New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Volume III)
Appendix II — CHRONOLOGY OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA
page 381
Appendix II
Appendix II
CHRONOLOGY OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN
SOUTH-EAST ASIA
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31 | All British units now withdrawn into Singapore Island from the mainland.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.page 382 |
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.page 383 |
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 Islandpage 384 |
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. |