World War II Chronology 1942

January
1. Twenty-six nations sign United Nations Pact.
2. Japanese enter Manila, occupy Cavite naval base.
10. Japanese invade Netherlands Indies at Tarakan.
13. United States creates War Production Board.
21. Rommel's Afrika Korps advances into Cyrenaica.
23. Japanese capture Rabaul on New Britain; invade New Ireland and the Solomons.
23-24. United States warships attack Japanese forces in Makassar Strait.
26. First A.E.F. since 1918 lands in Ireland.
28. Inter-American conference at Rio de Janeiro affirms solidarity.
29. Afrika Korps takes Bengasi, Libya, after 200-mile drive. Iran signs cooperation pact 
with Soviet Union, Britain.
31. Siege of Singapore begins. British evacuate Moulmein, Burma.

		



February
1. United States Navy raids Gilbert and Marshall islands.
14. Japanese occupy ports in southern Borneo, invade Sumatra.
15. Singapore falls to Japanese.
19. Japanese invade Bali in East Indies. Japanese planes bomb Port Darwin, Australia.
24. United States naval task force bombards Wake Island.
27-Mar. 1. Japanese overwhelm Allied naval forces in battle of Java Sea.
28. Japanese land in northern Java.



March
4. United States Navy raids Marcus Island.
8. Japanese invade New Guinea, landing at Salamaua and Lae.
9. Rangoon, capital of Burma, falls.
12. American troops land in New Caledonia.
17. MacArthur reaches Australia from Philippines; assumes command of United Nations' 
forces in Southwest Pacific.
23. Japan occupies Andaman Islands in Bay of Bengal.
28. British Commandos raid U-boat base at St.-Nazaire.



April
9. Bataan peninsula falls after 98-day siege.
11. India refuses dominion status; asks immediate liberty.
18. Doolittle leads B-25 bombers from Hornet to raid Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya.
22. British Commandos raid Boulogne.
29. Japanese capture Lashio on Burma Road.



May
1. Mandalay falls to Japanese.
4-8. United States Navy defeats Japanese invasion fleet in battle of Coral Sea.
6. Corregidor falls.
8. Nazis open spring offensive in Crimea.
12. Soviet Union counterattacks on Khar'kov front.
14. WAAC law creates Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.
15. Japanese gain virtually undisputed possession of Burma.
22. Mexico declares war on Axis.
24. Soviets evacuate Kerch' Peninsula in East Crimea.
30. British send 1,000-bomber flight to destroy Cologne.



June
3. Japanese bomb Dutch Harbor.
3-6. United States Navy defeats Japanese, battle of Midway.
4-6. Japanese invade Aleutian Islands.
10. Nazis announce razing of Lidice in reprisal for assassination of Heydrich, German 
governor of Czechoslovakia.
21. Nazis take Tobruk. Japanese submarine shells Seaside, on Oregon coast.
25. Germans penetrate Egypt. Eisenhower lands in London.
27. FBI completes capture of 8 Nazi saboteurs landed by U-boat.



July
1. British 8th Army stems Rommel's drive at El Alamein. Sevastopol' falls to Germans 
after 25-day siege.
4. First American fliers raid Europe.
21-22. Japanese land at Gona, Buna in New Guinea.
27. Soviets evacuate Rostov as Nazis drive toward Caucasus.
30. United States Navy establishes the WAVES.



August
7. United States Marines land on Guadalcanal, Tulagi.
9. Japanese naval force sinks 1 Australian and 3 American cruisers at battle of Savo Island.
17. United States Marines raid Makin Island.
19. British-Canadian Commandos, American Rangers raid Dieppe.
22. Brazil declares war on Axis.
24. Nazis advance on Stalingrad.
26. American bombers raid Lashio in Burma.
30. Germany annexes Luxembourg.



September
11. Nazis take naval base at Novorossiysk on Black Sea.
14. United States bombers make first major raid on Kiska.
28. Allies drive Japanese back in New Guinea.



October
11-12. Japanese lose 4 ships at battle of Cape Esperance.
13. United States Army troops join Marines on Guadalcanal.
23. British open assault against Afrika Korps at El Alamein.



November
6. Rommel's Afrika Korps retreats.
8. American forces invade North Africa.
11. Hitler occupies "unoccupied" France.
13-15. American Navy defeats Japanese off Guadalcanal.
14. Allied troops enter Tunisia.
27. French scuttle fleet at Toulon to prevent Axis seizure.



December
1. Darlan assumes authority over French North Africa. United States rations gasoline nationally.
9. Allies take Gona on northern coast of Papua, New Guinea.
14. Americans, Australians take Buna village, New Guinea.
16. British, under Wavell, begin invasion of Burma.