January 9th, 1942 (FRIDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Destroyer HMS Vimiera is mined in the Thames Estuary off the
East Spile buoy at 51 28N 00 55E.
FRANCE: During the night of 9/10 January, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 82 bombers to attack the German warships at Brest; 59 bomb the target.
GERMANY: U-274, U-391 and U-650 are laid down. U-183 and U-612 are launched.
U.S.S.R.: The Soviet Northwest, Volkhov and Kalinin Fronts launch a major offensive in the Valdai Hill area west and northwest of Moscow. The Soviets have rapid success despite fierce German resistance.
MALAYA: Lieutenant
General Arthur Percival, General Officer Commanding Malaya, issues instructions
for withdrawal of the Indian 3 Corps into Johore, where a final stand before
Singapore Naval Base is to be made. The corps begins a withdrawal at once,
executing a demolition program as it goes. The Indian 11th Division and line of
communications troops are to delay the enemy along two lines: one covering
Seremban and Port Dickson, and the other covering Tampin and Malacca; Indian 9th
Division is to clear Kuala Pilah and Tampin, respectively.
In the fiercest fighting since the Japanese invasion a month ago, Japanese troops supported by tanks and fighter planes have overrun British positions and crossed the Slim river 200 miles north of Singapore.
At the same time Japanese troops are advancing south-eastwards towards Kuala Lumpur, Malaya's largest town. They claim to have broken through the strongly fortified line at Kuala Kubu, an important junction 25 miles north of Kuala Lumpur. The British plans for the defence of Malaya have been built around the 9th and 11th Indian Divisions and the 8th Australian Division.
Although the British claim that the Japanese suffered heavy casualties in the battle for the Slim, they are pessimistic about holding Kuala Lumpur. Apart from the military its streets are deserted, with most of the civilian population fleeing south to the island of Singapore.
After studying the situation in Malaya, General Sir Archibald Wavell, the new Allied Supreme Commander in the Far East, has ordered the immediate fortification of Singapore's north coast.
BORNEO: RAF planes
from Malaya terminate action over Borneo with a reconnaissance flight over
Kuching.
CHINA: As consideration of the U.S. role in China
continues in Washington, General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff U.S. Army,
decides to recommend against sending Lieutenant General Hugh A. Drum to China
because of the small effort that is currently to be made there.
THAILAND: Pilots of the 2d Fighter Squadron, American Volunteer Group (the Flying Tigers) attack Tak Airdrome at Rahaeng and destroy four Japanese aircraft on the ground.
PACIFIC: The
submarine USS Pollack (SS-180) torpedoes and sinks a Japanese merchant cargo
ship 40 miles (64 kilometres) south-southwest of Inubozaki, Japan.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES:
On Bataan, the Japanese open an
assault at 1500 hours.
From the Dinalupihan-Hermosa area, three regimental
combat teams with artillery support move forward, two against the II Corps on
the east and one toward the I Corps sector on west.
None of the columns reaches
the outpost line.
The II Corps, defending the Abucay line (from Mabatang on
Manila Bay to Mt Natib) with 57th Infantry Philippine Scouts on the east, 41st
Division Philippine Army (PA) in the center and the 51st Division (PA) on the
west, opens fire on the enemy combat team driving down the East Road and makes
patrol contact with it.
To the west, another Japanese column advances unmolested
down the trail from Dinalupihan to the vicinity of Album.
In the I Corps area,
the enemy column from Dinalupihan is slowed only by demolitions while moving
west along Route 7 toward Olongapo.
Disposed along I Corps' Mauban line (Mt.t
Silanganan on the east to Mauban on Subic Bay) are Company K of the 1st Infantry
(PA); 3lst Field Artillery Battalion of the 3lst Div (PA) organized as infantry;
and the 3d Infantry of the 1st Division (PA).
Additional troops are maintaining
the outpost line to the front.
Five of nine USAAF Far East Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, based at
Singosari Airdrome on Java and staging through Kendari Airdrome on Celebes
Island, Netherlands East Indies, strike shipping in Davao Bay, Mindanao. The
other four aircraft turn back with mechanical problems.
AUSTRALIA: Colonel Stephen J. Chamberlain arrives by air direct from Washington. He is the new chief of staff to Lt-Gen Brett who will be CG US Army Forces in Australia. He brings with him a $10 million credit from the US Chief of Staff's fund. (Michael Alexander)
NEWFOUNDLAND:
Corvette HMCS MOOSE JAW runs aground off
St. John's.
MARTINIQUE: The US Armies only tank and infantry battalions with joint amphibious training,
the 70th and the 1st along with the 1st Marine Raider Battalion are sent to
invade this Vichy French island. Seeing the force against him, the governor
capitulated without a shot being fired. (Mike Yared)