THE PACIFIC

Chronology
1931-32

*Japan establishes puppet state of Manchukuo

1933

March 25
*Japan leaves league of Nations

1936

November 25
*Japan signs Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany

December 2
*Yamamoto begins forging the naval air arm into a modern weapon

1937

July 7
*Beginning of general attack by Japanese forces on Chine (China Incident)

August 13
*Fighting begin between Japanese and Chinese troops at Shanghai

1939

February 10
*Japan occupies the Chinese island of Hainan

July 2
*Japanese forces in Manchukuo cross into Outer Mongolia (Nomonhan incident)

August
*Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto appointed commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy

August 2
*Albert Einstein contacts Roosevelt about the feasibility of constructing a nuclear weapon

September 4
*Yamamoto writes to V/Adm. Shimata to say that is uneasy about 'Japan's relations with Germany and Italy in the
face of changes now taking place in Europe'

September 16
*Ceasefire with Soviet forces in Manchukuo

1940

Spring
*The US Fleet transfers to Pearl Harbor as its permanent home base: to the japanese, this is a thinly veiled threat.
Yamamoto uses this to urge expansion of naval air power. Yamamoto begins thinking that it would be better to carry

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war to the US Navy rather than wait for them to choose the time and place of the battle

July
*Roosevelt has an embargo placed on all aviation fuel, steel and scrap iron to Japan

July 7
*Burma Road closed for three months

August
*Lieutenant-Colonel Friedman, a cryptographer, breaks the Japanese Purple Code (MAGIC)

September 3
*Roosevelt gives Britain 50 old destroyers for the right to establish US naval bases in British territories

September 4
*The US warns Japan not to attack French Indochina

September 11
*Ojiro Okuda id appointed acting consul general to Hawai. He is in charge of reporting on movements of US ships in
the harbor, much of which appears in American newspapers. Kochichi Seki studies Jane's Fighting Ships and travels
around the island studying the base and airfields, but without trespassing on US government property though

September 22
*Japan granted bases in Indo-China

September 27
*Tripartite pact Between Germany, Italy and Japan
*yamamoto tells Konoye: 'I hope you will avoid a Japanese-American war'.

November 12
*British torpedo bombers attack the Italian fleet at Taranto, disabling half of Italy's Mediterranean fleet

December 10
*Yamamoto writes to Shimada: 'The probability is great... our operations against the Netherlands' Indies are almost
certain to develop into a war with America, Britain and Holland before those operations are half-over. Consequently
we should not launch... the southern opeartion unless we are prepared...and adequately equipped'.

December 30
*Rear Admiral Bloch send a memo: 'Any aircraft attacking Pearl Harbor will... be brought by carriers'.

1941

January 1
*In Japan, American ambassador Grew writes in his diary: 'Japan... is on the warpath... If Americans... could read...
articles by leading Japanese... they would realize the utter hopelessness of a policy of appeasement'.

January 6
*President Roosevelt declares the United States the 'arsenal of democracy'.

January 7
*Yamamoto writes a letter to R/Adm. Takijiru Oikawa, saying: 'A conflict with the United States... is inevitable'. The
Japanese navy should 'destroy the US main fleet at the outset of the war'. He continues that the Japanese Navy
should strike so as to 'decide the fate of the war on the very first day'. His plan is to find the US Navy 'at Pearl
Harbor [and] attack it vigorously with our air force'. He concludes that if the US Navy is not at Pearl Harbor, they
should find them regardless of where they are. The Japanese First and Second Carrier Divisions should mount a
'surprise attack with all their air atrength, risking themselves on a moonlight night or dawn'. Oilers were needed for
refueling at sea, destroyers would pick up survivors whose aircraft or ships went down, and submarines would

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attack vessels fleeing Pearl Harbor and attempt to sink Allied vessels at the entrance and block it. An attack on 'the
Philippines and Singapore should be made at almost the same time as... against Hawaii'. At the end of the letter,
Yamamoto requests: 'I sincerely desire to... personally command that attack force'.

January 9
*Wake Island – United States Navy pioneer party and first contingent of contractors for CPNAB arrive and
commence construction of naval-base facilities on Wake, under the command of Lieutenent Commander Elmer
Greey USN and CPNAB Superintendent Dan Teters

January 24
*Japanese troops land in southern Indo-China
*Prince Fumimaro Konoye, the Japanese prime minister, asserts that 'firm establishment of a Mutual Prosperity
Sphere in Greater East Asia is... necessary to the continued existence of the country'. Yamamoto hypothesizes that
should war break out 'between Japan and the United States, it would not be enough that we take Guam and the
Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. We would have to... dictate the terms of peace in the White House.
I wonder if our politicians... are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices'.

January 27
*In secret talks with Britain, the US decides that if Japan enters the war on the German side, and if the US enters the
war, Germany is ti be defeated first, then Japan. Ambassador Grew, in Japan, is worned by his Peruvian counterpart
that he has heard a Japanese worker in his embassy say that if war occurs the 'Japanese military... [will] attempt a
surprise mass attack on Pearl Hoarbor using all their military facilities'. In Washingto, military intelligence is
surprised only that Grew puts credence in the source of the report and not in the supposition of the report. In
Japan, Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka says, 'We must control the Western Pacific', and that the US should
reconsider their prior actions. Aboard Nagato, Yamamoto discusses the logical and technical feasibility of an attack
on Pearl Harbor. After this meeting, Onishi asks Maeda (his senior staff officer) the following question: if US capital
ships were 'moored around Ford Island, could a successful torpedo attack be launched against them?' Maeda says
no, the water is too shallow for torpedoes to be effective. However, if the torpedoes were modified...

February 1
*Kimmel replaces Richardson as CinCPAC; Short is promoted to commander of the Hawaiian Department

February 5
*Kimmel receives a letter from Secretary Knox stating: 'If war eventuates with Japan... hostilities... would start...
with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor'. The letter tells Kimmel to 'increase the joint readniss of the army and navy
to withstand a raid'. He says that probable forms of attack are bombing, torpedo attacks, or both. Congressman
Faddis of Pennsylvanis states: 'The Japanese are not going to risk a fight... where they must face the American Navy
in open battle. Their navy is not strong enough'.

February 12
*Nomura presents his credencials, which appoint him Ambassador to Washington, to Cordell Hull

February 15
*Kimmel issues a Pacific Fleet Conference letter saying they are faced with a possible surprise attack on ships in
Pearl Harbor

February Mid
*Onishi sends for Cmdr Minoru Genda and presents Yamamoto's plan, mentioning that Yamamoto has given some
thought to making it a one-way mission (katamechi kogami) to increase the strinking distance to over 500 miles.
Genda opposes treating aircraft as disposable:'Ditching... would be a waste of men and planes'. He thinks
Yamamoto should include dive-bombers and high altitude bombers as well as torpedo planes in the attack. 'To
obtain best results, all carriers should approach as close to Pearl Harbor as possible'. His last point is: 'Our prime
target should be US carriers'. Onishi asks Genda to prepare a report about feasibility

February Late
*Genda gives Onishi a report containing ten main proposals. It must be a surprise attack; US carriers are its main
objective; US aircraft on Oahu are an objective; and every available Japanese carrier should take part in the

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operation. Furthermore, all kinds of attack aircraft should be used, and Japanese fighters should play an active role
in the attack; the attack should be in early morning; refueling vessels at sea is necessary for success; and all planning
must be ultra-secret. The tenth proposal is for a full-scale invasion, which Onishi disagrees with because they could
not maintain supply so far from their present bases. Yamamoto wants to cripple the US Navy whereas Genda feels
they should annihilate it

February 27
*Okuda reports: 'The fleet goes to sea for a week and stays in Pearl Harbor for one week. Every Wednesday those at
sea and those in the harbor change places'.

March 5
*The Japanese foreign ministry wires Nomura to say that they feel fairly certain that the US 'is reading your code
messages'.

March 10
*Onishi gives Yamamoto a draft of his plan for attack, based on Genda's plan but with some modifications

March 11/12
*Congress passes the Lend Lease Act, which supplies materiel to governments fighting the Axis

March 14
*Kita is appointed consul general to Hawaii

March 20
*Nomura responds to the foreign ministry: 'Though I do not know which ones, I have discovered that the United
States is reading some of our codes'. Nomura informs them he will tell them details in a 'safe' way. Still they did not
change the Purple Code. Matsuoka may have been sudpicious of Nomura's warning, feeling it sprang from insecurity

March 27
*Takeo Yoshikawa, an intelligence officer, arrives in Pearl Harbor and realises that battleships are berthed in pairs
and that the in-shore ship is protected from torpedo attacks by the outboard one

March 30
*Roosevelt orders the Coast Guard to seize two German, 28 Italian and 35 Danish ships in US ports

April 1
*Naval intelligence in Washington alerts district commanders to the fact that 'the Axis Powers often... [attack on]
Saturday and Sunday or on national holidays' and that commanders should put 'proper watches and precautions...
in effect'.

