USN - Patrol Wing 9 began forming at Quonset Point with Lieutenant Commander T. U. Sisson as prospective Commanding Officer.
Several B-24 Liberators arrive in Hawaii to undertake photo reconnaissance of Japanese military installations in the Marshall and Carolines.
Japanese forces leave Palau to attack the Philippines
USN - Japanese carrier aircraft launched a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor and on the military and air installations on Oahu. The three aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet were not present. Saratoga, just out of overhaul, was moored at San Diego. Lexington was at sea about 425 miles southeast of Midway toward which she was headed to deliver a Marine Scout Bombing Squadron. Enterprise was also at sea about 200 miles west of Pearl Harbor, returning from Wake after delivering a Marine Fighter Squadron there. Her Scouting Squadron 6, launched early in the morning to land at Ewa Airfield, arrived during the attack and engaged enemy aircraft. Japanese aircraft spotted on radar were thought to be group of expected B-17s being ferried from the west coast to Hawaii. They arrived in the midst of the attack, including: B-17C 40-2063, B-17E "San Antonio Rose" 41-2416, B-17E "Why Don't We Do This More Often" 41-2429, B-17E 41-2432, B-17E 41-2434.
Japanese losses (partial list): A6M2 Tail BII-120, D3A1 Val 3133.
Type A Midget Sub (Midget A), Type A Midget Sub (Midget B), HA-19 Type A Midget Sub (Midget C), Type A Midget Sub (Midget D)
Casualties
USA : 218 KIA, 364 WIA
USN: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA
USMC: 109 KIA, 69 WIA
Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA
TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA
Battleships
USS Arizona BB-39 - total loss whe n a bomb hit her magazine.
USS Oklahoma BB-37 - Total loss when she capsized and sunk in the harbor.
USS California BB-44 - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS West Virginia BB-48 - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS Nevada BB-36 - Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage.
USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage.
USS Tennessee (BB-43) Light damage.
USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target sunk.)
Cruisers
USS New Orleans (CA-32) - Light Damage.
USS San Francisco (CA38) - Light Damage.
USS Detroit (CL-8) - Light Damage.
USS Raleigh (CL-7) - Heavily damaged but repaired.
USS Helena (CL-50) - Light Damage.
USS Honolulu (CL-48) - Light Damage.
Destroyers
USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Cassin - (DD-37 2) Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Shaw (DD-373) - Very heavy damage.
USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage.
Minelayer
USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.
Seaplane Tender
USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.
Repair Ship
USS Vestal AR-4 - Severely damaged but later repaired.
Harbor Tug
USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.
Aircraft
188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.)
LUZON - The first word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is received on Luzon by commercial radio between 0300-0330 hours local. Within 30 minutes radar at Iba Field plots a formation of airplanes 75 miles offshore, heading for Corregidor. P-40's are sent out to intercept but make no contact. Shortly before 0930 hours, after Japanese land based aircraft from Formosa are detected over Lingayen Gulf heading toward Manila, B-17's at Clark Field are ordered airborne to prevent being caught on the ground. Fighters from Clark and Nichols Fields are sent to intercept the enemy but do not make contact. The Japanese airplanes swing East and bomb military installations at Baguio, Tarlac, Tuguegarao, and airfields at Cabantuan are also attacked. By 1130 hours, the B-17's and fighters sent into the air earlier have landed at Clark and Iba Fields for refueling, and radar has disclosed another flight of Japanese aircraft 70-miles (112-km) West of Lingayen Gulf, headed South. Fighters from Iba Field make a fruitless search over the South China Sea. Fighters from Nichols Field are dispatched to patrol over Bataan and Manila. Around 1145 hours a formation is reported headed South over Lingayen Gulf. Fighters are ordered from Del Carmen to cover Clark Field but fail to arrive before the Japanese hit Clark shortly after 1200 hours. B-17's and many fighters at Clark Field are caught on the ground, but a few P-40's manage to get airborne. 2d Lt. Randall B. Keator, 20th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group shoots down the first Japanese aircraft over the Philippines. The P-40's earlier sent on patrol of the South China Sea return to Iba Field with fuel running low at the beginning of a Japanese attack on that airfield. The P-40's fail to prevent bombing but manage to prevent low-level strafing of the sort which proved so destructive at Clark Field. At the end of the day's action it is apparent that the Japanese have won a major victory. The effective striking power of Far East Air Force has been destroyed, the fighter strength has been seriously reduced, most B-17 maintenance facilities have been demolished, and about 90 men have been killed.
Japanese force depart Kwajalien for Wake while the first Japanese attack on Wake.
RAAF: Shot down attacking the Japanese invasion force off Kota Bharu are Hudson A16-19.
In the first American bombing mission of WW II, B-17s attack Japanese ships off the coast of the Philippines.
Shortly after 0300 hours, Japanese aircraft attack Nichols Field. This attack, added to the previous day's raids on Clark Field and Iba Field, leaves the Far East Air Force strength reduced by half. Only 17 of 35 B-17's remain in commission; about 55 P-40's, 3 P-35's, and close to 30 other aircraft (B-10's, B-18's, and observation airplanes) have been lost in aerial combat or destroyed on the ground.
