March 1942 (2)

Pacific map after March 1942

In Australia, the civilians learned that two of their ships went down in the Java Sea.

Trove archives

Crewmen of the HMAS Yarra, 1942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 March – before being flown out of the Philippine Islands, General Douglas MacArthur said his famous parting words, “I shall return,” and Lt.Gen. Jonathan Wainwright assumed command.  Pres. Roosevelt’s empty promises of, “mile-long” convoys of relief on their way – were never sent.

13 March – The submarine, USS Gar sank the Japanese cargo ship, Chichiubu Maru, off the coast of Honshu Province, Japan.

14 March – The first convoy of 30,000 American troops began to arrive in Australia.  (Since 2 March, all physically fit Australian men were considered eligible for war service.

16-18 March – in New Guinea, US and Australian air units attacked the Japanese shipping and shore installations around Lae and Salamura.  Two enemy heavy cruisers were sunk and 10 other vessels were either sunk or damaged.

Gen. Wainwright (L) & Gen. MacArthur (R), March, 1942

On Corregidor, Gen. Wainwright told his men, “If the Japanese can take the’Rock’, they’ll find me here no matter what orders I receive.”  On Bataan, the front line along the Mariveles Mountains, the half-starved American and Filipino [who had been forced to kill and eat their mules and horses weeks before] suffered from malaria, which had reached epidemic proportions.  Simply lifting a rifle was a painful ordeal due to beriberi and dysentery, as well.

US trained Filipino soldiers prepare to blow a bridge before the enemy reaches them.

 

21-22 March – the forces trapped on the Bataan Peninsula began to move over to the fortified island, 2 miles off the coast of Luzon.  The strategic position of the Rock in Manila Bay was quite vital to the Japanese as even more US and Filipinos amassed on its levels. But as this was being done, Japanese General Homma was planning a new offensive for the start of April for his 15,000 troops, 140 artillery pieces and 80 bombers.

British & Chinese forces in Burma

23 March – the Japanese captured the Andaman Islands, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.  They were put under the authority of Subhas Chandia Bose, a Japanese sympathizer.

Chinese troops digging anti-tank ditches in Burma.

In Burma, the airfield at Magwe went into enemy hand.  After violent fighting, the Chinese 5th Army in the central area were defeated and the Japanese took over the airfield at Toungou.

During this month, Churchill succumbed to pressure and announced that post-war India would achieve semi-independent status as a dominion.  But, the Nationalist Indian Congress Party made demands for immediate independence.  In Ceylon, Admiral Sir James Somerville became commander of the Far East Fleet.  Admiral E.J. King was made US Chief of Naval Operations in addition to being the Commander-in-Chief of the US Fleet.

Adm. King, 1942

Meetings were held between the US and Britain to divide the operational responsibilities of WWII: The US took the Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand.  This was then split between 2 commands: Adm. Nimitz with the Pacific Ocean areas, North Central and South; Gen. MacArthur as commander of the Southwest Pacific.  The British took from Singapore westwards to the Mediterranean.

[Personal observation – I found it difficult to believe that these guidelines were decided upon when Churchill refused to send a fleet to Singapore for the CBI and the U.S. maintained a “Europe First” strategy.  Your opinion?]

Click on images to enlarge.

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Military Humor – 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

John Allen – Ola, TX; USMC, Vietnam (2 tours), E3 LCPL

George Barefoot – Charlotte, NC; US Army, WWII, 1102 Engineers

Grandon Carmack – Chambersburg, PA; US Army, WWII, PTO

Terry Elworthy -Saanich, CAN; C. Merchant Marine, RC Navy (Ret.), WWII

Robert Fulenwider – Ft. Lauderdale, FL; US Army, WWII

Jack Karford – BowMar, CO; US Navy, WWII, PTO

Stanley Lines – Glen Innes, NZ; RA Army # VX80596

Virginia Melvin – WPalm Bch, FL; US Army (Ret. 20 years), nurse

Chuck Randazzo – Jamestown, NY; US Army, Korea

Warren Sander – SoWindsor, CT & Palm City, FL; US Navy, WWII, PTO, USS Engstrom

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