April 10
*Yhe IJN reorganises into the 1 st Air Fleet, consisting of the First Carrier Division (Kaga and Akagi and four
destroyers), the Second Carrier Division (Hiryu and Soryu and four destroyers) and the Fourth Carrier Division
(Ryuho and two destroyers)

April 13
*Japan and Russia sign a neutrality pact giving Japan the green light for southward expansion

April 15
*The US begins shipping lend-lease goods to China

April 21
*US, English and Dutch officers coordinate the proposed roles of each in the military defense against Japan in case
of a Japanese attack on Singapore

April 23
*Marshall disagrees with Roosevelt's decision to keep US fleet in Hawaii because 'our heavy bombers and... pursuit

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planes... could put such a defense that the Japs wouldn't dare attack Hawaii'.

April 28
*When queried about the US choice to strengthen the Atlantic Fleet by removing vessels from the Pacific, the British
reply that the 'reduction... would not unduly encourage Japan'. New Mexico, Mississippi, Idaho, Yorktown, four light
cruisers, 17 destroyers, three oilers, three transports, and ten auxiliaries are transferred by the end of summer

May 20
*Nomura confirms to Tokyo: 'The US is reading some of our codes'.

May 26
*Yoshikawa reports that three battleships and three light cruisers have disappeared from Pearl Harbor. Kimmel fires
off an 11.page memo noting that 72 percent of the new officers for the Atlantic came from the Pacific Fleet and that
the Pacific Fleet's needs are subordinated to those of Britain and the Atlantic Fleet

May 27
*Roosevelt declares the US to be in unlimited state of national emergency

June 14
*The US freezes German and Italian assets

June 16
*German consulates in the US are shut down

June 17
*Germany moves against US property in German

June 20
*The US stops oil shipments from Gulf and East Coast ports to all destinations except Latin America and Britain

June 22
*Italian consulates in the US are closed

June 26
*Vichy France permits Japan to occupy French Indochina
*The US impounds Japanese credits in the US
*Roosevelt nationalises the Philippine Army

July 17
*A new Japanese government is formed

July 24
*Japanese troops land in southern Indo-China

July 26
*General MacArthur appointed to command US Army in Far East

July 27
*Japanese troops start occupying French Indo-China

July 28
*The US puts an embargo on oil sales, freezes assets, and closes ports to Japanese vessels

August 18
*An amendment to the 1940 Selective Service Law extends the length of service for US inductees from one year to
two-and-a-half years

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August 19
*Wake Island – Advance party, 1 st Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force (FMF) arrives and makes camp (Camp 1)
under the command of Major Lewis Hohn

September 24
*A message from Tokyo to the Consulate General instructs the spy to report on US vessels in Pearl Harbor

October 15
*Wake Island – Major James Devereux assumes duty as island commander and Marine detachment commander

October 16
*Konoye resigns and Gen. Tojo sets up a new government with himself as prime minister
*Stark warns Kimmel of the possibility of Japanese activities

October 17
*Marianas Islands – US dependents evacuated from Guam

November 2
*Wake Island – 200 Marine reinforcements arrive at Wake on the USS Castor

November 5
*Yamamoto issues Top Secret Order No. 1 to the Continent Fleet, detailing the plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor

November 7
*Congress repeals sections of the Neutrality Act concerning arming US cargo ships and transporting war goods to
warring nations

November 10
*Britain states that should Japan go to war with the US, they will declare war on Japan 'within the hour'.

November 22
*The US intercepts a message telling Nomura that the deadline of November 22 has been extended to November
25, 1941

November 25
*No US-Japanese agreement is reached: consequently, Nagumo's task force sails from the Kurilles

November 27
*Argentina decides not to sell tungsten to Japan
*Kimmel and Short are advised that US-Japanese negotiations have failed and that they should be prepared for any
eventuality. Kimmel is ordered to deliver 25 aircraft to Wake and Midway

November 29
*Wake Island – VMF-211's advance party, under the command of major Walter Bayler, arrives and commences
preparations to receive aircraft. Commander Winfield Cunningham arrives and relieves maj. Devereux as island
commander

December 1
*Emperor gives his approval to attack the US, Commonwealth, and Netherlands

December 2
*Nagumo gets the go ahead. The US intercepts a message to the Japanese Embassy to destry all codes

December 4
*Marianas Islands – War warning received by Guam from the Navy Department
*Wake Island – VMF-211, under the command of Major paul Putnam, flies in to Wake from USS Enterprise

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December 6
*Roosevelt is given the partly deciphred 14 part message: Instructions state it is not to be given to Hull until 1300
hrs Washington time on December 7
*Marianas Islands – Guam garrison destroys classified documents

December 7
*The Japanese Navy attacks Pearl Harbor

December 8
*Roosevelt calls the attack on Pearl Harbor a day that will 'live in infamy' and Congress declares war on Japan
*Japanese attack the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaya, and Wake Island
*Gen. Yamashitas's 25th Army lands near the borders of Thailand and Malaya and begins the battle for Singapore
*Marianas Islands – Japanese aircraft attack Guam
*Wake Island – First Japanese air raid on Wake by land-based bombers from the 24 th Air Flotilla. Seven fighter planes
of VMF-211 are destroyed and there are numerous casualties
Philippines
*0230hrs – Asiatic Fleet Headquarters receives radio transmission about the Pearl Harbour attack. The Philippines is
18 hours ahead of Hawai
*0400hrs – IJNAF aircraft launch from the Ryujo to attack Davao
*0500hrs – Brereton attempts to secure MacArthur's approval for launching a B-17 attack on Japanese bases on
Formosa. Sutherland tells Brereton that MacArthur does not have time to see him
*0530hrs – Washington contacts MacArthur about the Pearl Harbor strike and tells him to execute Rainbow-5
*0700hrs – Fog clears over Formosa, which had delayed an earlier launch of IJAAF and IJNAF aircraft, allowing attack
forces to leave their bases. All aircraft get in the air by 0845hrs
*0800hrs – Brereton orders B-17s at Clark to conduct aerial patrols to watch for an invasion fleet, Japanese aircraft,
and avoid an air attack while on the ground
*0900hrs – Brereton receives reports of airborne Japanese bombers heading south. He launches his B-17s in Luzon
to avoid the Japanese catching them on the ground
*0930hrs – IJAAF aircraft hit Baguio and Tuguegarao
*1235hrs – IJNAF aircraft smash Iba
*1240hrs – Japanese aircraft bomb and strafe Clark Field; Japanese take Bataan Island

December 9
*Wake Island – Second Japanese air raid on Wake

December 10
*HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse sunk off the east coast of Malaya
*Philippines – Main Japanese landing in the Philippines. IJA forces land at Aparri and Vigan. Japanese aircraft
destroy Cavite and airfields around Manila
*Marianas Islands – Japanese forces land on Guam and garrison surrenders
*Wake Island – Third Japanese air raid on Wake. A dynamite cache, with 125 tons of explosives, is blown up on
Wilkes with major damage to batteries on that island

December 11
*Italy and Germany declare war on the US
*Wake Island – The Japanese, under the command of Rear Admiral Sadamichi kajioka, attempt to land on Wake and
are decisively defeated with the loss of two destroyers and with major damage to three cruisers, three destroyers,
one destroyer-transport, and one transport. Fourth Japanese air raid on Wake

December 12
*Japanese forces occupy Guam
*Wake Island – Fifth Japanese air raid on Wake. Japanese submarine bombed and possibly sunk by VMF-211 25
miles (40km) southwest of Wake. Mass burial services are held after nightfall
*Philippines – Japanese forces come ashore at Legaspi

December 14
*Japanese start invasion of Burma

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*Wake Island – Sixth and seventh Japanese air raids on wake

December 15
*Wake Island – Eighth Japanese air raid on Wake

December 15/16
*Wake Island – Relief force (Task Force 14) sets sail from Pearl Harbor

December 16
*Wake Island – Ninth and tenth Japanese air raids on Wake

December 17
*Japanese land in British Borneo
*Wake Island – 11th and 12th japanese air raids on wake
*Philippines – Remaining B-17s in Del Monte leave for Australia

