Air Operations, Australia

23 Allied planes are destroyed on the ground and 70 people are killed in Broome, Australia, when Japanese zeros attack. The aircraft were being used to evacuate civilians from Java. Broome is the refueling station on flights from Perth to Java.

Allied Command

In the East Indies, Lt-Gen Hein ter Poorten is appointed Commander-in-Chief Allied Land Forces and Rear-Adm van Stavern Commander-in-Chief Allied Naval Forces.

Britain, Home Front

Sir William Jowett is appointed Paymaster General and Maxwell Fyfe Solicitor General.

China

At Chungking Gen Stilwell establishes the headquarters of American force operating in China, Burma and India.

Central Pacific

US carrier aircraft from Halsey's task force attack Japanese positions and installations on Marcus Island. 1 US aircraft is downed, but the bombing damages ammunition dumps, airfields and radio installations.

Dutch East Indies

The Dutch see that the battle to defend Java is lost, and they proceed to destroy all installations that can be of value to the enemy.

Indian Ocean

Japanese warships sink the Australian sloop Yarra, the escorting depot ship Anking, the British tanker Francol and the motor minesweeper MMS-51 300 miles south of Java. All 138 of the crew are lost on the Yarra along with the survivors from the Dutch ship Parigi. 41 crewmen are lost on the Anking, 57 survivors are picked up by the Dutch steamer Tawali. There are 2 survivors from the Francol. Survivors from the minesweeper are picked up by the Dutch steamer Tjimanoek on the 7th.

Commander Anthony Miers Wins the Victoria Cross on the Night of 4th March 1942

On the night of the 4th March 1942 British submarine Torbay, Commander Anthony Miers, followed a convoy of Italian destroyers and supply ships into Corfu harbour in an attempt to get close to them. This was a dangerous, delicate and slow manoeuvre and as night fell Miers knew he could not attack until the morning. There was a further problem: the batteries had to be recharged or Torbay would not get out of the harbour next day. Eventually he found that the convoys ships had moved on but Miers was still able to attack some vessels, in an action that was to win him the Victoria Cross.

Pacific

• The US submarine Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese tanker No. 2 Kaijo Maru 145 miles south of Truk
• The Japanese army cargo ship Taki Maru is torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine Narwhal (SS-167) off Amami O Shima, south of Kyushu.
• The US submarine S-39 (SS-144) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese oiler Erimo south of Billiton Island, and island off the east coast of Sumatra.

Philippines

MacArthur reorganizes the forces defending the islands in readiness for his departure. Gen William F. Sharp retains command of the Mindanao garrison, while Gen Bradford G. Chynoweth takes over the Central Philippines force. Troops on Corregidor and the other fortified islands in the Bay of Manila will come under the command of Gen George F. Moore, while those on Luzon will be regrouped under a commander yet to be named.

United States, Home Front

In an explosion at an ordnance factory in Burlington, Iowa, 20 people are killed.