1 Feb 1942
  • Soviet Army began attacking towards Vyazma. ww2dbase [TH]
  • Vidkun Quisling formed his government in Norway. ww2dbase [Vidkun Quisling | TH]
  • PT boats and P-40 aircraft repulsed the Japanese landing attempt on southwest Bataan at the Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [Invasion of the Philippine Islands | CPC]
  • Cruiser Köln began four months of repairs and refits in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. ww2dbase [Köln | CPC]
  • The British formed the RAF Regiment to defend airfields as the British Army could not provide such services. This regiment would eventually grow to the size of 50,000 men. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Mitragliero was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Mitragliero | CPC]
  • The United States Marine Corps redesigned Air Detachment, Marine Barracks, Parris Island in South Carolina, United States to the Marine Corps Air Station, Parris Island. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Dutch forces at Passo, Ambon, Dutch East Indies surrendered. ww2dbase [Dutch East Indies Campaign, Celebes and Moluccas | CPC]
Caroline Islands
  • Akagi, Kaga, Zuikaku, Hiei, Kirishima, and Chikuma departed Truk, Caroline Islands in an attempt to catch the enemy carrier force that had attacked the Marshall Islands. They were escorted by destroyers Shiranuhi, Kasumi, and Urakaze. ww2dbase [Akagi | Kaga | Zuikaku | Hiei | Chikuma | Kirishima | Truk | CPC]
  • Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru departed Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Truk | CPC]
Christmas Island
  • USS Lexington supported the air offensive against Marshall and Gilbert Islands indirectly by operation in the vicinity of Christmas Island. ww2dbase [Lexington (Lexington-class) | CPC]
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
  • The United States launched its first air offensive against the Gilbert Islands as aircraft from US carriers USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise struck Japanese bases in the island group. ww2dbase [CPC]
Hawaii Iceland Marshall Islands
  • The United States launched its first air offensive against the Marshall Islands as SBD and TBD aircraft from carriers USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise struck Japanese bases in the island group. Cruisers USS Northampton, USS Chester, and USS Salt Lake City also bombarded atolls in the Marshall Islands, sinking gunboat Toyotsu Maru and transport Bordeaux Maru and damaging cruiser Katori, submarine I-23, submarine depot ship Yasukuni Maru, minelayer Tokiwa, and several others. Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu was wounded aboard Katori. USS Chester sustained damage from a Japanese dive bomber during the attack; 8 were killed, 21 were wounded. ww2dbase [Louisville | Yorktown (Yorktown-class) | Katori | Enterprise | Northampton | Chester | St. Louis | Salt Lake City | TH, CPC]
  • Jack Kleiss saw combat for the first time, destroying a parked aircraft at Roi Airfield on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands during the first strike. During the second strike, his SBD Dauntless aircraft was hit by Japanese machine gun fire, wounding his gunner Radioman 3rd Class John Snowden in the buttocks. ww2dbase [Jack Kleiss | Kwajalein | CPC]
Pacific Ocean
  • Tanikaze began escorting carriers in the Central Pacific Ocean. ww2dbase [Tanikaze | CPC]
Singapore
  • Japanese troops reached Singapore, pausing for the following few days to prepare for a landing on the island. Meanwhile, General Arthur Percival announced that "the battle of Malaya has come to an end and the battle of Singapore has started.... Today we stand beleaguered in our island fortress. Our task is to hold this fortress until help can come." ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
  • Japanese troops reached Singapore, pausing for the following few days to prepare for a landing on the island. Meanwhile, General Arthur Percival announced that "the battle of Malaya has come to an end and the battle of Singapore has started.... Today we stand beleaguered in our island fortress. Our task is to hold this fortress until help can come." ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
United States
  • James Gavin was promoted to the war time rank of lieutenant colonel. ww2dbase [James Gavin | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Feb 1942
US Navy pilot Lt Wilson R. Bartlett of cruiser Chester returning from observation flight to Taroa, Marshall Islands, 1 Feb 1942; note bomb damage in background and wingtips of his SOC Seagull aircraftLieutenant Commander Bill Burch and Ensign Thomas Reeves flying USS Yorktown-based SBD dive bombers over Makin, Gilbert Islands, 1 Feb 1942SOC aircraft flew over Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands, during attack on Japanese airfields by gunfire from cruisers Salt Lake City and Northampton, 1 Feb 1942; note burning ammunition and fuel dumpsCruiser Salt Lake City firing her 8-in guns on either Wotje, Marshall islands on 1 Feb 1942 or Wake Island on 24 Feb 1942; note SOC Seagull floatplane onboard
See all photos dated 1 Feb 1942

1 Feb 1942 Interactive Map




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Famous WW2 Quote
"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 16 Mar 1945


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