December 18
*Wake Island – japanese photoreconnaissance conducted over Wake. Task Group 7.2, composed of SS Triton and SS
Tambor, is withdrawn from Wake

December 19
*Wake Island – 13th Japanese air raid on Wake

December 20
*Wake Island – A PBY seaplane arrives from Midway with information about the relief expedition

December 21
*Wake Island – The PBY departs from Wake with the last United States personnel to leave the atoll. 14 th Japanese air
raid on Wake (first large carrier strike by planes from carriers Hiryu and Soryu), followed by 15 th Japanese air raid on
Wake

December 22
*Wake Island – 16th Japanese air raid on Wake. The last two aircraft of VMF-211 are rendered inoperable and the
squadron reports to defense-detachment commander as infantry. Task Force 4 stops to refuel, 515 miles (830km)
from Wake
*Philippines – Japanese forces invade the Lingayen Gulf

December 23
*Wake Island – 2nd Maizuru Special naval Landing Force (SNLF) executes pre-dawn landing on southern shore of
Wake proper and Wilkes and, after almost 12 hours' fighting, the defenders of Wake Island surrender. Task Force 14
is recalled

December 24
*Philippines – MacArthur changes strategy and implements WPO-3 IJA units land at Lamon Bay. For the next week,
Wainwright+s forces forestall the Japanese offensive through the Central Luzon Plan and start delaying actions
against the 48th Division moving south

December 25
*Surrender of Hong Kong

December 26
*Philippines – Manila declared an open city

December 31
*Philippines – Japanese troops advance on Manila, the Philippines capital. MacArthur withdraws all forces out of
Manila
*Admiral Chester Nimitz assumes command of the Pacific Fleet

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1942

January 1
*Philippines – Jone's forces retreat across the Calumpit bridges

January 1/14
*Admiral Ugaki, on instructions from Yamamoto, prepares plans identifying possible future operations

January 5
*Philippines – American-Filipino ground forces put on half-rations

January 7
*Philippines – Remaining units in central Luzon move into Bataan

January 9
*Nara initiates attack on the Abucay Line

January 10
*Philippines – MacArthur travels to Bataan from Corregidor

January 12
*Wake Island – United States prisoners of war are evacuated from wake for confinement in the Japanese Empire

January 15
*Philippines – The 51st Division moves back under Japanese pressure in the Abucay Line's western sector

January 16
*Japanese troops cross over Burmese border
*Philippines – Japanese forces reach Moron

January 21
*Philippines – The Kimura Detachment and 20th Infantry Regiment break through the Mauban Line to the West Road

January 22
*Philippines – MacArthur decides to abandon the main battle positions

January 23
*Japanese seize New Britain and New Ireland in the Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville in the Solomon Islands

January 26
*Philippines – American and Filipino units establish themselves into the Bagac-Orion Line

January 27
*Philippines – Japanese units conduct an amphibious operation to deploy troops behind the Bagac-Orion Line. This
begins the Battle of the Points

January 28
*Philippines – Nara penetrates the Bagac-Orion Line, but the defenders do not break

January 29
*Philippines – Japanese units destroyed at Longoskawayan Point

January 30
*Japanese forces attack Ambon

January 31

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*Defending forces in Malaya withdraw to Singapore Island

February 8
*Philippines – American forces, using their own amphibious attack, try to evict the remaining Japanese forces at
Quinauan Point. Nara disengages from the Bagac-Orion Line

February 10
*Philippines – Homma requests reinforcements to conquer Bataan

February 15
*Gen Percival surrenders Singapore to Gen Yamashita

February 19
*Japanese bomb Darwin

February 19/20
*Japanese forces land on Timor

February 22
*Philippines – President Roosevelt orders General MacArthur out of the Philippines

February 20/25
*Army turns down Navy project to invade Ceylon

February 24
*Wake Island – First United States carrier strikes on Wake

February 27
*Naval battle of Java Sea

February 28
*Japanese forces land in Java

March 8
*Japanese troops enter Rangoon; Japanese land in New Guinea

March 12
*Philippines – General MacArthur leaves Corregidor and is flown to Australia. General Jonathan Wainright becomes
the new US commander in the Philippines

March Mid
*Combined Fleet turns to Midway proposal

March 18
*General MacArthur appointed commander of the South-West Pacific Theater by President Roosevelt

March 24
*Admiral Chester Nimitz appointed as Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Area

March 28
*Combined Fleet staff under Kuroshima begin work on Midway operation

April 2/5
*Kuroshima and Watanabe discuss midway plan with Naval General Staff. They reluctantly agree to accept Midway
plan after Yamamoto threatens to resign

April 3

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*Philippines – Homma's heavy artillery begins bombardment against the American-Filipino defenders

April 5
*Japanese carrier-borne aircraft attack Colombo

April 9
*Philippines – Japanese forces require only a day to smash the Bagac-Orion Line. King surrenders Bataan

April 10
*Philippines – The IJA invades Cebu

April 18
*United States first attacks Japanese territory with several strikes on Tokyo and other areas with the Doolitle Raid

April 22
*First Air Fleet returns to Japan. Nagumo learns of midway operation for first time

April 28/29
*Conference aboard Yamato to explore Midway operation

April 29
*Philippines – The Kawaguchi Detachment lands on Mindanao and begins campaign to defeat the last major Filipino
outposts in the southern Philippines

May 1/4
*Preliminary war games for MI held on Yamato

May 2
*Nimitz flies to Midway to inspect defences of base

May 3
*The 3rd Kure Special Naval Landing Force invades and captures Tulagi, the seat of British Government in the
Solomon Islands. They also capture Gavutu, the headquarters for Lever Brothers

May 5
*Admiral Nagano issues Naval Order 18, ordering MI and AL
*Philippines – Japanese landing craft transports troo+s to Corregidor. Wainwright surrenders the island

May 6
*Philippines – Wainwright assumes command of all forces in the Philippines and surrenders unconditionally his
entire command to Homma

May 7/11
*Battle of Coral Sea. US loses Lexington, Yorktown badly damaged. Japan loses Shoho, Shokaku and Zuikaku
unavailable to take part in MI because of battle damage/aeroplane losses
*Japanese troops prevented from landing at Port Moresby

May 10
*Midway despatches false message under Hypo's direction that Midway is short of water

May 12
*Hypo intercepts Japanese signal that 'AF' is short of water

May 15
*Halsey ordered to Pearl Harbor
*Last British troops withdraw across the Burma-India border

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May 20
*Yamamoto issues estimate of US strength
*Midway Transport Group & Seaplane Tender Group leave Japan for Saipan
*Allied forces withdraw from Burma

May 21
*Midway begins Alert Phase

May 22
*Midway begins search and reconnaissance phase

May 22/26
*Air and Marine reinforcements arrive at Midway

May 24
*Final wargames on Yamato

May 25
*Commander Rochefort gives Nimitz breakdown of Japanese order of battle
*Nimitz informs Midway that D-Day is postponed to June 3

May 26
*Halsey too hill to command TF 16. Recommends Spruance

May 27
*Nimitz briefs Spruance. Yorktown enters harbour. Emergency repair work begins

May 28
*Northern Force sorties from Japan
*Fletcher named commander of Task Forces 16 & 17. Nimitz briefs Fletcher and Spruance. Task Force 16 sorties from
Pearl Harbor

May 29
*Yamamoto's main Body sorties from Hasharijima

May 30
*Submarine finds US vessels at French Frigate Shoals. Operation K postponed
*Task Force 17 sorties from Pearl
*Midway begins air search. Time uncertain: Japanese submarine cordon arrives on station 2 days late. Does not
detect passage of either US Task Force

May 31
*Attack on Sydney Harbour
*Operation K cancelled

June 1
*Japanese detect US vessels sending many 'urgent' messages

June 2
*Nagumo breaks radio silence by transmitting course change
*TF 16 & TF 17 meet at 'Point Luck'

June 3
*Second Carrier Strike Force launches air strike and attacks Dutch Harbor

June 4
*The turning point in the Pacific War; a decisive victory for the US against Japan in the Battle of Midway as

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squadrons of US torpedo planes and dive bombers from USS Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown attack and destroy
four Japanese carriers, a cruiser, and damage another cruiser and two destroyers. The US loses Yorktown
*3 PBYs attack invasion force. Akebono Maru hit
*Between 0702-0830, successive waves of Midway based aircraft attack first Air Fleet. Heavy US losses, no Japanese
carriers hit
*At 1022, Kaga dive bombed. At 1025, Soryu bombed three times. At 1026, Akagi hit by two bombs. At 1200 Hiryu
attacks Yorktown and at 1455, abandon ship ordered on Yorktown
*At 1705, Hiryu attacked, hit by four bombs. At 1913, Soryu sinks and at 1925, Kaga sinks

June 5
*At 0300, Mikuma crashes into Mogami. At 0500, Akagi scuttled. At 820 Akagi sinks

June 6
*Between 0945-1445, air attacks on Mikuma and Mogami. At 1331, Yorktown torpeded
*After sunset Mikuma sinks

June 7
*Yorktown sinks at 0458
*Japanese land in Aleutian Islands

June 8
*General MacArthur suggests to General Marshall (Army Chief of Staff) that an offensive be taken with New Britain,
New Ireland and New Guinea as the objective. MacArthur would be in command

June 9
*Philippines – All organised resistance ceases in the Philippines

June 12
*General Marshall meets with Admiral King (Chief of Naval Operations) and attempts to foster MacArthur's plan

June 14
*Advance elements of the US 1 st Marine Division land in Wellington, New Zealand. They are not expected to see
combat until after January
*Roosevelt approves a program for research and development of nuclear weapons, later to become the Manhattan
Project

June 25
*Admiral King, after studying the Army plan, rejects it as too ambitious and suggests that the Solomon Islands and
Santa Cruz Island be taken first, then New Britain, New Ireland and New Guinea. Admiral Nimitz would be in
command

June 26
*General Marshall and Admiral King cannot come to agreement on an offensive plan. King, fearing delays, orders
Admiral Nimitz to begin planning to retake the Solomon Islands. Nimitz alerts Vice Admiral Ghormley
*Admiral Ghormley calls General Vandergrift, the Commanding General of 1 st Marine Division to Auckland to
announce to him that his division will lead an amphibious assault in the Solomon Islands on 1 August

June 29/July 2
*General marshall and Admiral King continue to debate the strategic plan and its commander

July 2
*General Marshall and Admiral King reach an agreement and sign the 'Joint Directive for Offensive Operations in the
Southwest Pacific Area Agreed on by the United States Chief of Staff

July 6
*The Japanese send a survey party to Guadalcanal to select the site for an airfield on the north coast plain. A site is
selected near Lunga Point and construction begins. Mid-August is the estimated completion date

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July 7
*Vice Admiral Ghormley is selected to command the Guadalcanal-Tulagi amphibious invasion

July 11
*The remainder of the 1st Marine Division reinforced arrives in Wellington, New Zealand

July 21
*Japanese land at Gona area, Papua, New Guinea

July 22
*The amphibious force sails from New Zealand for the Solomons. The invasion date has been postponed to 7 August

July 28/31
*An amphibious rehearsal is conducted at Koro in a remote area of the Fiji Islands

August 7
*The First US amphibious landing of the Pacific War occurs as 1 st Mar Div invades Tulagi and Guadalcanal, Solomon
Islands

August 8
*The Japanese airfield is seized and named Henderson Field in honour of a Marine pilot killed at Midway

August 9
*The Battle for Savo Island. A Japanese naval force under Admiral Mikawa surprises an American naval force near
Savo Island. The Americans lose four cruisers sunk and one damaged. The Japanese depart the area with damage to
one destroyer. The overall result is that the American Navy departs area, leaving Marines on shore unsupported

August 17
*US marine Raider Battalion attacks Makin Islands in the Gilberts

August 19
*First battle of the Matanikau. Battalion sized operation. One company proceeds west along the coast to fix the
Japanese at mouth of the river while a second company lands to the west to cut off retreating Japanese. A third
company launches the main attack from jungle to south

August 21
*Battle of the Tenaru. 900 Japanese under Colonel Ichiki attack 2 nd Battalion, 1st Marines, at Alligator Creek. In the
ensuing action, Colonel Ichiki and his troops are defeated

August 24
*Battle of the Eastern Solomons. A Japanese attempt to reinforce Guadalcanal and block American interdiction of
their naval forces. It is not a decisive naval battle, but the Japanese are pulled back

August 25/26
*Japanese land at Milne Bay

September 8
*Tasimboko Raid. Raiders and Parachutists strike the rear party of the Kawaguchi Brigade, destroying the Japanese
supplies. The Marine force narrowly averts destruction by the timely arrival of supply ships mistaken by the
Japanese as a reinforcing invasion force

September 12/14
*The Battle of 'Bloody Ridge'. The Japanese under Major General Kawaguchi initiated a three-pronged attack to
retake Henderson Field. The attacks are disjointed and unsuccessful. The main attack is launched from the jungle
south of a series of ridges south of Henderson Field; the two other attacks strike the Lunga Perimeter from the east
and west

14
September 17
*Japanese drive over Owen Stanley Range halted at Imita Ridge

September 23/October 9
*General Vandergrift initiates three operations to expand the Lunga Perimeter by attempting to push the Japanese
from Matinkau; but the Japanese hold on the area proves too stong

October 11
*Battle of Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal. Mutual attempts to land reinforcements lead to a naval clash near Savo
Island. The American Navy crosses de 'T' on the Japanese. The naval balance of power begins shift toward the
Americans

October 18
*Vice Admiral William F Halsey named as the new commander of the South Pacific Area, in charge of the Solomons-
New Guinea campaign

October 23/25
*Battle for Henderson Field. Major Japanese air-land-sea offensive. A three-pronged attack is planned, but attacks
are not coordinated and are unsupported. The Japanese are defeated

October 26
*Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. A Japanese victory by naval forces supporting the land operation

November 1/4
*American western offensive. Elements of the 1st Marines cross the Matankau and push past Point Cruz

November 2/3
*American eastern offensive. Elements of the 7th Marines push the Japanese out of the Koli Point area

November 5/December 4
*2nd Raider Battalion (Carlson's Raiders) conducts a historic patrol from Aola to Mount Austen

November 12/13
*First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. An American cruiser force intercepts a Japanese battleship force. In the ensuing
battle, Admirals Scott and Callaghan are killed, but the Japanese are turned back

November 14/15
*Second Naval Battle for Guadalcanal. American battleships turn back a Japanese naval force

November 30
*Battle for Tassafaronga. A Japanese destroyer force dropping off supplies is driven away by American forces

December 9
1st Marine Division is relieved and sails from Guadalcanal

December 15/January 26
*The American Army engages in a bitter fight to drive the Japanese from the Mount Austen area

1943

January 4
*Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal gets under way

January 13/17
*The 2nd Marine Division launches an offensive that pushes the Japanese from the Point Cruz area

15
January 22/February 3
*The westward push continues and the Japanese are driven out of Kokumbona area

January 23
*Organised Japanese resistance in Papua ends

February 1/8
*The Japanese withdraw from Doma Cove on destroyers

February 9
*Guadalcanal is secured by the Americans

February 13
*First Chindit operation into Burma

March 2/5
*Naval battle of Bismarck Sea. Japanese convoy sunk off Lae

April 18
*Admiral Yamamoto shot down and killed over Bougainville by US fighters

May 11
*American forces land on Attu in Aleutian Islands
*Marshall Islands – Decision Made at 'Trident' Conference to seize the Marshalls

June 21
*Allies advance to New Georgia, central Solomon Islands

June 30
*Operation Cartwheel, amphibious operations against Japanese in Solomon Islands

July 1
*CICPOA submits plan to seize Marshalls

July 8
*Wake Island – Eight Army B-24s make first land-based strike against Wake, operating from Midway. Succeeding
shore-based air raids continue at intervals

July 20
*Marshall Islands – CICPOA ordered to train and prepare forces to seize the Marshalls

August 1
*Japanese declare Burma independent

August 20
*Marshall Islands – CICPOA submits plan to seize Kwajalein, Wotje and Maloelap

August 24
*Allies secure the New Georgia lodgement

August 28
*Japanese evacuate New Georgia in Solomon Islands

September
*Conference in Hawaii, formulation of Operation Galvanic
*Marshall Islands – CICPOA allocates 4th MarDiv and 7th InfDiv to VAC

16
September 4
*Australians land near Lae, New Guinea

September 16
*Australians divisions enter Lae

October 6/7
*Wake Island – Major US carrier strikes on Wake

October 7
*Mountbatten takes command of South-East Asia Command
*Wake Island – The 98 US civilian prisoners remaining on Wake are executed on order of Rear Admiral Sakaibara

October 12
*Marshall Islands – CICPOA issues Marshalls OpPlan

October 14
*Japanese declare independence of the Philippines

November 1
*US marines invade Bougainville, northern Solomon Islands
*2nd Marine Division leaves Wellington, New Zealand, for Tarawa

