Appendix II — CHRONOLOGY OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN — SOUTH-EAST ASIA

	1941
JULY	Japan occupied southern Indo-China.
december
7	Japan launched air attacks on US bases in Hawaii, including Pearl Harbour.
8	Japanese forces landed in Malaya – Singapore had its first air raid. Great Britain and United States declared war on Japan.
9	Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Netherlands declared war on Japan. China declared war on Germany, Italy and Japan.
10	HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk off Kuantan, Malaya, by Japanese aircraft.
19	British forces evacuated Penang.
23	First Japanese air raid on Rangoon.
	1942
january
	Japanese forces continue to advance southwards in Malaya.
19	Burma invaded by Japanese forces from Siam. Mergui and Tavoy evacuated.
31	All British units now withdrawn into Singapore Island from the mainland.
february
5	Japanese forces cross Salween River, Burma.
8–9	Japanese forces landed on Singapore Island.
11	Japanese forces invaded Java.
14	Japanese paratroop attack at Palembang, Sumatra.
15	Singapore surrendered to Japanese forces.
21	Allied forces withdraw across Sittang River, Burma.
27	Java Sea naval battle.
	Japanese forces cut the Rangoon-Mandalay railway.
march
6	Batavia captured by Japanese forces.
7	Rangoon evacuated by British forces.
8	Surrender of Java.
23	Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal, occupied by Japanese forces.

april
2	British forces withdraw from Prome, Burma.
4	British cruisers Dorsetsbire and Cornwall sunk by Japanese bombers off Colombo.
5	Japanese air attack on Colombo.
9	Japanese air raid on Trincomalee, Ceylon.
9	Aircraft carrier Hermes sunk by Japanese aircraft off Trincomalee.
29	Japanese captured Lashio – southern terminal of the Burma Road.
may
1	Japanese captured Mandalay.
5	Japanese troops cross Chinese frontier on the Burma Road.
8	Japanese captured Akyab on Bay of Bengal. Myitkyina, North Burma, occupied by Japanese.
june
	Allied forces begin reorganising in India.
	Air supply route from India to China ‘over the Hump’ now in operation.
december
10	Construction of Ledo Road commenced.
14	British forces open first Arakan offensive.
20	First Japanese air raid on Calcutta.
	1943
february
16	First Wingate expedition entered Burma.
may
7	British forces withdraw from the Arakan.
august
27	Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten appointed Supreme Commander South-east Asia.
october
30	Renewal of battle for air supremacy over Burma. RAF fighter squadrons begin re-equipping with Spitfires.
november
16	Formation of Air Command, South-east Asia, under Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse.
december
21	General Stilwell's forces began advance towards Myitkyina.
31	RAF Spitfires score notable success against Japanese raiders off Arakan coast.

	1944
january
	British forces begin second Arakan campaign.
10	Maungdaw, Arakan, recaptured.
february
4	Japanese counter-attack in Arakan.
23	Japanese offensive in Arakan defeated – Allied air supply and support a decisive factor.
march
5	Wingate's second Chindit expedition (Operation thursday) began.
8	Strong Japanese offensive launched in central front in Manipur.
31	Japanese forces cut Dimapur-Kohima road. Start of siege of Imphal. Allied forces there now supplied entirely by air.
april
16	Kohima relieved.
may
11	Chinese forces crossed Salween River and commenced drive to free the Burma Road.
17	American and Chinese forces recaptured Myitkyina airfield.
june
20	Japanese forces in retreat from Imphal.
august
3	Myitkyina town captured by Allied forces.
19	Japanese forces now driven from India.
october
15	Allied offensive from Myitkyina towards Mandalay began.
18	Tiddim recaptured by Fourteenth Army.
november
9	Fort White recaptured by Fourteenth Army.
13	Kalemyo recaptured by Fourteenth Army.
december
2	Kalewa occupied by Allied forces.
15	Bhamo recaptured by Allied forces.
24	Last Japanese air attack on Calcutta.
	1945
january
3	Akyab occupied unopposed by Allied forces.
7	Shwebo occupied by Fourteenth Army.
21	Allied assault on Ramree Island

march
3	Meiktila captured by British forces.
6	Lashio captured by Chinese forces.
20	Mandalay recaptured by Allied forces.
april
19	Magwe recaptured.
may
1	Pegu occupied by Fourteenth Army. Allied forces landed south of Rangoon.
2	RAF pilot lands at Mingaladon airfield and enters Rangoon.
3	Rangoon occupied by Allied forces.
august
6	First atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.
9	Second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
15	Japan accepted Allied demand for unconditional surrender. Allied aircraft begin dropping medical teams and supplies to PW camps in Burma and Siam.
september
2	Surrender of Japan signed at Tokyo.
10	Allied aircraft begin evacuation of prisoners of war. Singapore reoccupied by Allied forces.

Appendix II
CHRONOLOGY OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA