Air Operations, Asia

The Japanese launch an air offensive against the Burmese capital of Rangoon which is an important British naval and air base.

Atlantic

Free French forces under the command of Adm Emile Muselier landed from three corvettes and a submarine occupy the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Official opinion in the United States, which would have preferred Canadian control, is offended by this move because the US still has relations with Vichy.

Battle of the Atlantic

• British submarine H-31 is lost to unknown causes when she fails to return from a patrol off Cape Finisterre. The submarine had a crew of 33.
• The British steamer Merchant (4615t) sinks on a mine a couple of miles north of Yarmouth with the loss of 1 crewman. The British tanker Stanmount (4468t) is also lost on a mine in the same area. The entire crew are rescued.
• The Norwegian tanker Ole Jacob, captured by the German raider Atlantis 10 November 1940 and renamed Benno for German use, is sunk by British torpedo aircraft at Puerto Carino in northwest Spain.

Borneo

A Japanese convoy breaks through attacks by British and Dutch aircraft and Dutch submarines to land troops in the area of Kuching, capital of Sarawak. The airfield there has been destroyed by the garrison of local troops which now asks to be allowed to escape to Dutch Borneo. The local troops are ordered to do everything possible to slow down the Japanese advance.

Burma

A series of violent air attacks on Rangoon is begun by the Japanese in an effort to win air superiority in the area. These attacks will continue until the end of February 1942.

Eastern Front

The 2nd Army withdraws from Livny and Chern as the 10th Army piles pressure on the exposed German southern flank.

The Bryansk Front becomes officially operational but is well below it regulation strength, many of its divisions having as few as 4,000 men.

Japanese forces near Jardine’s Lookout on 24 December 1941, the day before the Hong Kong garrison fell. (Photos: SCMP; Edward Wong)

Japanese Forces near Jardine’s Lookout

Malaya

The 11th Indian Div organizes a defense line in depth in the area of the Slim River and the town of Kampar, about half-way down the Malay peninsula to the north of Kuala Lumpur, on the west coast.

Mediterranean

• The British corvette Salvia is sunk by U-568 west of Alexandria. 59 crewmen are lost.
• The British tanker Phenix (5907t) sinks on a mine at Haifa with the loss of 4 crewmen.

Norwegian Sea

In Operation ARCHERY, a raid on Vaagso and Maaloy Islan, the British destroyers Onslow and Oribi sink the German steamers Reimar Edward Fritzen (2936t), Norma (2258t) and Anita L.M. Russ (1712t) at Maaloy. The British destroyers Offa and Chiddingtonfold sink the German auxiliary patrol vessel VP-1502 and the steamer Anhalt (5872t) in the same area.

Philippines

The Japanese land 7,000 men of the 16th Inf Div at Lamon Bay in southeast Luzon. These troops take Atimonan and Siain and advance to join up with units in the Legaspi area in the extreme south of Luzon. In north Luzon the American forces have taken up the first of five delaying positions planned to block the advance of the Japanese from Lingayen Gulf toward the Bataan Peninsula. MacArthur's intention from the first has been to retire to this area and await help and reinforcements from across the Pacific. Such help cannot now arrive but MacArthur has no other options open.

Lt-Gen Masaharu Homma steps ashore on Lingayen Gulf, along with an additional 10,000 men, 24 December 1941.

Gen Homma Steps Ashore

Manuel L. Quezon, president of the Philippines, and Filipino and American officials abandon Manila and flee to Corregidor.

The island of Jolo is occupied by the Japanese almost unopposed. Jolo is the capital of the Philippine Sulu Archipelago, only a short distance from Borneo drawing the threat to the Dutch East Indies closer.

Port Area, Manila, 24 December 1941

South China Sea

• The Dutch submarine K-17 is sunk by Japanese destroyers near Kota Bharu, Malaya.
• The American steamer Si Kiang is sunk by Japanese bombing in the Bay of Marse, Manila with the loss of 10 crewmen.
• The Dutch submarine K-16 sinks the Japanese destroyer Sagiri off Kuching, Malaya.

Roosevelt addresses the crowd at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony from the White House South Portico on 24 December 1941. Churchill can be seen on the right. (FDR Presidential Library)

Roosevelt Addresses the Crowd at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony