February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the shortest month and the only month with fewer than 30 days. The month has 28 days in common years or 29 days in leap years.
February symbols: Its birth flower is the violet (Viola) and the common primrose (Primula vulgaris). Its birthstone is the amethyst. It symbolizes piety, humility, spiritual wisdom, and sincerity. Its Zodiac signs are Aquarius (until February 18) and Pisces (February 19 onwards).
Historical Events for February, 1942
Day of Week 1st » World War II: Josef Terboven, Reichskommissar of Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany German-occupied Norway, appoints Vidkun Quisling the Prime Minister of Norway Minister President of the Quisling regime National Government.
1st » World War II: U.S. Navy conducts Marshalls-Gilberts raids, the first offensive action by the United States against Japanese forces in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II called Pacific Theater.
1st » Voice of America, the official external radio and television service of the Federal government of the United States called United States government, begins broadcasting with programs aimed at areas controlled by the Axis powers.
Day of Week 6th » World War II: The United Kingdom declares war on Thailand.
Day of Week 8th » World War II: Empire of Japan or Japan Battle of Singapore or invades Singapore.
Day of Week 9th » World War II: Top United States military leaders hold their first formal meeting to discuss American military strategy in the war.
9th » Year-round Daylight saving time is re-instated in the United States as a wartime measure to help conserve energy resources.
Day of Week 10th » The first Music recording sales certification named gold record is presented to Glenn Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo".
Day of Week 11th » World War II: The Battle of Bukit Timah is fought in Singapore.
Day of Week 14th » Battle of Pasir Panjang contributes to the fall of Singapore.
Day of Week 15th » World War II: Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Empire of Japan Japanese forces, the United Kingdom British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 British Indian Army Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of wa
Day of Week 18th » World War II: The Imperial Japanese Army begins the Sook Ching massacre called systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore.
Day of Week 19th » World War II: Nearly 250 Japanese warplanes Bombing of Darwin or attack the northern Australian city of Darwin, Northern Territory called Darwin killing 243 people.
19th » World War II: President of the United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Executive order (United States) executive order Executive Order 9066 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese-Americans to Japanese American inter
Day of Week 22nd » World War II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippines as the Japanese victory becomes inevitable.
Day of Week 23rd » World War II: Empire of Japan Japanese submarines Bombardment of Ellwood fire artillery shells at the California coastline near Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara.
Day of Week 24th » The Battle of Los Angeles, one of the largest documented UFO sightings in history; the event lasted into the early hours of February 25.
24th » An order-in-council passed under the Defence of Canada Regulations of the War Measures Act gives the Government of Canada named Canadian federal government the power to Japanese Canadian internment called intern all "persons of Japanese racial origin".
Day of Week 27th » World War II: During the Battle of the Java Sea, an American-British-Dutch-Australian Command or Allied strike force is defeated by a Japanese task force in the Java Sea in the Dutch East Indies.
Day of Week 28th » The heavy cruiser USS Houston CA-30 6 is sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait with 693 crew members killed, along with HMAS Perth D29 6 which lost 375 men.
Famous Birthdays on February in 1942
1st » Terry Jones, Welsh actor, director, and screenwriter