Port Moresby under bombardment.
On this day, as noted in Sarah Sundin's blog, the Battle of Port Moresby began.
February 3, 1942: Japanese begin air raids on Port Moresby, New Guinea. Chiang Kai-shek agrees to send Chinese troops to aid the British in Burma. Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Air Force is redesignated RCAF, Women’s Division (nicknamed “WD” or “Wids”).
It's significant in that it was an all aviation contest, to some degree. The battle commenced in the form of Japanese air raids against Australian held Port Moresby, but by the end of the battle in August 1943 the contest included Australian and American aircraft.
The initial raid by Japanese aircraft was by flying boats. The raids threatened the Australian mainland, which were only 250 miles distant.
The Japanese took Ambron, an island in the Dutch East Indes that was defended by Australian and Dutch troops. In the next few days, 100 would lose their lives there.
The Afrika Korps took Timimi in Libya.
The British fixed clothing prices as a war measure.
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