at the beginning of december 1941, on the same day that japan was attacking pearl harbour half a world away, the japanese simultaneously bombed the royal air force bases to the north of singapore on the malay coast, thereby eliminating the air force’s ability to either retaliate or protect the occupying troops on the ground. their tactics were shrewd and incredibly well thought out. before a japanese soldier set foot on singaporean soil, britain’s naval and aerial capabilities had both been destroyed.