SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

19 January 1942

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

7 of 8 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Borneo

British North Borneo is surrendered to Japanese at Sandakan.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Burma

Japanese seize Tavoy and its airfield. Because of this, it is decided to withdraw Mergui garrison by sea to Rangoon at once, although Mergui has not yet been attacked. Balance of Ch 93d Div (6th Army) is ordered to move into Burma.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Luzon

II Corps continues efforts to regain positions along Balantay R on W flank, 45th Inf ( - ) (PS) reaching river in region between 31st Inf (U.S.) and 41st Div (PA). 31st Inf, however, is under increasingly strong pressure.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Japanese forces take large numbers of British troops prisoner, north of Singapore.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
The Japanese conquest of Burma begins.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-01-19, flown by RAF. Targets included SICILY.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Pacific Theater

THOR mission records show at least 9 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-01-19, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

19 January in other years 1940 1941 1943 1944 1945

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19 January 1942

Entries

British North Borneo is surrendered to Japanese at Sandakan.

Japanese seize Tavoy and its airfield. Because of this, it is decided to withdraw Mergui garrison by sea to Rangoon at once, although Mergui has not yet been attacked. Balance of Ch 93d Div (6th Army) is ordered to move into Burma.

II Corps continues efforts to regain positions along Balantay R on W flank, 45th Inf ( - ) (PS) reaching river in region between 31st Inf (U.S.) and 41st Div (PA). 31st Inf, however, is under increasingly strong pressure.

Japanese forces take large numbers of British troops prisoner, north of Singapore.

The Japanese conquest of Burma begins.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-01-19, flown by RAF. Targets included SICILY.

THOR mission records show at least 9 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-01-19, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

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