Today in World War II History—Dec. 23, 1941

Malayan rubber plantation burnt by the British as they retreat to Singapore, Dec 1941 (Imperial War Museum)

75 Years Ago—Dec. 23, 1941: Japanese take Wake Island after determined defense by US Marines.

British evacuate Malaya above Perak River as Japanese advance.

Off Cambria CA, Japanese sub I-21 sinks US tanker Montebello in sight of the coast; survivors machine-gunned in lifeboats but no one is injured.