|
1941
|
JULY |
Japan occupied southern Indo-
China. |
december |
|
7 |
Japan launched air attacks on US bases in
Hawaii, including
Pearl Harbour. |
8 |
Japanese forces landed in
Malaya –
Singapore had its first air
raid.
Great Britain and
United States declared war on
Japan. |
9 |
Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Netherlands declared war on
Japan.
China declared war on
Germany,
Italy and
Japan. |
10 |
HMS
Prince of Wales and
Repulse sunk off Kuantan,
Malaya,
by Japanese aircraft. |
19 |
British forces evacuated Penang. |
23 |
First Japanese air raid on
Rangoon. |
|
1942
|
january |
|
|
Japanese forces continue to advance southwards in
Malaya. |
19 |
Burma invaded by Japanese forces from
Siam.
Mergui and
Tavoy evacuated. |
31 |
All British units now withdrawn into Singapore Island from the mainland. |
february |
|
5 |
Japanese forces cross Salween River,
Burma. |
8–9 |
Japanese forces landed on Singapore Island. |
11 |
Japanese forces invaded Java. |
14 |
Japanese paratroop attack at
Palembang,
Sumatra. |
15 |
Singapore surrendered to Japanese forces. |
21 |
Allied forces withdraw across Sittang River,
Burma. |
27 |
Java Sea naval battle. |
|
Japanese forces cut the
Rangoon-
Mandalay railway. |
march |
|
6 |
Batavia captured by Japanese forces. |
7 |
Rangoon evacuated by British forces. |
8 |
Surrender of Java. |
23 |
Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal, occupied by Japanese forces.
|
april |
|
2 |
British forces withdraw from Prome,
Burma. |
4 |
British cruisers
Dorsetsbire and
Cornwall sunk by Japanese
bombers off Colombo. |
5 |
Japanese air attack on Colombo. |
9 |
Japanese air raid on Trincomalee,
Ceylon. |
9 |
Aircraft carrier
Hermes sunk by Japanese aircraft off
Trincomalee. |
29 |
Japanese captured
Lashio – southern terminal of the
Burma Road. |
may |
|
1 |
Japanese captured
Mandalay. |
5 |
Japanese troops cross Chinese frontier on the
Burma Road. |
8 |
Japanese captured
Akyab on Bay of Bengal.
Myitkyina, North Burma, occupied by Japanese. |
june |
|
|
Allied forces begin reorganising in
India. |
|
Air supply route from
India to
China ‘over the Hump’ now
in operation. |
december |
|
10 |
Construction of Ledo Road commenced. |
14 |
British forces open first Arakan offensive. |
20 |
First Japanese air raid on
Calcutta. |
|
1943
|
february |
|
16 |
First Wingate expedition entered
Burma. |
may |
|
7 |
British forces withdraw from the Arakan. |
august |
|
27 |
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten appointed Supreme Commander South-east
Asia. |
october |
|
30 |
Renewal of battle for air supremacy over
Burma.
RAF fighter squadrons begin re-equipping with Spitfires. |
november |
|
16 |
Formation of Air Command, South-east
Asia, under Air Chief
Marshal Sir Richard Peirse. |
december |
|
21 |
General Stilwell's forces began advance towards Myitkyina. |
31 |
RAF Spitfires score notable success against Japanese raiders
off Arakan coast.
|
|
1944
|
january |
|
|
British forces begin second Arakan campaign. |
10 |
Maungdaw, Arakan, recaptured. |
february |
|
4 |
Japanese counter-attack in Arakan. |
23 |
Japanese offensive in Arakan defeated – Allied air supply and
support a decisive factor. |
march |
|
5 |
Wingate's second Chindit expedition (Operation
thursday)
began. |
8 |
Strong Japanese offensive launched in central front in
Manipur. |
31 |
Japanese forces cut Dimapur-
Kohima road. Start of siege of
Imphal. Allied forces there now supplied entirely by air. |
april |
|
16 |
Kohima relieved. |
may |
|
11 |
Chinese forces crossed Salween River and commenced drive
to free the
Burma Road. |
17 |
American and Chinese forces recaptured Myitkyina airfield. |
june |
|
20 |
Japanese forces in retreat from
Imphal. |
august |
|
3 |
Myitkyina town captured by Allied forces. |
19 |
Japanese forces now driven from
India. |
october |
|
15 |
Allied offensive from Myitkyina towards
Mandalay began. |
18 |
Tiddim recaptured by Fourteenth Army. |
november |
|
9 |
Fort White recaptured by Fourteenth Army. |
13 |
Kalemyo recaptured by Fourteenth Army. |
december |
|
2 |
Kalewa occupied by Allied forces. |
15 |
Bhamo recaptured by Allied forces. |
24 |
Last Japanese air attack on
Calcutta. |
|
1945
|
january |
|
3 |
Akyab occupied unopposed by Allied forces. |
7 |
Shwebo occupied by Fourteenth Army. |
21 |
Allied assault on Ramree Island
|
march |
|
3 |
Meiktila captured by British forces. |
6 |
Lashio captured by Chinese forces. |
20 |
Mandalay recaptured by Allied forces. |
april |
|
19 |
Magwe recaptured. |
may |
|
1 |
Pegu occupied by Fourteenth Army.
Allied forces landed south of
Rangoon. |
2 |
RAF pilot lands at
Mingaladon airfield and enters
Rangoon. |
3 |
Rangoon occupied by Allied forces. |
august |
|
6 |
First atomic bomb dropped on
Hiroshima,
Japan. |
9 |
Second atomic bomb dropped on
Nagasaki,
Japan. |
15 |
Japan accepted Allied demand for unconditional surrender.
Allied aircraft begin dropping medical teams and supplies to
PW camps in
Burma and
Siam. |
september |
|
2 |
Surrender of
Japan signed at
Tokyo. |
10 |
Allied aircraft begin evacuation of prisoners of war.
Singapore reoccupied by Allied forces. |