This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago. (4 Viewers)

[syscom3]

PHILIPINES: General Sharp orders the surrender of the resistance forces and US forces in the Philippines.

NG: The Japanese plan to seize Port Moresby, New Guinea is officially cancelled.

USA: The possibility of increasing the range of small aircraft, by operating them as towed gliders, is demonstrated at the U.S. Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when two pilots hook their Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters to tow lines streaming behind a twin-engined Douglas BD (USAAF A-20), cut their engines and are towed for an hour at 180 knots at 7,000 feet.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's attack Kessa in the N Solomon while 22nd BG B-26's hit the seaplane base at Deboyne. Lost is B-26 40-1402.

PACIFIC: USN Inshore Patrol Squadron VS-4-D14 arrived in the Tonga with the base construction and garrison convoy and set up facilities to conduct antisubmarine patrols from Nukualofa Harbor on Tongatabu.

 

[syscom3]

PHILIPINES: Last U.S. troops in Philippines surrender on Mindanao.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): B-17's fly their first mission in direct defense of the air cargo line to China when 4 B-17's from Dum Dum Airfield, India heavily damage the runways and set fire to several parked aircraft at Myitkyina, Burma. Myitkyina, which fell to the Japanese on 8 May, poses a serious fighter threat to the Allied base at Dinjan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's and B-26's hit shipping in Simpson Harbor and the Lakunai Airfield. 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th BG, transfers from Cloncurry to Longreach with B-17's.

May 11th

USA: The President ordered that an Air Medal be established for award to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard after 8 September 1939, distinguishes or has distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

USN - Scuttled is USS Neosho (AO-23) after the Battle of the Coral Sea.

 

[syscom3]

CBI: The Chinese 6th Division retreats across the Salwen River on the way to Kengtung in the Burma Theater.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (, 5th Air Force): B-17's and B-26's hit shipping Simpson Harbor and the Lakunai Airfield.

AUSTRALIA: 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th BG (Heavy), transfers from Cloncurry to Longreach with B-17's.

 

[syscom3]

HAWAII: The first Japanese coded radio messages are broken that indicate the upcoming Japanese operation at Midway.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): B-17's pound Myitkyina, Burma for the second time, scoring direct hits on runways and several buildings.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's, B-26's and B-25's attack Rabaul and Lae.

 

[syscom3]

INDIA: The first British units reach India as the retreat from Burma continues.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-25's, B-26's and and B-17's hit the airfield and storehouses at Lae and seaplane base at Deboyne. 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43d BG (Heavy), transfers from Sidney to Daly Waters, Australia with B-17's. Lost on a passenger flight is B-26 "Lil Deicer " 40-1390.

USA: The U.S. star insignia applied to aircraft is modified on all military aircraft by eliminating the red disc in the center of the star. The USN also orders that the red and white rudder stripes be eliminated.
Gas rationing begins with the amount set for non essential vehicles at 3 gallons per week. There are 17 states in the US, with rationing in effect, at this point.
President Roosevelt signs the bill authorizing the formation of the Women's Army Auxillary Corps. (WAAC). By the end of the war, this Corps will become part of the Army as the WAC, utilitzing the skills of 150,000 women to do non-combat jobs, both in the states and overseas.

 

[syscom3]

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): HQ 10th Air Force completes its move from the US to New Delhi, India. B-17's again strike the airfield at Myitkyina, Burma, pounding runways and buildings. Subsequent reconnaissance indicates that the runways are unusable.

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (SOPAC, 7th Air Force): 68th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, transfers from Amberly Field, Australia to Tongatabu, Tonga with P-40's.

NG: (5th Air Force): B-26's and and B-17's hit the airfield and storehouses at Lae. 3rd BG B-25s fly two sorties against Lae. The morning strike took off at 6:00am armed with twleve 100 lbs bombs. Led by led by Cpt. H. F. Lowery. Over Salamaua bad weather was encountered and the first flight split off in search of enemy shipping. Lt. Feltham assumed the lead and by following the coastline from Salamaua to Lae succeeded in wading the worst of bad tropical thunderstorms. Breaking out of a storm the flight spotted Lae * five miles ahead, just as Zeros took off to intercept them head on. The bombing run was made at 800' against anti-aircraft positions and supply dumps. After the attack the formation was scattered and returned individually. In an afternoon sortie, the B-25s return to bomb Lae Airfield again from 2,400', lost on the return flight is B-25C 41-12478 force landing at Aiyary Airstrip. Also bombers hit the seaplane base at Deboyne.

