When were the Japanese defeated in WWII ?
February 27 – WWII : Battle of the Java Sea : An allied ( ABDA ) task force of 14 vessels under Dutch command , trying to stem a Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies , is defeated by a 19 vessel Japanese task force in the Java Sea ; 2.300 sailors die , including the commander , admiral Karel Doorman ; Japanese attain naval hegemony in East - Asia