Air Operations, Europe

• 4 Bostons are sent on an uneventful shipping search off the Dutch coast.
• 126 aircraft are dispatched to Essen including 56 Wellingtons, 43 Hampdens, 13 Manchesters, 12 Stirlings and 2 Lancasters. This is the first participation by the Lancasters on a German target. Cloud cover causes another disappointing raid. 62 crews claim to have bombed Essed with 35 bombing alternate targets. Essen reports only 2 bombs fall on industrial targets, the railway lines near the Krupp factory. 5 people are killed and 12 injured. 4 aircraft are lost: 2 Hampdens, 1 Stirling and 1 Wellington.
• In minor operations 23 planes are sent to Boulogne and 3 Hampdens lay mines off the French coast.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US tanker Gulftrade is torpedoed and sunk by U-588 about 2 miles east of Barnegat, New Jersey. The net tender Larch (YN-16) rescues 7 survivors and the Coast Guard cutter Antietam (WPC-128) rescues 9.

Britain, Home Front

Eden reports to the House of Commons on Japanese outrages following the capture of Hong Kong on December 25th, including the massacre of hospital staff and patients.

Burma

The Japanese 15th Army under Gen Shojiro Iida starts the Second Burma Campaign.

Hungary, Home Front

Miklos Kallay succeeds Laszlo Bardossy as Prime Minister.

New Guinea

At Finschhafen, the Japanese land more troops. Japanese naval units and airfields near Lae and Salamaua are attacked by 104 aircraft launched from the carriers USS Lexington and Yorktown. Japanese aircraft from Rabaul, New Britain carry out 'neutralization raids' on Port Moresby.

TBD Devastator aircraft from USS Yorktown prepare to attack Japanese shipping in the Huon Gulf on 10 March 1942. Below the aircraft, two Japanese ships are making smoke in an attempt to conceal themselves from the impending air attack.

Yorktown TBD Devastators Attack Japanese Shipping

Pacific

Japanese naval units, including the Japanese invasion fleet of Rear-Adm Kajioka Sadamichi, and airfields near Lae and Salamaua are attacked by 104 aircraft launched from the carriers USS Lexington and Yorktown, Adm Brown's Task Force 11. The Japanese armed merchant cruiser Kongo Maru, auxiliary minelayer Ten'yo Maru and transport Yokohama Maru are sunk while several others, including a cruiser and 5 destroyers, are damaged.

Solomon Islands

The Japanese land on Buka on Bougainville.

United States, Policy

The US Government announces that help under the Lend Lease Act may be extended to Iran.

War Crimes

Anthony Eden, the British foreign secretary, gives a report to a shocked gathering of Members of Parliament in the Houses of Parliament concerning Japanese atrocities in the Far East. The report reveals horrific details of torture, murder and rape against Allied prisoners of war and indigenous peoples.