Pacific Theater 1941-1945

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

Sept 7, 1940 - Tripartite Pact between Japan, Germany, and Italy.

April 13, 1941 - Stalin signs neutrality pact with Japan.

July 24, 1941 - Vichy France agrees to allow Japanese occupation of bases in Indo-China.

Nov 26, 1941 - U.S. demands that Japan withdraws from China.

Dec 7, 1941 - Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor.

Dec 8, 1941 - United States and Britain declare war on Japan; Japanese begin land, sea, air attacks on Hong Kong.

Dec 10, 1941- Japanese land on Luzon.

Dec 17, 1941- Japanese land on North Borneo.

Dec, 18, 1941- Japanese land on Hong Kong Island.

Dec 22, 1941- Japanese land in Lingayen Gulf.

Dec 24, 1941- Japanese capture Wake Island.

Dec 25, 1941- Hong Kong surrenders.

1942  

Jan 2, 1942 - Japanese occupy Manila.

Jan 11, 1942 - Japanese enter Kuala Lumpur; U.S. aircraft carrier Saratoga torpedoed off of Hawaii.

Jan 16, 1942 - Japanese enter Burma.

Jan 23, 1942 - Japanese land on Rabaul.

Jan 30, 1942 - British withdraw to Singapore.

Feb 3, 1942 - Japanese bomb Port Moresby.

Feb 7, 1942 - Japanese land on Singapore.

Feb 15, 1942 - Singapore surrenders.  130,000 Allied soldiers captured.

Feb 19, 1942 - Japanese invade Bali.

Feb 22, 1942 - MacArthur appointed Commander in Chief of Allied forces in Australia.

Feb 27, 1942 - Battle of Java Sea.  Allied fleet defeated by Japanese.

Feb 28, 1942 - Japanese invade Java; Naval battle in Bantam Bay, Exeter sunk.

March 5, 1942 - General Alexander becomes G.O.C. of Burma.

March 9, 1942 - Yamashita appointed Commander in Chief of Philippines; Dutch East Indies government collapses.

March 10, 1942 - Stilwell appointed Chief of Staff, China.

In April, 1942 - Japanese-Americans sent to relocation centers.

April 1, 1942 - Japanese land in Dutch East Indies.

April 3, 1942 - Offensive by Japanese on Bataan.

April 5, 1942 - British cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall sunk by Japanese.

April 9, 1942 - General King surrenders on Bataan; British carrier Hermes sunk by Japanese.

April 18, 1942 - Doolittle Raid on Tokyo launched from the U.S. carrier Hornet.

April 30, 1942 - Japan conquers central Burma.

May 1, 1942 - .British evacuate Mandalay.

May 5, 1942 - Japanese land on Corregidor.

May 6, 1942 - Corregidor garrison surrenders.

May 7-8, 1942 - Battle of the Coral Sea.  U.S. looses the carrier Lexington, Japanese loose the carrier Shoho.

June 3, 1942 - Japanese land in Aleutian Islands (Attu and Kiska). 

June 4-6, 1942 - Battle of Midway.  U.S. looses the carrier Yorktown, Japanese loose the carriers Hiryu, Soryu, Akagi, and Kaga.

Aug 7, 1942 - U.S. Marines land on Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

Aug 9, 1942 - Battle of Savo Island.  Allies loose 5 heavy cruisers.

Aug 21, 1942 - Skirmishes on Guadalcanal intensify.

Aug 22-25, 1942 - Battle of Eastern Solomons.  Japanese loose the light carrier Ryujo.

Sept 12-14, 1942 - Battle of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal.

Sept 15, 1942 - U.S. carrier Wasp sunk by Japanese submarine.

Sept 26, 1942 - Australians counterattack in New Guinea. 

Oct, 1942-Feb, 1943 - Heavy fighting on Guadalcanal.

Oct 11-13, 1942 - Battle of Cape Esperance.  Japanese loose a cruiser and a destroyer.

Oct 13-15, 1942 - Naval bombardment of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

Oct 26-27, 1942 - Battle of Santa Cruz Islands.  Japanese "win", sink the U.S. carrier Hornet.

Nov 12-15, 1942 - Battles in Iron Bottom Sound.  Japanese loose battleship Hiei.

Nov 30, 1942 - Battle of Tassafronga.  Japanese loose a destroyer, U.S. looses a cruiser.

1943  

Feb 1-8, 1943 - Japanese evacuate Guadalcanal. 

Feb 18, 1943 - "Chindits" - 77th Brigade -cross into Burma.

March 2-4, 1943 - Battle of the Bismark Sea.  Japanese loose 7 transports and 4 destroyers.

March 26, 1943 - Battle of Komandorski Islands.

April 8, 1943 - General Kawabe succeeds General Iida as Commander in Chief of Burma. 

April 18, 1943 - General Yamamoto is shot down by U.S. Air Force P-38 fighters.

