Air Operations, Europe

There is an RAF daylight raid on the Matford truck works at Poissy, near Paris. 12 Bostons of 88 and 226 Squadrons make a low-level attack on this truck factory beyond the range of fighter cover. 2 other formations of 6 Bostons each carry out Circus operations to the Abbeville railway yards and the Comines power station at times when it is hoped to divert attention from the Poissy raid. These raids are successful but 1 of the Bostons on the Poissy raid crashes soon after the attack, the first operational loss of a Boston.

During the night a heavy raid is launched on the previously difficult target of Essen with the aid of the new Gee navigational equipment. Included in the 211 aircraft sent on this raid on the Krupp armament works are 115 Wellingtons, 37 Hampdens, 27 Stirlings, 22 Manchesters and 10 Halifaxes. 5 Wellingtons, 2 Manchester and 1 Stirling are lost. The weather is fine but an industrial haze over Essen prevents accurate bombing and the results are disppointing.

Gee enables the aircraft to reach only the approximate area of the target. In this new technique guide aircraft fly over the area first and drop flares. Other aircraft follow dropping incendiary bombs in order to indicate the targets to the bomber squadrons. Photographic evidence shows the main target, the Krupp factories, are not hit, but some bombs fall on the southern part of Essen. Some houses and a church are destroyed with 10 people killed and 19 missing.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-701 sinks the British anti-submarine trawler Notts County southeast of Iceland. There is only 1 survivor of the 42-man crew.

Burma

Elements of the Japanese 15th Army enter Rangoon. Loss of the Burmese capital is particularly serious to the Allies cause because it cuts off the last port through which supplies could be funneled over the Burma Road to China. Indian infantry, with tank and artillery support, break through the Japanese block on the Rangoon-Prome road at Taukkyan, along which the British are retiring. The loss of the capital follows a period of social chaos and internal support for the Japanese from Burmese nationalists. It also results in several British command changes. Gen Harold Alexander replaces Gen Thomas Hutton as commander of the Burma Army.

Japanese Soldiers Capture the Railway Station of Rangoon

Cuba, Home Front

The death of J. R. Capablanca, diplomat and world chess champion from 1921-27 is announced. He died in New York at the age of 53.

Dutch East Indies

The Japanese occupy the naval base at Surabaya in Java.

On 8 March 1942 Japanese Shock-Troops Enter Malang, Java on Bicycles

New Guinea

The battle for New Guinea begins as the Japanese land troops at Lae and Salamaua in the Huon Gulf.

North Africa

In view of the serious supply situation in Malta, Gen Auchinleck orders Gen Ritchie to do everything possible to engage Axis air forces, so as to make it possible to send a supply convoy to the island in conditions of maximum safety.

United States, Policy

The War Production Board regulates the production of clothing in the United States, specifying certain styles to conserve cloth.