Air Operations, CBI

1st and 2nd AVG Fighter Squadron P-40 pilots down 12 Ki-27 'Nate' fighters over Rangoon during the afternoon.

Air Operations, Europe

• 55 Wellingtons and 29 Hampdens are sent on a raid to Munster. Visibility is very poor and no aircraft positively identify the target area but some believe they do hit it. Local records report that no bombs fell in Munster. 4 Hampdens and 1 Wellington are lost.
• Boulogna is raided by 48 aircraft. 1 Whitley is shot down into the sea by a British ship. There are no survivors.
• In minor operations, 29 Whitleys are sent to Rotterdam, 16 Blenheim Intruders to airfields in France and Holland, and 2 aircraft on leaflet flights over France. 1 Intruder is lost.

Diplomatic Relations

A conference of Foreign Ministers of the American republics ends in Rio de Janeiro. Lasting almost 2 weeks the purpose of the meeting was to cement the unity of the continent.

Brazil and Paraguay breaks off diplomatic relations with the Axis powers.

Eastern Front

The 9th Army counterattacks with the XLVI Panzer Corps, aiming to restore positions in the Rzhev salient. On the extreme left wing, the 4th Shock Army attacks Velizh but can not encircle the town, which is held by elements of the LIX Corps.

The Luftwaffe attacks Soviet air bases near Kaluga where the IV Airborne Corps is assembling for its drop at Vyazma.

Groups Mackensen and Kleist counterattack to prevent further Soviet progress along the road to Dnepropetrovsk, while in the Crimea the Stavka activates a new Crimean Front under Gen Dmitriy Kozlov. The Stavka is planning to launch a major attack in the Crimea, using the 44th Army along the coastal road to push into the rear of the Germans at Sevastopol. A second assault force is to land at Sudak. The attack is scheduled to start on February 13.

Malaya

The retreat of the British forces from the mainland continues. The Japanese reach Benut in pursuit of the 11th Indian Div, which retreats in disorder, leaving the 22nd Indian Bde open on its flank and completely cut off from the main body.

Mediterranean

The British submarine Thorn sinks the Italian steamer Ninuccia (4583t) off Cape Planka, Yugoslavia.

New Guinea

The Japanese land on Rossel Island off Papua in the Louisiades east of New Guinea. The threat to Australia becomes increasingly serious.

North Africa

Benghazi is evacuated. Since it will not receive the promised tank support, the 4th Indian Div, which is holding Benghazi, is authorized to withdraw. The 7th Indian Bde, the last unit to withdraw, is dangerously isolated and receives reluctant permission from 8th Army Headquarters to retreat. As darkness falls, Group Marcks cuts the coastal road north of Benghazi. But Brig Harold Briggs, leading his men across the open desert to the southeast, breaks out of the trap, to reach Mechili with very few casualties. Beyond Benghazi, Er Regima is occupied by the German 90th Light Inf Div and the Italian XX Corps.

8th Army now has no choice but to fall back to the defenses at Gazala, which it does in good order, assisted by the fact that Rommel becomes dangerously short of fuel.

Philippines

The situation in the Bataan peninsula remains unchanged. Americans and Filipinos continue to harass the Japanese bridgeheads at Quinauan and Anyasan, but with no tangible results.

South Africa, Home Front

Numerous bomb explosions disrupt electricity supplies to gold mines in the Rand.