May 11, 1943 - U.S. attacks the Japanese troops on Attu (in the Aleutian Islands).

May 18, 1943 - Japanese launch offensive across Yangtze River in China. 

May 21, 1943 - Japanese launch offensive in Central China.

May 29, 1943 - China attacks on Hupeh-Hunan border with U.S. Air Force support.

May 30, 1943 - Japanese resistance on Attu collapses.

June 8, 1943 - Japanese abandon Kiska.

June 16, 1943 - Japanese air raid on Guadalcanal results in the loss of 100 aircraft.

July 5-6, 1943 - Battle of Kuala Gulf.  U.S. looses a cruiser, Japan looses 2 destroyers.

July 12-13, 1943 - Battle of Kolobangara.  Allies loose a cruiser, Japan looses a cruiser.

July 15, 1943 - Japanese loose 45 aircraft in combat over the Solomon Islands.

Aug 6-7, 1943 - Battle of Vella Gulf.  Japanese loses 4 destroyers.

Aug 25, 1943 - Mountbatten appointed Supreme Commander of S.E. Asia.

Sept 13, 1943 - Chiang Kai-shek elected President of Chinese Republic.

Oct 3, 1943 - Japanese launch attack in central China.

Oct 6, 1943 - Battle of Vella Lavella.  Japan looses 1 destroyer, the U.S. looses two destroyers.

Nov 2, 1943 - Battle of Empress Augusta Bay.  Japan looses 1 cruiser and 1 destroyer.

Nov 20-24, 1943 - U.S. assault on Tarawa.

Nov 25, 1943 - Battle of Cape Saint George. Japan looses 3 destroyers.

Dec 25, 1943 - Allies land on New Britain.

Jan 2, 1944 - Americans land at Saidor and occupy Sialum, New Guinea.

Jan 31, 1944 - Americans land at Kwajalein Atoll.  Australian and Dutch troops attack in Dutch New Guinea.

Feb 4, 1944 - Japanese launch offensive on Arakan Front.  Allied forces cut off from 7 Feb to 25 Feb, 1944.

Feb 5, 1944 - Americans clear Kwajalein Atoll.  "Chindit" 16th Brigade moves to Indaw.

Feb 15, 1944 - New Zealand troops seize Green Island.

Feb 17, 1944 - U.S. Marines land on Engerbi Island in Eniwetok Atoll.  Carrier strikes on Truk resulting in the loss of 200, 000 tons of Japanese shipping lost.

Feb 21, 1944 - Tojo becomes Chief of Japanese Army General Staff.  Eniwetok Atoll secured.

Feb, 29, 1944 - U.S. 1st Cavalry Division lands on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands.

March 12, 1944 - U.S. Marines land on Wotho Atoll.

March 20, 1944 - U.S. Marines land on Emerau Islands in the Bismarks.

March 29, 1944 - Imphal under siege by Japanese forces.

April 22, 1944 - U.S. lands on Hollandia and Aitape.

April 29, 1944 - Two day attack by Task Froce 58 on Truk results in the loss of 120 Japanese aircraft.

May 17, 1944 - Wakde and Insoemanai Islands captured by U.S.

May 23, 1944 - Chinese begin counteroffensive on Honan Front.

May 27, 1944 - U.S. 41st Division lands on Biak Island. 

June 2, 1944 - Chinese besiege Myiykyina.

June 15, 1944 - U.S. 2nd and 4th Marine land on Saipan against heavy resistance.

June 19-21, 1944 - Battle of the Philippine Sea; Japanese loose 2 carriers and 346 aircraft, the U.S. looses 30 aircraft (called the Marianas Turkey Shoot).

June 22, 1944 - Imphal relieved by 14th Army.

July 9, 1944 - Last Japanese defense on Saipan; U.S. looses 3,116, Japanese 27,000 men.

July 21, 1944 - U.S. Marines land on Guam.  

July 25, 1944 - U.S. 2nd and 4th Marine Division lands on Tinian.

July 30, 1944 - U.S. troops land on Vogelkop peninsula in New Guinea.

July 25-30 - Operation Cobra (U.S. troops break out west of St. Lô).

July 28, 1944 - Soviet troops take Brest-Litovsk. U.S. troops take Coutances.

Aug 2, 1944 - U.S. troops secure Tinian at a loss of 389 men.

Aug 3, 1944 - Chinese capture Myitkyina.

Aug 10, 1944 - Guam secured at a cost of 10,000 Japanese and 1,000 U.S. troops.

Sept 4, 1944 - U.S. lands at Lae and Salamaua.

Sept 15, 1944 - U.S. Marines land on Peleliu in the Palaus Islands.  U.S. Army lands at Morotai.

Oct 20, 1944 - X Corps of the U.S. 6th Army lands on Leyte in the Philippines. 

