February 1, 1942

SBD-2 Dauntless dive bomber on carrier USS Enterprise prepares for takeoff during the 1 Feb 1942 Marshall Islands Raid (National Naval Aviation Museum: NNAM.1996.253.599)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 1, 1942: US ships and aircraft from carriers USS Enterprise and USS Yorktown strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands in the first offensive action by the US in the war.
German Navy starts using 4-rotor Enigma machines, throwing off Allied code-breaking for eleven months.
Nazis form puppet government in Norway with Vidkun Quisling as prime minister.
Blue Star Mothers of America is established in Flint, MI, for mothers of servicemen and women.