Today in World War II History—March 1, 1942
Tuesday, March 1, 2022 by Sarah Sundin
HMS Exeter under attack during the Battle of the Java Sea, 1 Mar 1942 (Japanese Navy Photo, public domain)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 1, 1942: In the Battle of Sunda Strait off Java, Japanese ships sink heavy cruiser USS Houston, light cruiser HMAS Perth, and Dutch destroyer Evertsen; US ships sink five Japanese transports and other ships.
In the Battle of the Java Sea, Japanese cruisers sink heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and destroyers HMS Encounter and USS Pope.
Off Newfoundland, a PBO Hudson bomber sinks U-656, the first German U-boat sunk by the US Navy in WWII.
“Command Performance” radio show premieres from New York, starring Eddie Cantor taking requests from servicemen.
