Air Operations, Mediterranean

The destroyer Maori is bombed and sinks at Malta.

Damage from Massive Air Raid on Grand Harbour, Malta

42 civilians were killed this afternoon in a single massive air raid on Grand Harbour. 18 JU 88 bombers with a 40-strong Messerchmitt fighter escort swooped down the north coast just before two o’clock this afternoon. They dropped bombs on Valletta, Ricasoli, Zabbar, Corradino, Marsa, Hamrun and Paola, as well as outlying districts. Densely populated areas of Paola were particularly badly hit: 34 are reported dead in this area alone. The sheer numbers of aircraft made it impossible for Malta’s Ack Ack gunners to prevent them reaching their targets. It is estimated that over 150 bombs of up to 500kg were dropped in the raid, which lasted well over an hour. Airfields were also heavily bombed: many bombs fell on Luqa and the Safi strip, and at least 14 High Explosive bombs are reported on Hal Far.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-108 sinks the Norwegian steamer Blink (2701t) 160 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina with the loss of 24 crewmen. 6 survivors are rescued by the American steamer Monroe.

Diplomatic Relations

(2/11?)Franco and Portuguese dictator Salazar meet at Seville.

Dutch East Indies

The Japanese occupy Bandjarmasin, the capital of Borneo, and Makassar, the capital of the Celebes.

Eastern Front

Heavy fighting continues in the Leningrad sector, while in the south Berlin radio admits the Russians have broken through north of Taganrog on the Sea of Azov.

The Germans begin the Demyansk airlift, just as Soviet forces surrounding the 16th Army begin their artillery bombardment and launch probing attacks upon the perimeter of the pocket. Bitter fighting ensues, but the Germans hold their positions in the majority of sectors.

The 4th Shock Army keeps Group Sinzinger pinned down in Velizh with repeated infantry and tank assaults. The relief attacks toward the town by the 3rd Panzer Army continue but make slow progress in the deep snow and amid concerted Soviet counterattacks. Farther east, the 9th Army is involved in heavy fighting around Rzhev and Olenino as the German and Soviet forces launch repeated attacks. The Germans pound the 29th and 39th Armies, while the Kalinin Front attempts to smash those German units in the exposes Olenino salient.

Mediterranean

• A three-ship British convoy left Alexandria for Malta. The ships are attacked and all three are sunk.
• The British destroyer Maori is sunk by German bombing at Malta with the loss of 2 of her crew.
• British submarine Una sinks the Italian tanker Lucania (8106t) in the Gulf of Taranto.

Pacific

The 'Anzac Squadron' is formed at Suva, Fiji. Included are the cruisers Australia, the Chicago of the US Navy, the Achilles and Leander and 2 US destroyers.

Philippines

On Luzon the Japanese continue falling back.

Singapore

The Japanese make repeated attacks. In the evening the British withdraw the gun crews from the coastal defense batteries on the east and southeast of the island to reinforce the defensive perimeter around the city of Singapore. The defenders are becoming critically short of reinforcements.

Japanese Bomb Singapore's Docks

A large freighter settles slowly after being hit by Japanese bombs alongside of one of Singapore’s docks on 12 February 1942. Smoke from other struck objectives billows over the waterfront in this photo by C. Yates McDaniel, Associated Press correspondent, who was among the last to leave the besieged port on this date. The next day his ship was bombed and he reached safety after further harrowing experiences. (AP Photo/C. Yates McDaniel)

United States, Home Front

Artist Grant Wood dies at the age of 49. He is noted for his depiction of Midwestern farm folk as in his painting 'American Gothic'.