AL; US Army, WWII

Never Forget

Frank Butcher – Maryborough, AUS.; RA Navy # B4606, WWII, Stoker 1st Class

Marion “Bill” Cabble Jr. – Princeton, WV; US Army (Ret. 26 years), Vietnam

James Fleming – Richmond, CAN; RC Army, WWII, South Saskatchewan Regiment

Carl Hoberg – Ridgecrest, CA; US Army, Sgt., Combat Engineers, Vietnam

James Jolly – Fresno, CA; US Army, WWII, 69th Div., ETO, 2 Bronze Stars, Purple Heart

William MacMcShane Jr. – Erie, PA; US Navy, SeaBee, Vietnam

Alice Payne – Kingsport, TM; WACS, Korea

Alex Woolston – Manunui, NZ; RNZ Navy # 16496

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