Air Operations, Mediterranean
German and Italian aircraft bomb the air and naval bases on Malta. Since the first heavy German attack on the Illustrious on January 16, the British fighters on Malta have shot down 62 German aircraft and 15 Italian. The British have lost 32 Hurricanes in air combat and about the same number destroyed on the ground.
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]Axis Diplomacy
A German delegation arrives in Baghdad to arrange for a formal request from the Rashid Ali government for German troop intervention in Iraq. The situation in Baghdad is far from stable, however, and the forthcoming invasion of Crete, with its large manpower commitment, will preclude any immediate direct involvement in Iraq.
[ | ]Battle of the Atlantic
The Norwegian steamer Karlander is badly damaged by German bombing northwest of Ireland. The entire crew are rescued and the ship is sunk by an escort vessel a little later in the day.
[ | ]German Raiders
The German raider Atlantis sinks the British steamer Rabaul (6809t) in the South Atlantic with the loss of 9 of her crew. 1 crewman is taken prisoner, 46 others are rescued.
[ | ]Iraq and Syria
The British government announces that German planes are arriving in Syria and using Syrian bases to move on to Iraq. The RAF, therefore, bombs Palmyra and Damascus airfields. These attacks continue over the next few days.
[]Italian East Africa
The South African force advancing north from Addis Ababa has now joined the Amba Alagi battle and moves to attack the Italian Triangle position. The attacks are held during the day but the Italians retire at night. Italian morale is now very low, largely because of the fierce and undisciplined conduct of some of the Ethiopian guerilla forces supporting the Allies.
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Occupied France
1,500 Jews are arrested by the Gestapo in Paris.
[ | ]Pacific
The New Zealand auxiliary minesweeping trawler Puriri (927t) sinks on a mine off Aukland. The New Zealand light cruiser Achilles rescues the survivors.
[ | ]Singapore
Large British Army, Navy and Air Force reinforcements arrive in Singapore.
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