November 13
*Convoy leaves New Hebrides with 27th Infantry Division

November 15
*Marshall Islands – VAC issues Marshalls OpPlan

November 20
*Battle of Tarawa, D-day
*0300hrs – Transports begin disembarking troops
*0441hrs – Red star shell indicates Japanese are in Betio
*0500hrs – Kingfisher spotter plane launched
*0530hrs – Troopships affected by southerly current
*0600hrs – minesweepers begin clearing entrance to lagoon
*0735hrs – Main bombardment by support group
*0900hrs – Troops begin to land
*late afternoon – Salvo from Ringgold and Dashiell kills Adm Shibasaki and his staff

November 21
*D-day+1 - 6th Marines come ashore
*afternoon – Japanese troops spotted moving to Bairiki
*2030hrs – Col Merrit Edson comes ashore and takes over command

November 22
*D-day+2 – Major Hays' 1-8 begin assault on the 'Pocket'

November 23
*D-day+3
*0300hrs – Banzai charge to 1-6 defenses
*0700-0730hrs – Destroyers bombard remaining garrison
1300hrs – Eastern end of island in US control. The 'Pocket' falls. Collapse of Japanese opposition on Betio

November 24
*Stars and Stripes and Union Jack raised

17
November 27
*Remaining Japanese on Na'a defeated – the battle for Tarawa is finally over

December
*Marshall Islands – Marshalls invasion date postponed and revised OpPlan issued

December 15
*US troops land on the Arawe Peninsula, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago

December 26
*Full allied assault on New Britain as 1st Mar Div lands on Cape Gloucester, New Britain

1944

January/May
*Wake Island – 996 US sorties are delivered against Wake, dropping 1,079 tons of bombs. Naval bombardment fires
7,092 shells at the islands

January 5
*Marshall Islands – Revised VAC Marshalls OpPlan issued

January 9
*Burma – Allied forces overrun Maumgdaw on Arakan front in Burma

January 13
*Marshall Islands – Main body of TF 53 (4th MarDiv) departs San Diego

January 22
*Marshall Islands – Main body of TF 51 (Joint Expeditionary Force) departs Hawaii

January 30/February 1
*Marshall Islands – Majuro Atoll occupied

January 31
*Marshall Islands – D-Day in the Marshalls with outlying islands secured in Kwajalein Atoll

February 1
*Marshall Islands – Roi-Namur and Kwajalein Islands assaulted. Roi secured

February 2
*Marshall Islands – Namur secured

February 4
*Marshall Islands – Kwajalein secured

February 8
*Marshall Islands – Kwajalein Atoll declared secure

February 15
*New Zealand forces invade Green Island

February 17
*Marshall Islands – Eniwetok Atoll assaulted

February 17/18
*Marianas Islands – US carrier-based planes from Task Force (TF) 58 destroy the Japanese naval base at Truk Atoll,
Caroline Islands

18
*Marshall Islands – Navy neutralizes Truck

February 20
*US carrier-based and land-based planes neutralize the Japanese base at Rabaul, New Britain

February 22/23
*Marianas Islands – Navy conducts attacks in southern Marianas

February 23
*Marshall Islands – Eniwetok Atoll declared secure

February 29
*Marianas Islands – US Army invades Admiralty Islands

March 2
*Burma – Second Chindit operation launched into Burma

March 4
*Marianas Islands – 29th Division arrives on Guam
*Marshall Islands – Bombing campaign on Jaluit, Maloelap, Wotje, and Mille commences

March 7/April 21
*Marshall Islands – Lesser Marshall Islands secured

March 8
*Burma – Japanese 33rd Division begin their advance towards Tiddim, a week earlier than expected

March 10
*Marianas Islands – 31st Army rstablished on Saipan to control IJA forces in the Japanese Mandate

March 12
*Marianas Islands – Joint Chiefs of Staff direct that southern Marianas be seized

March 15
*Burma – Japanese Imphal offensive from Burma begins: Japanese 15 th Army launches operation 'U-Go'. On the day
that intelligence predicted, the 15th and 31st Divisions cross the Chindwin, the 31st Division en route for Kohima

March 19
*Burma – The lead battalions of the 31st Division surprise the unprepared, understrength and ill-equipped 50 th
Indian Parachute Brigade at Sheldon's Corner

March 20
*Marianas Islands – US Marines secure Emirau. US Navy establishes objectives of the Marianas operation. The 6 th
Expeditionary Force arrives on Guam and is soon reorganised into the 48 th Independent Mixed Brigade and 10 th
Independent Mixed Regiment
*Burma – 161st Brigade (5th Indian Division) flown into Dimapur from Arakan to reinforce Kohima

March 21
*Burma – 50th Indian Parachute Brigade manages to converge on a new defensive position at Sangshak

March 22
*Marianas Islands – Army assaults Hollandia, New Guinea
*Burma – Mass Japanese attacks begin against Sangshak. Slim orders a scratch garrison to assemble at Kohima
under Colonel Hugh Richards

March 23
*Marianas Islands – Pacific Fleet issues Marianas operation order

19
March 26
*Burma – The remnants of 50 th Indian Parachute Brigade evacuate the Sangshak positions. The much-weakened 31 st
Division continues its delayed advance towards Kohima

March 27
*Burma – Slim asks Giffard for the 2 nd Division to be diverted from its intended destination – Arakan – and sent to
Dimapur, for the defence of Kohima, instead

March 29
*Burma – Japanese forces cut the Kohima-Imphal road, surrounding Imphal. Brigadier Warren of 161 st Brigade
arrives in Kohima

April 1
*Burma – First elements of 2nd Division arrive in panic-strike Dimapur

April 3
*Burma – General Stopford's HQ XXXIII Corps set up at Jorhat. Royal West Kents ordered to withdraw from Kohima
and defend Dimapur instead

April 4
*First exhausted elements of 31st Division arrive in Kohima

April 5
*Burma – Royal West Kents rushed back to occupy positions on Kohima Ridge, digging in under Japanese fire

April 6
*Burma – Coordinated Japanese attacks fall on the defended perimeter of Kohima Ridge

April 8
*Burma – 138th Regiment cut Kohima Ridge off from the 161 st Brigade HQ and gun positions at Josoma. 138 th
Regiment instructed by Mutaguchi to continue their advance on Dimapur

April 9
*Burma – Lance-Corporal John Harman wins a posthumous VC on DIS (Daily Issue Store) Hill. Patrol of the 7 th
Worcesters 'bumps' a Japanese patrol at Zubza

April 10
*Burma – DIS Hill abandoned, and perimeter shortened. Mansoon rains begin early (they were expected in May)

April 11
*Burma – Arrival of 2nd Division in Dimapur complete. 7th Worcesters attack 'Bunker Hill' at Zubza but are repulsed

April 12
*Marianas Islands – V Amphibious Corps (VAC) staff split to form Expeditionary Troops and Northern Troops and
Landing Force (NTLF) staffs

April 14
*Burma – 1st Cameron Highlanders, supported by overwhelming artillery support, destroy small Japanese force on
'Bunker Hill'. A patrol of the 4/7th Rajputs make it through the perimeter from Jotsoma

April 16
*Burma – 2nd Division and 161st brigade troops join hands at Jotsoma

April 17
*Burma – Japanese capture FSD (Field Supply Depot) Hill and Kuki Piquet

20
April 18
*Burma – Kohima Garrison reached for first time by troops from Jotsoma, including Lee Grant tanks. First battalion
of 5th Brigade crosses the Zubza nullah to cut the Merema-Bojokan Road. Sato ordered by Mutaguchi to send troops
to support of 15th Division attempting to break into Imphal

April 20
*Burma – Kohima Garrison relieved by troops of the 2 nd Division. Sato complains to HQ Fifteenth Army that none of
the promised supplies has arrived

April 22
*Americans land at Hollandia and Aitape

April 23
*Marianas Islands – Pacific Fleet issues operation plan
*Burma – Final Japanese attempt to overwhelm Garrison Hill fails. Thereafter, Sato turns to the defensive

April 24
*Australians enter Madang
*Japanese 14th Division arrives in the Palau Islands. Col Nakagawa and 10,500 troops are sent to Peleliu plus 1,400 to
Angaur

April 25
*Burma – 4th Brigade begins its march behind Mount Pulebadze

April 26
*Marianas Islands – Expeditionary Troops issues operation plan

April 27
*Marianas Islands – NTLF issues initial operation plan
*Burma – Entire 5th Brigade in position on Merema Ridge. Lee Grant tanks join 5 th Brigade on Naga Hill after fighting
their way through the TCP and across Treasury Ridge

