1st » The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations.
2nd » The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.
2nd » World War II: Manila, Philippines is captured by Japanese forces.
7th » World War II: The Battle of Bataan or siege of the Bataan Peninsula begins.
11th » World War II: The Japanese Battle of Kuala Lumpur or capture Kuala Lumpur.
12th » World War II: President of the United States e.g President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the National War Labor Board.
13th » Henry Ford patents a plastic automobile, which is 30% lighter than a regular car.
13th » World War II: First use of an aircraft ejection seat by a Germany called German test pilot in a Heinkel He 280 jet fighter.
16th » Crash of TWA Flight 3, killing all 22 aboard, including film star Carole Lombard.
20th » World War II: At the Wannsee Conference held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee, senior Nazi Germany named Nazi German officials discuss the implementation of the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question".
23rd » World War II: The Battle of Rabaul (1942) e.g Battle of Rabaul begins, the first fighting of the New Guinea campaign.
24th » World War II: The Allies of World War II known as Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom.
25th » World War II: Thailand declares war on the United States and United Kingdom.
26th » World War II: The first United States forces arrive in Europe landing in Northern Ireland.
30th » World War II: Empire of Japan Japanese forces Battle of Ambon invade the island of Ambon Island Ambon in the Dutch East Indies.
31st » World War II: Allied forces are defeated by the Japanese at the Battle of Malaya and retreat to the island of Singapore.
Famous Birthdays on January in 1942
1st » Dennis Archer, American lawyer and politician, 67th Mayor of Detroit
1st » Anthony Hamilton-Smith, 3rd Baron Colwyn, British dentist
1st » Al Hunt, American journalist
1st » Country Joe McDonald, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Country Joe and the Fish)
1st » Alassane Ouattara, Ivorian politician, List of heads of state of Ivory Coast known as President of the Ivory Coast
1st » Gennadi Sarafanov, Soviet astronaut (d. 2005)
1st » Judy Stone, Australian singer
2nd » Dennis Hastert, American politician, 59th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
2nd » Ray Moore (broadcaster) called Ray Moore, English radio host (d. 1989)
2nd » Hugh Shelton, American general
3rd » John Marsden (lawyer) or John Marsden, Australian lawyer and activist (d. 2006)
3rd » John Thaw, English actor (d. 2002)
4th » Precious Bryant, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2013)
4th » John McLaughlin (musician) e.g John McLaughlin, English guitarist and songwriter (The Tony Williams Lifetime, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti (band) e.g Shakti, and Remember Shakti)
5th » Jan Ellis, South African rugby player (d. 2013)
5th » Jan Leeming, English journalist
5th » Terenci Moix, Spanish author (d. 2003)
5th » Maurizio Pollini, Italian pianist
5th » Charlie Rose, American journalist and talk show host
6th » Yiannis Boutaris, Greek businessman and politician
7th » Vasily Alekseyev, Russian weightlifter (d. 2011)
7th » Jim Lefebvre, American baseball player and manager
7th » Danny Steinmann, American director and screenwriter (d. 2012)
7th » Danny Williams (singer) or Danny Williams, South African singer (d. 2005)