Australia: 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43d BG (Heavy), transfers from Sidney to Daly Waters, Australia with B-17's.

 

[syscom3]

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): The 7th Air Force is placed on alert in anticipation of a possible attack on Midway. For the next 10 days the old B-18's on hand are used on sea searches to supplement the B-17's. VII Bomber Command receives an influx of B-17's during this period, and the 72d Bombardment Squadron, 5th BG (Heavy), is converted from B-18's to B-17's.

AUSTRALIA:HQ 19th Bombardment Group and 93d Bombardment Squadron transfers from Garbutt Field to Longreach with B-17's. Detachment of 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th BG (Heavy), ceases operating from Perth and returns to Longreach with B-17's.
B-17's bomb shipping in Koepang Bay, Timor .

 

[syscom3]

AUSTRALIA: B-17's attack the airfield and AA guns at Koepang, Timor.

USA: President Roosevelt presents the medal of honor to General James Doolittle for his bombing of Tokyo on April 18, 1942, Japan. Doolittle viewed the raid as a failure because of its lost of fifteen of the sixteen planes, and lack of serious damage.

 

[syscom3]

SW PACIFIC: Admiral John S McCain, USN, in seaplane tender USS TANGIER at Noumea, New Caledonia Island, assumes command as Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces (COMAIRSOPAC). This new command is established to direct the operations of tender and shore-based aviation in the South Pacific Area.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): 11th Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), arrives at Karachi, India from the US with B-17's; first mission is 3 Jun.

AUSTRALIA: B-17's attack the airfield and AA guns at Koepang, Timor.

Ground echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron, 38th BG (Medium), transfers from Amberley Field, Australia to New Caledonia ; air echelon is at Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-26's.

 

[syscom3]

NG: (5th Air Force): B-26's bomb aircraft at Lae.

 

[syscom3]

MEXICO: Mexico declares war on Germany, Italy and Japan.

U.S.: Last year, Ted Williams batted .406. Today, after the Red Sox return to Boston from a road trip, Williams enlists in the U.S. Navy Air Corps to train to become a fighter pilot.
He passes the complete physical examination (his eyesight is 20-15) and is sworn into the service, immediately becoming Seaman Williams, second class. Upon his call to active duty, he will automatically become Air Cadet Williams.
Behind him are the months of wonder and indecision that followed his deferment from the draft by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in February on the grounds that he is the sole support of his mother.The $32,000-a-year ballplayer will become a cadet at the salary of $106 a month. This won't happen for a while, though. Williams won't be called to active duty until after the baseball season ends.
He will win the Triple Crown, leading the American League with a .356average, 36 homers and 137 RBI. He will miss the next three seasons as well as most of the 1952 and 1953 seasons, serving as a fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): In Territory of Hawaii, 19th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, transfers from Bellows Field to Kualoa Field with P-40's; air echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron, 38th BG (Medium), arrives at Hickam Field with B-26's; ground echelon is on New Caledonia ; and 73d Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, transfers from Wheeler Field to Bellow Field with P-40's.

NG: (5th Air Force): B-17's pound Lakunai Airfield while 22nd BG B-26's and 3rd BG B-25s of the hit the airfield at Lae and attack shipping in the harbor. Lost are B-25C 41-12981, B-25D 41-29692.

 

[syscom3]

AUSTRALIA: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-29 launches a Yokosuka "Glen," to fly a reconnaissance mission over Sydney, Australia.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): 31st Bombardment Squadron, 5th BG (Heavy), transfers from Hickam Field to Kipapa, Territory of Hawaii with B-17's and B-18's.

NG: Five B-25's of the 3rd BG strike the airfield and buildings at Lae. Lost are B-25C 41-12491 and B-25C 41-12462

 

[syscom3]

USN - Carriers Hornet and Enterprise move towards Pearl Harbor, where they will quickly be refitted and sent to Midway. The Japanese prepairing to attack Midway mistakenly believe these carriers are in the Solomons.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-26's and B-25 of the 3rd BG attack Lae Airfield, but heavy AA and at least 15 intercepting Zekes prevent accurate bombing. Several of the B-26's are shot down or badly damaged and forced to crashland. Lost are B-25C 41-12448 and B-25C 41-124562. Lost on a rescue mission to Aiyary Airstrip are: and A-24 41-15820.