LUZON - During the morning and afternoon, B-17's from Mindanao Island fly reconnaissance missions and land on Clark and San Marcelino. Several more B-17's are flown from Mindanao Island to these Luzon bases for resistance against a possible invasion attempt. The 3d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Iba Airfield to Nichols Field, Luzon with P-40's. The 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), based at Nichols Field begins operating from Clark Field with P-40's.
Japanese force land on Gilbert Islands
LUZON - B-17's, P-40's, and P-35's attack a convoy landing troops and equipment at Vigan and at Aparri. 1 transport at Vigan is destroyed. The strikes include the much publicized attack of Captain Colin P Kelly Jr piloting B-17C 40-2045 against a warship off Aparri. Captain Kelly, who is killed when his B-17 is shot down by fighters as he is returning to Clark Field, is later posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for destroying a battleship. However, later information reveals that he attacked the heavy cruiser ASHIGARA, probably scoring near misses.
USN - Aircraft from Enterprise attacked and sank the Japanese submarine I-70 in waters north of the Hawaiians. This was one of the submarines used to scout the Hawaiian area in connection with the Pearl Harbor attack and the first Japanese combatant ship sunk by United States aircraft during World War II.
Japanese forces land on Guam
The British battleship the HMS Prince of Wales and cruiser HMS Repulse are sunk by G3M2 Nell and G4M1 Betty bombers off Malaya.
Japanese force attempt landing on Wake
USMC F4F Wildcats sink four large Japanese vessels off Wake. This is the first significant American victory of the Pacific war.
LUZON - More than 100 Japanese aircraft hit targets at Clark Field, Batangas, and Olongapo on Luzon. No hits are scored by the single B-17 that is sent against Japanese transports at Vigan. The 3d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Nichols Field to Ternate, Luzon and operating from Del Carmon, Luzon with P-40's. Japanese forces begin landing on Luzon.
China - Invading Japanese forces demand the surrender of British troops in Hong Kong. When their request is denied, the Japanese begin bombing the city. The city falls on the Christmas Day.
1st Lieutenant Boyd D Wagner of the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), shoots down 4 Japanese airplanes near Aparri while on a reconnaissance mission over North Luzon. In another action, Captain Jesus Villamor of the Philippine Air Force leads 6 P-26's in an interception of 54 Japanese bombers attacking Batangas Field; their harassing tactics minimized the damage to the field.
USN - Patrol Wing 10 departed Cavite and, with its two patrol squadrons and four seaplane tenders, began withdrawal from the Philippines. Before reaching Australia it operated from various bases along the way, including Balikpapan, Soerabaja, and Ambon in the Netherlands East Indies.
LUZON - B-17's are sent against the Japanese beachhead at Legaspi, lost is B-17D 40-3073. 1st Lieutenant Hewitt T Wheless is later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for bringing his bullet-riddled B-17 back from the mission to an emergency crash landing at Cagayan Airfield.
USN - Patrol Wing 8 transferred from Norfolk to Alameda for duty on the west coast.
RNZAF: Lost on a training flight is Hudson NZ2007.
1st Lieutenant Boyd D. Wagner of the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), leads a dive-bombing raid on Vigan Airfield and shoots down his fifth aircraft, thereby becoming the first Army Air Forces "Ace" in World War II.
LUZON - B-17's, evacuating Luzon, begin arriving at Batchelor Field. Captain Floyd J Pell arrives in Australia to begin arrangements for the use of Australian facilities by the Far East Air Force.
USN - Adm. Nimitz appointed Commander Pacific Fleet (U.S.)
USN - The Naval Research Laboratory reported that flight tests in a PBY of radar utilizing a duplexing antenna switch had been conducted with satisfactory results. The duplexing switch made it possible to use a single antenna for both transmission of the radar pulse and reception of its echo; thereby, the necessity for cumbersome "yagi" antenna no longer existed, a factor which contributed substantially to the reliability, and hence the effectiveness, of World War II airborne radar. Seventeen SB2U-3 Vindicators of VMSB-231, led by a PBY of Patrol Wing 1, arrived at Midway from Oahu, completing the longest mass flight by single-engine aircraft then on record in 9 hours, 45 minutes. It was the same squadron that was en route to Midway on 7 December aboard Lexington when reports of the attack on Pearl Harbor forced the carrier to turn back short of her goal.
USN - Two-plane detachments from Patrol Wings 1 and 2, based in Hawaii, began scouting patrols from Johnston.
HAWAII - President Roosevelt announces that Supreme Court Justice Own Roberts will head up a comittee looking into the Pearl Harbor disater. The comittee places much of the blame on Pearl Harbor commander General Short for lack of preparedness.
The air echelon of the 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group transfers from Clark Field to Batchelor Field with B-17's. The ground echelon is attached to the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) and will fight as infantry on Luzon and Mindanao Islands in the Philippines.
