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syscom3
Pacific Historian
SOLOMONS: Aircraft from the USS Yorktown attack Japanese Naval forces off Tulagi in the Solomon Islands.
Amplifying the above:
This is the first day of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Beginning at 0845 hours local, aircraft of the Yorktown Air Group, in the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), attack the Japanese Tulagi Invasion Force off Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands. The 28 Douglas SBD Dauntlesses of Bombing Squadron Five (VB-5) and Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5), 12 Douglas TBD Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5), escorted by Grumman F4F Wildcats of Fighting Squadron Forty Two (VF-42), sink a Japanese destroyer, a minesweeper and two auxiliary minesweepers and damage a destroyer, a minelayer, a transport and a cargo ship in and around
Tulagi.
In another phase of Operation "MO," a Japanese invasion force bound for Port Moresby, New Guinea departs Rabaul on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. A IJN task force consisting of the aircraft carriers HIJMS Shokaku and HIJMS Zuikaku is also in the area and is sighted by the crew of a USAAF North American B-25 Mitchell. The crew reports the ship's position but is driven off by IJN carrier-based aircraft and is unable to regain the contact.
Amplifying the above:
And in a finale for the day two F4F pilots from VF-42 shot dow three F1M2 (later code named 'Pete') floatplanes near Tulagi. AFAIK this was the first encounter of the ubiquitous 'Pete' by USN carrier based aircraft. Joining up with the other two F4Fs of their division they then attacked the destroyer YUZUKI off the coast of Guadalcanal in a series of strafing runs, killing 10 men (including the captain) and wounding 20 more. Incendiary rounds started fires and AP rounds punched numerous holes through the hull. The YUZUKI limped back Rabaul trailing oil.
PHILIPINES: The Japanese bombardment of Corregidor becomes intense in preparation for the eventual landings.
BURMA: Akyab, Burma is evacuated by the British. The Chinese are defeated at Tating on the Burma River and at Bhano on the Irrawaddy River.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): HQ 35th Pursuit Group is transferred without personnel and equipment from New Delhi, India to Sydney, Australia.
NG 5th AF: B-26's bomb Vunakanau. P-39's and B-17's hit the airfield at Lae. HQ 27th BG and 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons transfer without personnel and equipment from Batchelor Field and Charters Towers, Australia to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia. The units will be remanned and equipped and fight in the Mediterranean.
Amplifying the above:
This is the first day of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Beginning at 0845 hours local, aircraft of the Yorktown Air Group, in the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), attack the Japanese Tulagi Invasion Force off Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands. The 28 Douglas SBD Dauntlesses of Bombing Squadron Five (VB-5) and Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5), 12 Douglas TBD Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5), escorted by Grumman F4F Wildcats of Fighting Squadron Forty Two (VF-42), sink a Japanese destroyer, a minesweeper and two auxiliary minesweepers and damage a destroyer, a minelayer, a transport and a cargo ship in and around
Tulagi.
In another phase of Operation "MO," a Japanese invasion force bound for Port Moresby, New Guinea departs Rabaul on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. A IJN task force consisting of the aircraft carriers HIJMS Shokaku and HIJMS Zuikaku is also in the area and is sighted by the crew of a USAAF North American B-25 Mitchell. The crew reports the ship's position but is driven off by IJN carrier-based aircraft and is unable to regain the contact.
Amplifying the above:
And in a finale for the day two F4F pilots from VF-42 shot dow three F1M2 (later code named 'Pete') floatplanes near Tulagi. AFAIK this was the first encounter of the ubiquitous 'Pete' by USN carrier based aircraft. Joining up with the other two F4Fs of their division they then attacked the destroyer YUZUKI off the coast of Guadalcanal in a series of strafing runs, killing 10 men (including the captain) and wounding 20 more. Incendiary rounds started fires and AP rounds punched numerous holes through the hull. The YUZUKI limped back Rabaul trailing oil.
PHILIPINES: The Japanese bombardment of Corregidor becomes intense in preparation for the eventual landings.
BURMA: Akyab, Burma is evacuated by the British. The Chinese are defeated at Tating on the Burma River and at Bhano on the Irrawaddy River.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): HQ 35th Pursuit Group is transferred without personnel and equipment from New Delhi, India to Sydney, Australia.
NG 5th AF: B-26's bomb Vunakanau. P-39's and B-17's hit the airfield at Lae. HQ 27th BG and 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons transfer without personnel and equipment from Batchelor Field and Charters Towers, Australia to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia. The units will be remanned and equipped and fight in the Mediterranean.