SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

30 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.

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

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Entries

Burma

Japanese open strong attack on Moulmein and seize the airdrome.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Malaya

British withdrawal to Singapore reaches its final stage. East Force is the first unit to cross causeway and is followed by Ind 11th Div and West Force.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
NEI

Japanese invade Ambon (Amboina), second largest naval base in NEI, and are opposed by garrison of Dutch and Australians. Allied air and naval forces have already been withdrawn because of enemy air attacks.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
East Africa Theater

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the East Africa Theater on 1942-01-30, flown by RAF. Targets included an unrecorded target country.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-01-30, flown by RAF. Targets included LIBYA, TUNISIA.

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 5 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-01-30, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included INDONESIA.

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.

30 January in other years 1940 1941 1943 1944 1945

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30 January 1942

Entries

Japanese open strong attack on Moulmein and seize the airdrome.

British withdrawal to Singapore reaches its final stage. East Force is the first unit to cross causeway and is followed by Ind 11th Div and West Force.

Japanese invade Ambon (Amboina), second largest naval base in NEI, and are opposed by garrison of Dutch and Australians. Allied air and naval forces have already been withdrawn because of enemy air attacks.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the East Africa Theater on 1942-01-30, flown by RAF. Targets included an unrecorded target country.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-01-30, flown by RAF. Targets included LIBYA, TUNISIA.

THOR mission records show at least 5 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-01-30, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included INDONESIA.

Talk about it