NZ: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-21 launches a "Glen," to fly a reconnaissance mission over Auckland, New Zealand.

 

[syscom3]

CBI: Elements of the 38th Division of the Japanese Army reach India.

PACIFIC, MIDWAY OPERATIONS:
Two light carriers and two cruisers leave Hokkaido, Japan to begin diversionary raids on the Aleutian Islands as part of the Japanese Midway operation.

US submarines sail to patrol positions from hawaii to counter the Japanese Midway operation.

The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-9 launches a "Glen," to fly a reconnaissance mission over Kiska and Amchitka Islands in the Aleutian Islands.

The light cruiser USS St. Louis, part of a reinforcement group carrying Marine aircraft and personnel to Midway, disembarks Companies C and D of the Second Marine Raider Battalion and a 37mm gun battery of the Third Defense Battalion.

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ALASKA (11th Air Force): 11th Fighter Squadron, 28th Composite Group, based at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of Alaska with P-40's sends a detachment to Cold Bay.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): 4 B-17's bomb Rangoon, Burma during the night of 24/25 May.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's bomb Vunakanau Airfield. B-25s of the 3rd BG attack Lae. Lost are B-25C 41-12441, B-25C 41-12450, B-25C 41-12466 and B-25C 41-12498. Force landed near Port Moresby is B-25C "Irene" 41-12442. At Aiyary Airfield the surviving A-24 41-15822 crashes on take off.

 

[syscom3]

MIDWAY ISLANDS OPERATIONS: The Japanese 1st Carrier Fleet, under Admiral Nagumo, leaves the Inland Sea to begin their part in the Midway operation, known as MO.

US Naval TF 16, carriers Enterprise and Hornet, return to Pearl Harbor from the South Pacific.

The aircraft ferry USS Kitty Hawk (AKV-1) arrives at Midway Island with Marine reinforcements including a detachment of a 3-inch (76.2 mm) antiaircraft group of the 3d Defense Battalion, a light tank platoon and additional personnel for Marine Air Group Twenty Two (MAG-22).

ALASKA (11th Air Force): 11th Fighter Squadron, 28th Composite Group, based at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of Hawaii sends a detachment to Umnak, Aleutian with P-40's.

US: The feasibility of jet-assisted takeoff is demonstrated in a successful flight test of a Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo at NAS Anacostia, D.C., using five British antiaircraft solid propellant rocket motors. The reduction in takeoff distance is 49 percent.

JAPAN - Citing Japanese victories in the Coral Sea and other battles, Radio Tokyo announces that "America and Britain... have now been exterminated.. the British and American fleets cannot appear on the oceans."

 

[syscom3]

MIDWAY OPERATIONS: The Japanese Invasion Fleet sails from the Marianas toward Midway. A second invasion force heads for the Aleutians from Ominato.

The USS Yorktown arrives at Pearl Harbor from the South Pacific.

In the Aleutian Islands, the Japanese submarine HIJMS I-19 is preparing to launch a Yokosuka E14Y1 "Glen," for a reconnaissance mission over Bogoslof Island, located in the Bering Sea about 60 miles (96.6 km) west of Unalaska Island, when a U.S. destroyer is sighted. The sub submerges causing irreparable damage to the aircraft.
Meanwhile, the submarine HIJMS I-25 launches a "Glen" to fly a reconnaissance mission over Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska.

SW PACIFIC: U.S. Marines and Navy Seabees occupy the Wallis Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean in position 13.18S, 176.10W.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): 11th Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), transfers from Karachi to Lahabad, India with B-17's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's bomb Rabaul. 8th FG P-39s intercept Japanese fighters attacking Port Moresby. Lost is P-39F 41-7153 (MIA) and P-39F 41-7162 (pilot returned to duty).

USN - The transfer of Patrol Wing 4 from Seattle to the North Pacific began with the arrival of the Commander at Kodiak.

JAPAN - Japanese Midway invasion force depart Saipan Guam

SW PACIFIC: TF 6814, on New Caledonia, is redesignated as the Americal Division. Comment on above: In today's report on "way back when" I noted, that on May 27, 1942 "TF 6814 became redesignated as the Americal Division." It was one of the few times in history that we were not known first as "the American Division", then since there was none such, "an American Division" which made us anonymous. We should all have joined the Marine Corps.

 

[syscom3]

MIDWAY OPERATIONS: Those Imperial Japanese Naval forces that have not previously sailed, leave today for the Midway operation.

