March 11, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
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WEDNESDAY, 11 MARCH 1942

U.S. Army: General Douglas MacArthur is ordered to evacuate from the Philippines by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The same day, General Douglas MacArthur creates a new headquarters, Luzon Force, to control the operations on Bataan and appoints Major General J. M. Wainwright as commander.

USN: At dusk four PT Boats: PT-41, PT-35, PT-34 and PT-32 (abandoned during the mission) evacuate General Douglas MacArthur aboard PT-41 and Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell plus their staffs are evacuated from Corregidor Island then navigate the American minefield, evade Japanese forces and proceed southward bound for Mindanao. For his role in the evacuation, as well as other operations in the Philippines since the start of hostilities, Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley, Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 (MTBS 3) will earn the Medal of Honor.

Submarine Pollack (SS-180), operating in the East China Sea about 270 miles east of Shanghai, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Fukushu Maru, 30°53'N, 126°20'E and passenger-cargo ship Baikal Maru, 31°00'N, 126°32'E.

U.S. passenger ship Mount McKinley is stranded off Unimak Island, Aleutians; wrecked subsequently by heavy seas, the ship will be written off as a total loss.