Oct 23-26, 1944 - Battle of Leyte Gulf.  Japanese loose 4 carriers and 500 aircraft, the U.S. looses 1 light carrier and 2 escort carriers.

Nov 1, 1944 - Amphibious assault on Walcheren.

Nov 2, 1944 - 14th Army captures Mawlu in Burma. 

Nov 24, 1944 - 14th Army captures Kalemyo trapping Japanese in northern Burma.

Dec 1, 1944 - 14th Army reaches Pinwe.

Dec 7, 1944 - U.S. landings on Leyte Island.

Dec 8, 1944 - U.S. Air Force begins 72 day bombardment of Iwo Jima.

Dec 15, 1944 - Mindoro Island seized.  Indaw Island seized.

Dec 30, 1944 - 14th Army takes Kaduma.

1945  

Jan - Apr, 1945 - U.S. - 8th Army clears Japanese from Leyte.

Jan 9, 1945 - U.S. 6th Army lands in Lingayen Gulf on Luzon.

Jan 21, 1945 - 14th Army enters Monywa.

Jan 22, 1945 - Burma Road reopened.

Jan 25, 1945 - U.S. forces capture Clark Field on Luzon.

Feb 5, 1945 - Australian forces land on New Britain.

Feb 17, 1945 - 170 frogmen lost on reconnaissance of Iwo Jima.

Feb 19, 1945 - U.S. 4th and 5th Marine Divisions land on Iwo Jima.

Feb 21, 1945 - U.S. carrier Saratoga hit by kamikaze.

Feb 23, 1945 - Mount Suribachi captured and the American flag is raised.

Feb 24, 1945 - Manila is occupied by U.S. forces.

March 8, 1945 - U.S. troops land at Samboanga on Mindanao.

March 13, 1945 - 14th Army captures Maymyo, trapping Japanese troops in Mandalay.

March 14-31, 1945 - Kamikazes hit the U.S. carriers Franklin, Yorktown and Wasp off of Okinawa.

March 26, 1945 - End of Iwo Jima campaign.  Japanese loose 21,000+ troops, the U.S. looses 6,891.

April 1, 1945 - 60,000 U.S. troops land on Okinawa.

April 3, 1945 - General MacArthur appointed Commander in Chief of U.S. Forces in the Pacific; Admiral Nimitz is the Pacific Naval Commander.

April 7, 1945 - U.S. fleet attacked off of Okinawa by conventional and kamikaze forces.  Japanese loose 383 aircraft and the super-battleship Yamato (2,488 men lost on board), the U.S. looses 6 ships and 24 damaged. 

April 13, 1945 - Chinese launch offensives on Honan and Hupeh.

April 17, 1945 - New American landings on Mindanao (Malabrang and Cotabato).

May 3, 1945 - Indian troops enter Rangoon.

May 7, 1945 - Unconditional surrender of all German forces to Allies.

May 8, 1945 - V-E Day.

May 11, 1945 - U.S. 10th Army launches offensive on Okinawa.

May 15, 1945 - U.S. and British fleets attack Andaman Islands.  Japanese loose the cruiser Haguro.

May 16, 1945 - Dutch troops land on Tarakan Island.

June 4, 1945 - U.S. forces land on Oroku Peninsula.

June 10, 1945 - Australian 9th Division invades Borneo.

June 19, 1945 - Australians land at Brunei Bay.

June 20, 1945 - Australians land at Lutong on Sarawak.

June 22, 1945 - Last organized Japanese resistance on Okinawa ends.  Japanese loose approximately 107,500 men, the U.S. forces loose over 12, 000 (along with 36 ships sunk and 368 damaged).

June 27, 1945 - Luzon campaign ended by U.S. 6th Army.

July 1, 1945 - Australian 7th Division lands at Balikpapan.

July 16, 1945 - First U.S. atomic bomb test.  500 B-29's bomb the Japanese cities of Honshu and Kyushu.

July 19, 1945 - General Honda launches offensive to break out of Burma.

July 23, 1945 - Two days of Allied air strikes sink or damage 100 ships in Kure Naval Base and the Inland Sea.

July 24, 1945 - 600 B-29's bomb the Japanese cities of Osaka and Nagoya.

Aug 2, 1945 - B-29 raid on Japan, destroy most of Toyoma.

Aug 4, 1945 - Last organized Japanese resistance in Burma ends.

Aug 6, 1945 - First atomic bomb dropped, on Hiroshima, Japan.

Aug 8, 1945 - Soviets declares war on Japan and invade Manchuria.

Aug 9, 1945 - Second atomic bomb dropped, on Nagasaki, Japan.

Aug 13, 1945 - Allied carrier strikes by 1,600 aircraft on Tokyo begin.

Aug 14, 1945 - Japanese agree to unconditional surrender.

Sept 2, 1945 - Japanese sign the surrender agreement;  V-J (Victory over Japan) Day.