April 29
*Burma – 4th Brigade ordered to cut short its flanking march, and cross Pulebadze to fall on GTP from above

April 30
*Burma – Sato sends a signal to Mutaguchi saying that the 31 st Division was at the end of its endurance

May 1
*Marianas Islands – NTLF issues revised operation plan
*Burma – 4th Brigade occupies Oaks Hill

May 4
*Burma – Royal Norfolks clears topmost part of GPT Ridge. 161 Brigade clears Two Tree Hill. First toehold secure on
FSD Hill by Durhams on Kohima Ridge. 5 th Brigade seizes Church Knoll and Hunters Hill after bypassing Japanese
positions on Merema Ridge

May 6
*Burma – In successfully clearing southernmost positions on GPT Ridge Captain Jack Randle awarded a posthumous
VC. Newly arrived 33rd Indian Brigade begins replacing British 6th Brigade on Kohima Ridge

May 11
*Marianas Islands – Southern Troops and Landing Force (STLF) issues operation plan
*Burma – 4th Brigade finally clears GPT Ridge

May 12
*Burma – FSD Hill cleared by men of the Royal Berkshires

21
May 13
*Burma – Dorsets finally clear DC's bungalow on Garrison Hill, after Lee Grant tanks manage to climb onto the
tennis court

May 15
*Burma – Treasury Hill secured, as men of the 5 th Brigade join uo with those of 33 rd Brigade. Attack by Cameron
Highlanders to secure Hunter's Hill fails

May 17
*Marianas Islands – Expeditionary Force issues operation order and sets tentative W-Day (landing on Guam) as 18
June

May 17/19
*Marianas Islands – NTLF issues revised operation plan

May 19
*Burma – Further deliberate attack on Hunter's Hill also fails

May Late
*Marianas Islands – 43rd Division and 47th Independent Mixed Brigade (MB) arrive on Saipan

May 23
*Burma – 7th Indian Division takes responsibility for Naga Hill. Sato exhorts his men to fight to the last

May 23/27
*Marianas Islands – Expeditionary Force conducts rehearsals at Guadalcanal

May 25
*Marianas Islands – Lead elements, Landing Ships, Tank /LST), of Joint Expeditionary Force departs Hawaii for
Eniwetok
*Burma – Sato asks Mutaguchi for permission to withdraw but is refused

May 28
*Burma – Attacks by British 6 th Brigade on Aradura Spur fail. 4/1 st Gurkhas infiltrate Japanese positions on Hunter's
Hill and finally take the position

May 29
*Marianas Islands – Troop transports depart Hawaii for Eniwetok

May 31
*Burma – Sato orders his division to withdraw from Kohima

June 1/4
*Marianas Islands – Expeditionary Force departs for Kwajalein

June3
*Burma – Japanese fall back from Aradura Spur and begin defended withdrawal

June 5
*Burma – Start of Japanese withdrawal from Kohima

June 6/11
*Marianas Islands – Joint Expeditionary Force assembles at Eniwetok

June 9/12
*Marianas Islands – Expeditionary Force departs for Guam

22
June 11/13
*Marianas Islands – Preparatory naval and air bombardment of Saipan, Tinian and Guam commences as do air
attacks on Rota and Pagan Islands

June 14
*Marianas Islands – Northern and Southern Attack Forces commence bomberdment of Saipan. Demonstration
conducted off Saipan's northwest coast

June 15
*Marianas Islands – 2nd and 4th MarDivs land on Saipan
*American strategic air offensive against Japan begins from China. First B-29 bombing of Japan on Yawata in Kyushu
from China

June 16
*Marianas Islands – First aircraft land on Charan Kanoa Airstrip. Bombardment of Guam commences. W-Day
delayed because of approaching Japanese fleet

June 16
*Marianas Islands – 27th InfDiv starts landing on Saipan
*Marianas Islands – Japanese launch counterattack and are defeated

June 17
*Marianas Islands – XXIV Corps Artillery lands

June 19/20
*Battle of the Philippine Sea – destruction of Japanese naval air power; The 'Marianas Turkey Shoot' occurs as US
carrier-based fighters shoot down 220 Japanese planes while only 20 American planes are lost

June 20
*Marianas Islands – After clearing the south, 4 th MarDiv attacks north with 2 nd MarDiv. Shelling of Tinian from
Saipan commences

June 21
*Marianas Islands – Aslito Airfield operational for fighters

June 22
*Burma – Troops from the 2 nd Infantry Division, advancing from Kohima, make contact with troops of the 5 th Indian
Infantry Division coming up from Imphal. The Japanese siege of Imphal is broken
*Marianas Islands – 27th InfDiv takes up position between 2 nd and 4th MarDivs and the push into central Saipan
begins

June 24
*Marianas Islands – Commanding general, 27th InfDiv relieved by LtGen Smith and MajGen Jarman assumes
command

June 25
*Marianas Islands – Mt. Tapotchau and Kagman Peninsula seized. 3 rd MarDiv released from NTFL Reserve to STFL
and sails to Eniwetok

June 26
*Marianas Islands – Shelling and bombardment of Tinian increases
*Emperor Hirohito requests that Foreign Minister seek peace settlement

June 28
*Marianas Islands – MajGen Grimes assumes command of 27 th InfDiv

23
June 30
*Marianas Islands – 2nd MarDiv pinched out of line. 1 st Prov MarBde released from NTFL Reserve to STFL and sales to
Kwajalein. W-Day is reset for 25 July then moved up to 21 July

July 1
*Marianas Islands – 77th Infantry Division (InfDiv) departs Hawaii and sails to Eniwetok

July 2
*Americans land on Noemfoor

July 3
*Marianas Islands – Garapan seized

July 4
*Burma – Southern Area Army commander approves Burma Area Army's recommendation to abandon Imphal
offensive and withdraw back to Burma
*Marianas Islands – Tanapag Seaplane Base secured

July 6
*Marianas Islands – Final mass banzai charge defeated on Tanapag Plain. 27 th Inf Div pinched out of line. 77 th InfDiv
released from NTFL Reserve to STLF

July 7
*Operation Stalemate II – the revised plan for the invasion of the Palau Islands – is issued
*Marianas Islands – Command of Japanese Tinian forces transferred from Northern Marianas Army Group on Saipan
to Southern Marianas Army Group on Guam

July 9
*Marianas Islands – 4th MarDiv reaches Marpi Point and Saipan is declared secure

July 10
*Marianas Islands – 4th and 2nd MarDivs begin preparations for Tinian landing

July 11
*Marianas Islands – 'White' Beaches on Tinian are reconnoitered

July 12
*Marianas Islands – MajGen Schmidt assumes command of VAC/NTLF to allow LtGen Smith to oversee Guam
operation. MajGen Gates assumes command of 4th MarDiv. Garrison Command assumes control of Saipan

July 15/18
*Marianas Islands – Southern Attack Force and STLF depart Eniwetok for Guam

July 16
*Marianas Islands – Japanese Government announces Saipan's fall

July 18
*Prime Minister Tojo and the War and Navy Ministers are forced to resign when the invasion of Saipan is announced
in Japan

July 20
*Marianas Islands – 4th and 2nd MarDivs begin embarkation for Tinian

July 21
*Marianas Islands – 3rd MarDiv and 1st Provisional MarBde land on Guam

July 23

24
*Marianas Islands – 4th and 2nd MarDivs depart Saipan for Tinian

July 23/24
*Marianas Islands – 77th InfDiv lands on Guam

July 24
*Marianas Islands – 4th MarDiv lands on Tinian (J-Day)

July 25
*Marianas Islands – 2nd MarDiv lands on Tinian. Tanapag Harbor on Saipan reopened

July 25/26
*Marianas Islands – Japanese launch major counterattack on Guam and fail

July 27
*Marianas Islands – XXIV Corps Artillery begins relocating to Tinian. Ushi Point Airfield becomes operational. US
sovereignty over Guam proclaimed

July 28
*Marianas Islands – Northern and Southern Beachheads at Guam establishe firm link-up

July 29
*Marianas Islands – Orote Peninsula in Guam secured

July 30
*Burma – Japanese begin withdrawl from Mytkyna, Burma

July 31
*Marianas Islands – Final Japanese counterattack on Tinian

August 1
*Marianas Islands – Tinian declared secure

August 4
*Marianas Islands – Orote Peninsula in Guam secured

August 9
*Marianas Islands – Aslito Airfield operational for B-24 bombers

August 10
*Marianas Islands – Guam declared secure. NTLF dissolved and VAC resumes normal duties. Island Command
assumes control of Tinian

