March 8, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 8 MARCH 1942

Burma: 63d Brig and elements of 16th, with tank and arty support, clear Japanese block on Rangoon-Prome road at Taukkyan. During period 8-13 March, heavy bombers of U.S. Tenth Air Force transport troops and supplies from India to Magwe, Burma

ALASKA (11th Air Force): Colonel William O. Butler assumes command of the 11th Air Force with HQ at Fort Richardson in Anchorage.

U.S. Army: Brig Gen William O. Butler assumes command of 11th Air Force (11th AF) with Headquarters (HQ) at Fort Richardson in Anchorage under Alaska Defense Command led by Maj Gen Simon B. Buckner, Jr. The Alaska Defense Command is in turn under Western Defense Command led by Lt Gen John L. DeWitt.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): HQ 10th Air Force begins moving from Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio to India. Between this date and 13 Mar, the 8 B-17's in India transport 474 troops and 29 tons (26.3 metric tonnes) of supplies from India to Magwe, Burma and on the return flights evacuate 423 civilians.

JAVA: Two Hurricanes fly the last Allied mission on Java.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Air echelons of 16th Bombardment Squadron and 17th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group cease operating from Batchelor Field and begin a movement to Brisbane with A-24s while their ground echelon are at Bataan. 89th Bombardment Squadron and 90th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bombardment Group transfer from Brisbane to Charters Towers with A-20s; first mission is in April 1942. Following units transfer from Brisbane to Ballarat: Headquarters (HQ), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 15th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) with B-26s. Ground echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) also transfers; air echelon of 69th remains in the U.S. until May 1942. Also transfering is 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) with P-39s.

IJA: Japanese forces capture Djogjakarta Airfield (Yogyakarta) on Java including the wreckage of B-17E 41-2471. In New Guinea, Japanese forces occupy Lae and Lae Airfield.

IJN/IJA: Japanese Naval forces under Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamich land at Lae and Salamaua on the north coast of New Guinea without opposition.

USN: Inshore Patrol Squadron VS-2-D14 begins air operations over the Society Islands.

Peru: The first American forces arrive at Talara Airfield in Peru.