WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO APRIL 1942
Find out what all happened February to April 1942

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

Benxihu Colliery accident in Manchukuo leaves 1549 Chinese miners dead. (26. April 1942)

World War II: The Japanese take Bataan in the Philippines. (8. April 1942)

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

World War II: In the Mediterranean Sea, the Royal Navy confronts Italy's Regia Marina in the Second Battle of Sirte. (22. March 1942)

World War II: The Doolittle Raid on Japan. Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya are bombed. (18. April 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: Japanese forces begin an assault on the United States and Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula. (3. April 1942)

World War II: The first female prisoners arrive at Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. (26. March 1942)

An order-in-council passed under the Defence of Canada Regulations of the War Measures Act gives the Canadian federal government the power to intern all "persons of Japanese racial origin". (24. February 1942)

Pierre Laval becomes Prime Minister of Vichy France. (18. April 1942)

The first gold record is presented to Glenn Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo". (10. February 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)

The George Cross is awarded to "to the island fortress of Malta – its people and defenders" by King George VI. (15. April 1942)

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

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

World War II: Top United States military leaders hold their first formal meeting to discuss American military strategy in the war. (9. February 1942)

World War II: Japanese forces invade Christmas Island, then a British possession. (31. March 1942)

World War II: The Battle of Bataan/Bataan Death March – United States forces surrender on the Bataan Peninsula. The Japanese Navy launches an air raid on Trincomalee in Ceylon (Sri Lanka); Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and Royal Australian Navy Destroyer HMAS Vampire are sunk off the island's east coast. (9. April 1942)

French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Festung Königstein. (17. April 1942)