Today in World War II History—Jan. 24, 1942

Curtiss P-40E with Flying Tigers paint scheme at National Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, OH (Photo: National Museum of the US Air Force)

75 Years Ago—Jan. 24, 1942: Battle of Makassar Strait—first US naval surface action in Asian waters since Spanish-American War: US destroyers and US & Dutch aircraft sink six Japanese ships at Balikpapan, Borneo.

US Flying Tigers P-40s shoot down 12 planes over Rangoon, Burma.

New song in Top Ten: “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good.”