US TF 16, carriers Enterprise and Hornet under Admiral Spruance, sail from Pearl Harbor for Midway. Admiral Fletcher will leave later with the Yorktown and TF 17.
Amplifying the above:
The Enterprise Air Group in USS Enterprise consists of Bombing Squadron Six with SBD Dauntless, Fighting Squadron Six with F4F Wildcats, Scouting Squadron Six with SBDs, and Torpedo Squadron Six with TBD Devastators.
The Hornet Air Group in USS Hornet consists of VB-8 with SBDs, VF-8 with F4Fs, VS-8 with SBDs and VT-8 with TBDs.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): A B-17 flies the first armed reconnaissance from the secretly constructed airfield at Unmak , Aleutian over the Aleutian Chain, but finds no sign of the enemy. XI Fighter Command elements are not deployed at Unmak (P-40's and P-38's), Cold Bay (P-40's), Kodiak (P-39's), and Elmendorf Field [P-38's and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Kittyhawks].

USA - Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson warns Americans along the west coast to expect a Japanese attack as retaliation for the Dollittle raid on Tokyo.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-26's attack the airfield at Lae, New Guinea.

NEW HEBRIDIES - U.S. forces arrive at Espiritu Santo

 

[syscom3]

MIDWAY OPERATIONS: At French Frigate Shoals, Territory of Hawaii, the seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Thornton (AVD-11) arrives to relieve the light minelayer USS Preble. Later that day, the Japanese submarine HIJMS I-123 also arrives. The Japanese had intended to use the shoals as a refueling stop for Japanese seaplanes flying reconnaissance missions over Pearl Harbor; the aircraft would be refueled by submarines. The presence of the U.S. ships prevents this operation and the Japanese never learn that two of the USN's aircraft carriers have already departed Pearl Harbor.

The seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Ballard (AVD-10) arrives at Midway with eleven motor torpedo boats (PTs) of Motor Torpedo Squadron One (MTBRon 1).

AUSTRALIA: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-21 launches a "Glen," to fly a reconnaissance mission over Sydney, Australia.

SOLOMONS: The USN's Patrol Squadron Seventy One based at Noumea, New Caledonia on the seaplane tenders USS Curtiss and USS Tanigier with PBY-5 Catalinas joins RAAF Catalinas in bombing Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands.

MADAGASCAR: Diego Suarez: About ten miles from the harbour entrance, the Captains of the Japanese submarines I-16, I-18 and I-20 were ordered to launch their Type "A" midget submarines. I-18's midget took no part in the attack because the launching machinery failed to work properly. The I-18 Mother submarine with its midget still on board was therefore forced to return to the armed flotilla support ships Hokoku Maru, 10,438 tons and the Airoko Maru, 10,437 tons, for maintenance. The other two midgets were successfully launched and started their mission.
I-16s midget submarine was crewed by Ensign Katsusuke Iwase as Captain and Petty Officer Takazo Takata as the navigator, both single men.
I-20's midget submarine was crewed by Lt. Saburo Akieda as Captain and Petty Officer Takemoto as the navigator. They were both married men
and each had a family. The story continues tomorrow.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): 4 B-17's hit Myitkyina Airfield, Burma in a high-altitude strike. No activity is seen.

HAWAII: (POA, 7th Air Force): 19th Transport Squadron, 7th Air Force, transfers from Hickam Field to John Rodgers Airport, Territory of Hawaii with C-33's and C-53's.

NG: Tainan Kokutai Zeros are intercepted SE of Port Moresby in the vicinity of Hood Bay at 0950 hours. Eighteen Zeros encountered 17 Airacobras. The US claimed three at the time but were later credited with four. Lost was Zero piloted by P/O 2nd Class Hisao Komori, that crashed near Iwaia (Oro Province). Came down at 1000 Hrs. The pilot was trailed and fired three shots but was killed resisting arrest. Pilot was carrying a map showing operations of (medium?) planes from an island (Truk). Lost is P-39F 41-7116

 

[syscom3]

MIDWAY OPERATIONS: U.S. Navy Task Force 17, consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), departs Pearl Harbor to join Task Force 16 northeast of Midway Island. The Yorktown Air Group consists of Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) with Douglas SBD Dauntlesses, VB-5 with SBDs, Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3) with Grumman F4F Wildcats, and Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3) with Douglas TBD Devastators.

The 7th Air Force in the Territory of Hawaii dispatches six B-17's to Midway Island to reinforce the fifteen that are already there.