CHINA - The first battle of the American Volunteer Group, known as the Flying Tigers, takes place over Kunming
Japanese forces land Davao & Mindanao. The air echelon of the 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Clark Field to Batchelor Field with B-17's. The ground echelon is reassigned to the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) and will fight as infantry in the Philippines.
9 B-17's from Batchelor Field attack shipping in Davao Bay, Mindanao Island and land at Del Monte on Mindanao Island. HQ 7th Bombardment Group and the ground echelon of it's 9th, 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons and attached 88th Reconnaissance Squadron arrive at Brisbane, Australia from the US. The air echelons of the 9th and 11th are enroute from the US to Australia with B-17's; the air echelons of the 22d and 88th are operating from Hickam Field, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii until 5 January 1942 and 10 February 1942 respectively with B-17's. The 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons, 27th Bombardment Group transfer from Ft William McKinley to Lipa Airfield, San Fernando and San Marceleno respectively without aircraft.
Wake fall to Japanese
4 B-17's take off from Del Monte after midnight during the night of 22/23 Dec and bomb shipping in Lingayen Gulf. 12 P-4O's and 6 P-35's strafe forces landing in San Miguel Bay on Luzon. The Far East Air Force comes under control of the newly-created US Forces in Australia (USFIA). Major General Lewis H. Brereton, Commanding General Far East Air Force, receives orders establishing HQ Far East Air Force at Darwin.
Philippines - MacArthur begins the removal of his troops from the city of Manila to the of Baatan
3 B-17's fly from Del Monte, Mindanao Island during the night of 24/25 Dec, bomb the airfield and shipping at Davao on Mindanao Island and land at Batchelor Field. 2 airplanes leave Manila for Darwin with personnel of HQ Far East Air Force. Army Air Force units on Luzon, as well as ground forces, begin moving to Bataan Peninsula. HQ 19th Bombardment Group and the air echelon of the 28th Bombardment Squadron transfer from Clark Field, Luzon to Batchelor Field with B-17's. The ground echelon of the 28th will fight as infantry on Luzon and Mindanao. The air echelon of the 14th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group begins operating from Batchelor Field with B-17's. The ground echelon is still at Clark Field, Luzon. The air echelons of the 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons, 27th Bombardment Group begin operating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with A-24s. The ground echelons will fight as infantry on Luzon. The 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) ceases operating from Clark Field, Luzon with P-40's.
USN - Two-plane detachments from squadrons at Pearl and Kaneohe began patrols from Palmyra, a principal staging base to the South Pacific.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Caldwell sets up HQ Far East Air Force at Darwin Airfield. HQ V Bomber Command is also established at Darwin. The 3d, 17th, 20th, 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfer from Ternate, Nichols Field, Clark Field, Nichols Field and Del Carmen respectively to Bataan with P-35's and P-40's. The 17th and 20th begin operating from Lubao, Luzon with P-40's HQ 27th Bombardment Group and the ground echelon of it's 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons transfer from Lipa Airfield, San Fernando and San Marceleno respectively to Cabcaben. The air echelons are operating from Brisbane, Australia; the ground echelons will fight as infantry on Luzon.
Philippines -MacArthur declares Manila to be an "open city" in the hopes of sparing it from attack. MacArthur's tactic fails as the Japanese bomb the city the next day.
Philippines -(Far East Air Force): The ground echelon of the 17th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group transfers from Cabcaben to Limay, Luzon. The air echelon is operating from Brisbane, Australia.
ALASKA: In response to repeated requests by this Command to the War Department for additional aircraft to defend Alaska, the 77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), arrives at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage with 13 B-26's.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force): Major General Lewis H Brereton, Commanding General Far East Air Force, arrives at his new HQ at Darwin. Colonel Harold H George remains at Manila in command of the air elements left in the Philippines, the chief center of Army Air Force activity in the S Philippines being Del Monte on Mindanao where air personnel are under the command of Major Ray T Ellsmore. (Brigadier General George is killed in an aircraft accident near Darwin on 29 Apr 42. Victorville AFB, California is renamed George AFB on 2 Jun 1950 in his memory.) The ground echelon of the 16th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group, transfers from Cabcaben to Bataan. The air echelon is operating from Brisbane.
BORNEO - Fifteen days of vicious fighting in Borneo ends with the Japanese in control of the country and heavy Allied losses.
ALASKA (Air Force, Alaska Defense Command): The 11th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), Western Theater of Operations, US Army, arrives at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage with 25 P-40's.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force): HQ 19th Bombardment Group and the air echelon of it's 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) transfer from Batchelor Field to Singosari, Java, Netherlands East Indies with B-17's. The ground echelon of the 28th is on Luzon and Mindanao. The air echelon of the 14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Batchelor Field to Singosari, Java with B-17's. The ground echelon is on Luzon.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force): American pilots are evacuated from the Philippines to prevent their capture by the Japanese invaders. The 17th and 20th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), cease operating from Lubao with P-40's and return to their base on Bataan. The air echelon of the 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group transfers from Batchelor Field to Singosari, Java, Netherlands East Indies with B-17's. The ground echelon is on Luzon and Mindanaos in the Philippines.