SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

12 February 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 7 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Mediterranean

3 supply ships leave Alexandria (Egypt) for Malta, but all are lost to enemy before reaching destination.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Singapore

Japanese attack strongly at several points and make further gains. During night 12-13, beach defense forces on E and SE coasts are withdrawn to strengthen defense perimeter around town of Singapore.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
U.S.

Tenth Air Force is activated at Patterson Field, Ohio, and assigned to Gen Stilwell.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 5 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-02-12, flown by RAF. Targets included BURMA.

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 (3 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-02-12, flown by RAF. Targets included CRETE, GREECE, LIBYA.

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 11 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-02-12, 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.

12 February in other years 1940 1941 1943 1944 1945

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12 February 1942

Entries

3 supply ships leave Alexandria (Egypt) for Malta, but all are lost to enemy before reaching destination.

Japanese attack strongly at several points and make further gains. During night 12-13, beach defense forces on E and SE coasts are withdrawn to strengthen defense perimeter around town of Singapore.

Tenth Air Force is activated at Patterson Field, Ohio, and assigned to Gen Stilwell.

THOR mission records show at least 5 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-02-12, flown by RAF. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-02-12, flown by RAF. Targets included CRETE, GREECE, LIBYA.

THOR mission records show at least 11 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-02-12, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included INDONESIA.

Talk about it