A Japanese task force consisting of two light aircraft carriers and two troop transports departs northern Honshu Island for the Aleutian Islands.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): 77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28th Composite Group, based at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of Alaska, begins operating from Umnak, Aleutian with B-26's.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): Myitkyina, Burma is again hit by B-17's. Again no activity is observed and the attacks are discontinued. HQ 7th Bombardment Group transfers from Karachi to Dum-Dum, India.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): 7th Air Force begins flying B-17's from the Territory of Hawaii to Midway in the face of an expected attack on that . 394th Bombardment Squadron, 5th BG (Heavy), transfers from Hickam Field to Bellows Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-17's.

INDIAN OCEAN: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-10 launches a "Glen," to fly a reconnaissance mission over Diego Suarez, Madagascar. The Harbor of Diego Suarez: Nightfall on with the sky clear, bright and a full moon. Some reports suggest that the midget submarine from I-16 was unsuccessful in getting into the harbour. This statement is not supported by eyewitness reports from crewmembers on both the British Loyalty and HMS Ramillies. Both reported seeing the conning towers of two small submarines in the harbour around the time of the attack. The midget submarine from I-20 was definitely in the harbour and at 2025 hours started a torpedo attack.
It almost immediately scored a hit on HMS Ramillies, which blasted a 30ft by 30ft hole in her port bulge. It caused severe flooding to a number of decks as well as power and communication failures within the vessel. In spite of HMS Ramillies' severe damage there were no fatalities on board and injuries were limited to one broken arm and some bumps, bruising and concussion. The torpedo had passed very close to the stern of the tanker British Loyalty on its path to the Ramillies. Having witnessed the attack on the Ramillies, the Master of the British Loyalty ordered her crew to get all the boats out and heave up the anchor.
He then rang the Engine Room Telegraph signalling "standby". It was now nearly an hour since the first attack and the Loyalty was just beginning to move aft, away from her original forward anchor point. Signalman Harry Barnet was watching from the deck of HMS Ramillies and was horrified to see the track of a second torpedo, which appeared to be heading directly towards his ship. As he looked out he could see British Loyalty, just underway, going astern and directly into the torpedo's path.
It was now 2120 hours and the tanker was hit in the after part of the engine room and caught the full blast of the weapon that had been intended for the Battleship. The crew on the midget from I-20 had fired their second torpedo.
The stern of British Loyalty began to sink rapidly and her Master, R. Wastell, gave the order to "Abandon Ship". If this second torpedo had hit the already badly damaged Ramillies, this elderly battleship would have certainly sunk.
Nearly all the Ramillies' crew were engaged in stemming the flow of water through the damaged hull and pumping out the flooded decks.
They also had the delicate task of removing bombs, shells and bullets from the flooded ammunition stores. In the meantime the British Loyalty had sunk to the bottom of the harbour In around 67 feet of water with only part of her funnel visible above the surface. Her stern was now firmly embedded in the harbour mud. After the attack, the two-man crew of the midget submarine from I-20 attempted to leave the harbour, but in their haste and due to defective steering, grounded the midget on a reef. They abandoned their craft, swam ashore and started to walk across the barren countryside of Northern Madagascar in an attempt to reach the agreed rendezvous point with their mother submarine I-20 near the thickly wooded hills of Cape Amber. They also knew I-20 would wait for two days at the pick up point before finally departing.

 

[syscom3]

US: US Battleships Colorado and Maryland sail to San Franscisco to reinforce the Pacific Fleet.

AUSTRALIA: The Japanese submarines HIJMS I-22, HIJMS I-24 and HIJMS I-2, each launch a Type A midget submarine which penetrates the harbor defenses of Sydney, Australia. The three midget submarines, which are all lost, fire torpedoes that miss the heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29), sink the accommodation ship HMAS Kuttabul and damage the Dutch submarine HNMS K 9.

INDIAN OCEAN: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-10 again launches a "Glen," to fly a reconnaissance mission over Diego Suarez, Madagascar for the second day.

MIDWAY OPERATIONS: B-17 Flying Fortresses of the USAAF's 7th Air Force on detached service at Midway Island begin search operations. U.S. Navy PBY Catalinas concentrate their searches to the northeast from which the Japanese invasion fleet is expected to approach from.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): 54th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group (attached to XI Fighter Command) arrives at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of Alaska with P-40's.

NG: (5th Air Force): B-17's attack Lae and Salamaua.