WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO FEBRUARY 1942
Find out what all happened January to February 1942

World War II: The Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom. (24. January 1942)

The heavy cruiser USS Houston is sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait with 693 crew members killed, along with HMAS Perth which lost 375 men. (28. February 1942)

World War II: Japanese submarines fire artillery shells at the California coastline near Santa Barbara. (23. February 1942)

World War II: The Battle of Bukit Timah is fought in Singapore. (11. February 1942)

World War II: The Imperial Japanese Army begins the systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore. (18. February 1942)

World War II: Allied forces are defeated by the Japanese at the Battle of Malaya and retreat to the island of Singapore. (31. January 1942)

World War II: U.S. Navy conducts Marshalls-Gilberts raids, the first offensive action by the United States against Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater. (1. February 1942)

Lieutenant Edward O'Hare becomes America's first World War II flying ace. (20. February 1942)

World War II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese-Americans to internment camps. (19. February 1942)

World War II: The United Kingdom declares war on Thailand. (6. February 1942)

World War II: The Battle of Rabaul begins, the first fighting of the New Guinea campaign. (23. January 1942)

The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations. (1. January 1942)

World War II: Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history. (15. February 1942)

World War II: First use of an aircraft ejection seat by a German test pilot in a Heinkel He 280 jet fighter. (13. January 1942)

Henry Ford patents a plastic automobile, which is 30% lighter than a regular car. (13. January 1942)

Battle of Pasir Panjang contributes to the fall of Singapore. (14. February 1942)

World War II: Josef Terboven, Reichskommissar of German-occupied Norway, appoints Vidkun Quisling the Minister President of the National Government. (1. February 1942)

Crash of TWA Flight 3, killing all 22 aboard, including film star Carole Lombard. (16. January 1942)

World War II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippines as the Japanese victory becomes inevitable. (22. February 1942)

Voice of America, the official external radio and television service of the United States government, begins broadcasting with programs aimed at areas controlled by the Axis powers. (1. February 1942)