August 12
*Marianas Islands – Commander, Forward Area relieves Commander, Joint Expeditionary Force of responsibility for
Saipan and Tinian

August 27/29
*1st Mar Div conducts practice landings for Peleliu at Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal

September 1
*Marianas Islands – Naval Operating Base, Saipan commissioned

September 4
*Peleliu Attack Group departs Guadalcanal

September 13

25
*Admiral Halsey recommends the cancellation of Operation Stalemate II, but is told it is too late to cancel the
invasion of Peleliu

September 15
*Marianas Islands – Island Command assumes responsibility for Guam
*1st Marine Division land in Palau Islands (Peleliu) and on Morotai Island, Netherlands East Indies

September 16
*Burma – Combined Chiefs of Staff approve Operation Capital, the overland advance into Burma

September 17
*81st Inf Div invade Angaur Island, south of Peleliu
*Burma – General Slim proposes Operation Extended Capital

September 21
*Angaur declared secure. 81st Inf Div available for redeployment to Peleliu

September 22
*321st Regimental Combat Team begins to relieve 1st Mar Div on Peleliu

September/October
*Wake Island – Repeated strikes on Wake by Army B-24s

October 10
*First carrier raid on Okinawa: US Third Fleet attacks Okinawa

October 15
*81st Inf Div relieves 1st Mar Div on Peleliu
*Marianas Islands – Aslito Airfield operational for B-29 bombers

October 20
*US Sixth Army under MacArthur land on Leyte in Philippines

October 23/26
*Japanese fleet is eliminated as a threat during the battle of Leyte Gulf

October 25
*CinCPOA issues joint staff study for Operation Iceberg

November 24
*First B-29 bomber raid on Tokyo. Raid launched from Saipan, Marianas Islands

November 27
*81st Inf Div declares Peleliu secure
*B-29 Superfortress bombers firebomb Tokyo

December 15
*US troops invade Mindoro in the Philippines

December 17
*509th Composite Group (CG formed

December 19/22
* Burma – 7th Indian Infantry Division and 28th East African Brigade begin moving down the Myittha Valley

December 20/21
*Burma – IV Corps and XXXIII Corps begin implementation of Extended Capital

26
December 22/26
*Burma – XXXIII Corps moves 2 nd Infantry Division and 20 th Indian Infantry Division across the Chindwin to join the
advance toward the Irrawaddy

December 30
*First B-29s land on Tinian, Marianas Islands

1945

January 3
*Burma – Allies occupy Akyab in Burma
*General MacArthur is placed in command of all US ground forces and Admiral Nimitz in command of all naval
forces in preparation for planned assaults against Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan itself

January 6
*Tenth Army issues Tentative Operation Plan 1-45 for Operation Iceberg

January 7
*Burma – 19th Indian Infantry Division captures Thabeikkyin on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River

January 9
*US Sixth Army invades Luzon in the Philippines
*Burma – 2nd Infantry Division captures Shwebo

January 10
*Burma – 7th Division captures Gangaw

January 11
*Burma – 19th Indian Infantry Division establishes a second bridgehead across the Irrawaddy River at Kyaukmyaung

January 20
*Emperor Hirohito sanctions plans to start homeland defense operations in Japan

January 22
*Burma – Burma Road reopened. 20th Indian Infantry Division captures Monywa

January 31
*Burma – 2nd Infantry Division begins attack on Sagaing

January/June
*Wake Island – repeated sorties by US Navy shore-based PBY squadrons

February 4
*Tinian, Marianas Islands based B-29s bomb Kobe

February 10
*Burma – 7th Division captures Kanhla. Slim orders general advance by 14 th Army

February 12
*Burma – 20th Division begins crossing the Irrawaddy River opposite Myinmu

February 14
*Burma – 7th Division begins crossing the Irrawaddy River at Nyaungu. By nightfall three battalions are established in
the bridgehead

February 19

27
*Three Marine divisions – V Amphibious Corps – assault Iwo Jima

February 21
*Burma – 17th Division begins the advance on Meiktila, 82 miles (132km) away. A column of 3,000 vehicles leaves
the bridgehead with 48th Brigade in the lead

February 22
*Burma – 5th (Probyn's) Horse and 6/7 Rajputs encounter fanatical Japanese resistance at the village of Oyin, which
is captured around midday. To the east, 19 th Division links up around Kyaukmyaung and begins driving south
towards Mandalay

February 24
*Burma – 48th Brigade captures Taungtha in the afternoon; 63 rd Brigade links up shortly thereafter. That night, 2 nd
Division begins crossing the Irrawaddy to the east of 20 th Division's bridgehead, opposite Ngazun
*Marianas Islands – First Guam-based B-29 raid on Japan

February 26
*Burma – 63rd Brigade captures mahlaing in the morning, while a force of tanks and infantry make a wide sweep to
the left and capture Thabutkon airfield, 13 miles (21km) from Meiktila

February 27
*Burma – 99th Brigade begins fly-in to Thabutkon

March 1
*Burma – 48th, 63rd and 255th Tank Brigades push into the town against fierce opposition. Slim and Messervy visit
Meiktila to confer with Cowan and view the fighting

March 3
*Burma – After bitter fighting, the last Japanese opposition is cleared from Meiktila

March 4
*Burma – 99th Brigade abandons Thabutkon airfield and moves to the airfield at Meiktila, which starts operations
the next day.99th Brigade assumes responsibility for defending Meiktila

March 5
*The American Joint War Plans Committee produces a preliminary plan for Operation Downfall

March 7/14
*Burma – Cowan sends strong armored columns on sweeps in all directions, breaking up concentrations of Japanese
troops

March 9
*Japanese seize control in French Indo-China

March 9/10
*First fire-bomb attack on Tokyo

March 10
*American forces land in Mindanao

March 11
*Tenth Army Operation Plan 1-45 put into effect

March 15
*Burma – Japanese forces launch a series of attacks against the airfield at Meiktila. Heavy artillery fire disrupts the
air landings

28
March 16
*US Marines secure Iwo Jima

March 17
*Burma – 63rd Brigade sends two columns with tanks from 5 th (Probyn's) Horse on sweeps around the Myindawgan
area, bounded by the Meiktila-Yegyo railroad and the Meiktila-Pindale road, to clear out Japanese artillery

March 18
*Burma – 99th Brigade undertakes sweeps of other areas with tanks from 9th (Royal Deccan) Horse. The force
encounters very heavy gunfire, losing four tanks

March 20
*Burma – 19th Division captures Fort Dufferin, and the Japanese abandon Mandalay

March 21
*Burma – 9th (Royal Deccan) Horse and infantry attack a group of villages around Shwepadaing, encountering strong
Japanese resistance despite air and artillery strikes

March 21/27
*Operation Iceberg task forces and task groups sortie for Okinawa

March 22
*Burma – 7th Division captures Myingyan, opening the road to Meiktila. The attack around Shwepadaing resumes
with heavy casualties. At the end of the day the force withdraws. That some day 99 th Brigade sends a force to clear
villages around Nyaungbintha. That night a large Japanese force makes a suicidal attack on 48 th Brigade perimeter
leaving 195 dead

March 23
*Burma – 20th Division, moving down from Wundwin, makes contact with 17th Division around Meiktila

March 24
*Burma – 20th Division force links up with 19th Division pushing south from Mandalay

March 26/29
*77th Inf Div assaults and captures Kerama Retto

March 27/29
*Burma – Concluding effort by the Japanese to retake Meiktila. 63 rd Brigade with tanks makes determined effort to
clear out strong Japanese positions around Lake Myindawgan area

March 30
*Burma – Slim starts the drive on Rangoon by IV Corps and XXXIII Corps. 17 th Division starts moving on Pyawbwe in
a planned envelopment of the town by the Division's three brigades with 255 th Indian Tank Brigade in support

March 31
*420th Field Artillery Group lands on Keise Shima

April 1
*Tenth Army assaults Okinawa's Hagushi Beaches with four divisions. Operations declared ended in the Ryukyu
Islands as of 2 July

April 1/2
*2nd Mar Div conducts demosntrations off southwest coast

April 2
*Forwars elements of 7th Inf Div reach east coast severing the island

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April 6/7
*First of ten major Kamikaze attacks on TF 51 ships

April 7
*TF 58 aircraft sink battleship Yamato and four other warships

April 8
*Japanese military commanders develop detailed plans for future Ketsu-Go operations

April 10
*3rd Battalion, 105th Infantry secures Eastern Islands, Tsugen Shima
*27th Inf Div lands to reinforce XXIV Corps
*Burma – After surrounding Pyawbwe, 17th Division destroys the remaining garrison, and with it the 33 rd Army

