Philip Johnson returns from Canada and becomes company president, and Claire Egtvedt becomes chairman of the board. Trans World Airlines flies its first Stratoliner from New York to Los Angeles in 12 hours and 18 minutes. The first B-17s fly into combat, serving with the British Royal Air Force on a daylight bombing raid from 30,000 feet against Wilhelmshaven, Germany. It will take more than 450,000 yards of fill to reclaim the wetlands. The Navy later will trade the facility to the Army Air Corps, and 1,119 B-29s will be built there in record time.
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.
The first flights carry antitank ammunition and medical supplies to British forces in Libya. The B-17 Yankee Doodle , the flagship of Brig. Gen. Ira Eaker, leads the first squadron of bombers over occupied Europe. Each is large enough to hold a jeep or field gun.