March 4, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 1942

China: General Stilwell establishes Hq, American Army Forces, China, Burma, and India, at Chungking, using his U.S. Task Force in China and AMMISCA personnel as a nucleus. General Magruder's directive is altered to place AMMISCA personnel at disposal of General Stilwell.

IJN: Operation K-1: Two H8K1 Emily Flying Boats fly a night reconnaissance and bombing mission over Pearl Harbor on Oahu but due to clouds and blackout conditions theyd are unable to find the target. At 2:10am, the first H8K1 Emily Tail Y-71 (No. 1) pilot Lt. Hisao Hashizume releases four bombs that impact the southern slope of Mount Tantalus on Oahu. The bombs landed roughly 1,000' from Roosevelt High School, creating four bomb craters 6–10' deep and 20–30' across and shattered windows from the concusion of the explosions. At 2:30am the second H8K1 Emily Y-72 (No. 2) pilot Ensign Shosuke Sasao released his bombs over the ocean and cause no damage.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (7th Air Force): American radar on Kauai and Oahu track two aircraft. Overcast conditions over Oahu prevent P-40 Warhawks from interception.

RAAF: No. 75 Squadron is formed at Garbutt Field at Townsville under the command of Squadron Leader Peter Jeffery equipped with P-40E Kittyhawks. After midnight over Gasmata, lost is Hudson A16-101 pilot F/O Arthur Renfred Nicolay (MIA) and Hudson A16-165 pilot F/Lt Kenneth James Erwin (MIA).

Java: Dutch continue fighting on Java and report the destruction of principal installations.

SWPA, 5th Air Force: 11th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and 22d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Melbourne from Jogjakarta with B-17's and LB-30's. Air echelon of 14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group attached to 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) begins operating from Melbourne with B-17's, B-24's and LB-30's; ground echelon is at Bugo, Mindanano attached to 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional). Air echelon of 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Singosari (Malang) to Melbourne with B-17's, B-24's and LB-30's. Ground echelon remains in Luzon and Mindanano attached to the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional).

U.S. Army: General Douglas MacArthur is reorganizing his forces in the Philippines in preparation for his departure. Composite Visayan-Mindanao Force is divided into two commands. Gen Sharp retains command of forces on Mindanao; the Visayan forces are placed under Brig Gen Bradford G. Chynoweth. MacArthur's plans envisage the formation of 2 more commands. Maj Gen George F. Moore's harbor defense forces on Corregidor and other islands in Manila Bay will constitute one, the forces on Luzon the other.

U.S. Navy: First Raid on Marcus: Task Force 16.5 (TF-16.5) under the command of Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey approaches within 1,000 miles of Japan and before dawn USS Enterprise (CV-6) carrier planes including SBDs from VB-6 and VS-6 strike Marcus Island.

USS Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes and sinks Japanese tanker No.2 Kaijo Maru 145 miles south of Truk, 00°56'N, 149°31'E.

USS Narwhal (SS-167) torpedoes and sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taki Maru off Amami O Shima, south of Kyushu, 28°37'N, 129°10'E.

USS S-39 (SS-144) torpedoes and sinks Japanese oiler Erimo south of Billiton Island, 04°19'S, 108°25'E.

USS Sargo (SS-188), while approaching Fremantle, Australia, is mistakenly attacked and damaged by an RAAF Hudson.