April 11
*2nd Mar Div (Tenth Army Floating Reserve) departs for Saipan

April 12
*Burma – 7th Division captures Kyaukpadaung on the Irrawaddy River, leading XXXIII Corps' advance down the
Irrawaddy toward Rangoon
*Following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman becomes Preseident of the United States. Truman
first learns about the existence of the atomic bomb

April 16
*77th Inf Div assaults le Shima

April 18
Ernie Pyle, the popular war correspondant, killed on le Shima

April 19
*XXIV Corps conducts major attack on outer Shuri defenses

April 20
*6th Mar Div secures Motobu Peninsula in the north
*Burma – XXXIII Corps captures Magwe, while IV Corps divisions clear Pyinmana and Lewe

April 21
*77th Inf Div captures le Shima

April 24
*US Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend invasion option as the only viable alternative to ensure unconditional
surrender

April 25
*Burma – 5th Division captures Toungoo

April 26
*509th CG personnel begin transfer to Tinian

April 27
*77th Inf Div lands on Okinawa
*Targetting Committee formed to eamine Japanese cities that could be bombed with nuclear weapons

April 30
*77th Inf Div relieves 96th Inf Div in the south

May 1

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*1st Mar Div relieves 27th Inf Div in the south and is attached to XXIV Corps
*Australians invade Tarakan
* Burma – 17th Division captures Pegu, 50 miles (81km) from Rangoon, but torrential rains prevent a move further
south. Operation Dracula, the capture of Rangoon, begins that morning with a paratroop attack on Elephant Point.
The Japanese abandon Rangoon and retreat east

May 3
*Burma – Allied troops capture Rangoon

May 4
*27th Inf Div relieves 6th Mar Div in the north

May 4/6
*XXIV Corps repulses major Japanese counterattack

May 7
*III Amphibious Corps enters the southern line in the Tenth Army western sector and 1 st Mar Div reattached to it

May 8
*6th Mar Div enters the line in the south

May 9
*96th Inf Div relieves 7th Inf Div in the south

May 11
*Tenth Army conducts major attack on inner Shuri defenses

May 17
*Admiral Turener relieved by Admiral Hill as Commander, TF 51. General Buckner now directly subordinate to
Admiral Spruance, Commander, TF 50

May 25
*Joint Chiefs of Staff decide on Operation Olympic's start date of 1 November 1945. Operation Coronet is to begin
on 1 March 1946

May 27
*Third Fleet relieved Fifth Fleet (TF 51 becomes TF 31). General Buckner now directly subordinate to Admiral Nimitz,
CinCPOA

May 30
*8th Marines (Special Landing Force) returns from Saipan and secures unoccupied islands 3 and 9 June

May 30/June 4
*Japanese 32nd Army withdraws from Shun defenses south to the kiyamu Paninsula

May 31
5th Marines secure Shuri Castle

June 4
*4th Marines conduct shore-to-shore assault on Oroku Peninsula; last opposed amphibious assault in World War
Two

June 10
*Australians land at Brunei Bay

June 14
*Marines secure Oroku Peninsula

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June 15
*8th Marines land at Naha and attach to 1st Mar Div

June 18
*General Buckner killed. General Geiger (USMC) assumes command of Tenth Army
*President Truman gives initial authorisation for Operation Downfall, but retains the right of final approval prior to
an invasion

June 22
*End of organised resistance on Okinawa

June 23
*General Stilwell assumes command of Tenth Army

June 26/30
*Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, Fleet Marine Force Pacific assaults and secures Kume Shima, last
amphibious assault in World War II

June 30
*Mopping-up of southern Okinawa completed
*509th CG starts training missions from Tinian

July
*Wake Island – Major naval bombardment of Wake

July 1
*TF 31 dissolved
*Australians land at Balikpapan

July 5
*Liberation of Philippines declared

July 14
*The first US naval bombardment of Japanese Home Islands

July 16
*Successful plutonium bomb test at Trinity, New Mexico

July 17
*Potsdam Conference starts

July 25
*Truman authorises dropping the atomic bomb on Japan

July 26
*Potsdam Declaration reiterates unconditional surrender terms

July 30
*USS Indianapolis, the ship that delivered the uranium fissionable material for the first nuclear weapon, Little Boy,
to Tinian, is sunk

July 31
*Scientists, engineers and technicians assemble Little Boy on Tinian. The bomb is ready to use on 1 August

August 2
*Truman gives final approval to use Little Boy

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August 4
*27th Inf Div completes mopping-up of northern Okinawa

August 6
*Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima (all times based on Tinian time)
0151hrs – Weather aircraft leave Tinian to reconnaitre targets
0245hrs – Enola gay takes off with Little Boy
0555hrs – Tibbets reaches Iwo Jima and meets up with escort aircraft
0815hrs – Hiroshima selected as the primary target
0912hrs – Enola Gay begins bomb run at the initial point
0915hrs – Little Boy is released. 43 seconds later, the bomb explodes over Hiroshima

August 7
*American and British radio broadcasts announce the use of an atomic bomb on Hirishima and reiterate the
demand for Tokyo to accept the Ptsdam Declaration. A divided Japanese cabinet starts discussion on surrender

August 9
*Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki (all times based on Tinian time)
0349hrs – Sweeney starts mission with Bockscar to drop the second nuclear device, Fat Man, on the primary target
of Kokura
0900hrs – Sweeney approaches yakusima
1044hrs – Bockscar starts bom run over kokura, but cloud cover prevents a visual bombing run
1150hrs – Sweeney arrives over Nagasaki
1158hrs – Fat Man is released. 50 seconds later, the bomb detonates over Nagasaki
*Soviet troops invade Manchukuo: Soviet Union declares war on Japan. Soviet forces start operations against
Japanese forces in Northeast Asia

August 10
*Emperor Hirohito initially agrres to accept the Potsdam Declaration with conditions

August 12
*Washington refuses to accept Tokyo's conditions to the Potsdam Declaration

August 13
*Wake Island – Last United States air raid on Wake (executed by Marine Corps aircraft against Peacock Point battery)

August 14
*Largest conventional B-29 raid on Japan takes place. Japanese government accepts the Potsdam Declaration
without conditions. Emperor Hirohito announces Japanese forces' unconditional surrender. Japanese military
officers attempt coup d'etat that fails

August 15
*VJ-Day; all offensive action against Japan comes to an end

August 17
*Sukarno announces Indonesia independent

September 2
*Japanese sign instrument of surrender in Tokyo Bay aboard USS Missouri

September 7
*All remaining Japanese forces in the Ryukyus surrender
*Rear Admiral Sakaibara surrenders Wake to Brigadier-General lawson Sanderson

References:

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1. CHUN, Clayton; The Fall of thr Philippines 1941-42; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 243; 2012
2. CHUN, Clayton K S; Japan 1945: From Operation Downfall to Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Osprey Publishing;
Campaign 200; 2008
3. HEALY, Mark; Midway 1942: Turning Point in the Pacific; osprey Publishing; Campaign 30; 1993
4. HORNER, David; The Second World War (1). The Pacific; Essential Histories; Osprey Publishing; 2002
5. LYMAN, Robert; Kohima 1944: The battle that saved India; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 229; 2010
6. MORAN, Jim; Wake Island 1941: A Battle to Make the Gods Weep; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 144; 2011
7. MORAN, Jim; ROTTMAN, Gordon L; Peleliu 1944: The forgotten corner of hell; Osprey Publishing; Campaign
110; 2002
8. MUELLER, Joseph N; Guadalcanal 1942: The Marines strike back; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 18; 1992
9. ROTTMAN, Gordon L; Guam 1941 & 1944: Loss and reconquest; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 139; 2004
10. ROTTMAN, Gordon L; Okinawa 1945: The Last Battle; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 96; 2002
11. ROTTMAN, Gordon L; Saipan & Tinian 1944: Piercing the Japanese Empire; Osprey Publishing; Campaign
137; 2004
12. ROTTMAN, Gordon L; The Marshall Islands 1944: Operation Flintlock, The Capture of Kwajalein and
Eniwetok; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 146; 2004
13. SMITH, Carl; Pearl Harbor: The Day of Infamy; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 62; 2011
14. WRIGHT, Derrick; Iwo Jima 1945: The Marines Raise the Flag on Mount Suribachi; Osprey Publishing;
Campaign 81; 2001
15. WRIGHT, Derrick; Tarawa 1943; Osprey Publishing; Osprey History; 2000
16. YOUNG, Edward M; Meiktila 1945: The Battle to Liberate Burma; Osprey Publishing; Campaign 136; 2004

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