This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, The weather airplane scouts Kiska and islands W of it with negative results.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb Meiktila Airfield; 6 B-24's attack the airfield at Heho; and Ft Bayard Airfield is strafed by 9 P-40's. Enemy stores at Ningam are hit by 4 P-40's and a B-25.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 11th Bombardment Group and it's 4 squadrons, the 26th, 42d, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons with B-17E's and F's, transfer from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands to the Territory of Hawaii. Group HQ and the 431st go to Hickam Field; the 26th to Bellows Field, the 42d to Kualoa Point; and the 98th to Mokuleia.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's carry out small harassing strikes, bombing Ulamoa, Finschhafen, and the airfield at Kavieng. Lost on a ferry flight is B-26 40-1417.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1), damaged by Japanese dive bombers yesterday, and beached off Tulagi by tugs USS Rail (AT-139) and USS Menominee (AT-73), sinks before daybreak.

USA: In the US, President Roosevelt orders certain wage and price controls in his effort to combat inflation. His order also restricts the ability of some workers to change jobs.

 

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PACIFIC: US submarines sink four Japanese ships.
- USS Drum ( SS-228 ) attacks a Japanese convoy, sinking an army cargo ship about 180 miles NNW of Kavieng, New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago.
- USS Grayling ( SS-209) in an attack on a Japanese convoy off Mindoro, Philippine Islands, sinks an army cargo ship about 10 miles E of Dumali Point
- USS Tautog ( SS-199) attacks a Japanese convoy in Buton Passage, off southeastern Celebes Island, Netherlands East Indies, sinking an army cargo ship. Tautog then sinks destroyer HIJMS Isonami as the enemy warship attempts to rescue survivors.

U.S.: The USN reestablishes the rank of Commodore.

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, a B-24 flies reconnaissance over Kiska, Attu and the Semichis. P-40's fly reconnaissance over Kiska.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb and strafe the airfield and town and dock areas of Madang. A-20's hit the Kitchen Creek-Mubo area. Single B-17's attack barges at Bogia, Alexishafen and Finschhafen and hit the town of Wewak. In the Admiralities, vehicles at Lorengau on Manus Island are strafed.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, the weather reconnaissance B-24 observes 4 unidentified aircraft near Segula. Three B-25's, 17 P-40's, and 6 P-38's fly 5 attack missions to Kiska, and negative searches for the unidentified airplanes at Segula. The last mission finds Kiska closed in and returns with bombs.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's continue to fly harassing strikes as 3 of the heavy bombers hit Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force):
In New Guinea, B-17's and B-24's pound the town and dock area of Wewak. Some of the B-17's also bomb Cape Boram and Kairiru Island while some of the B-24's hit Alexishafen and shipping off Wewak. B-25's pound the harbors at Bobia and Uligan.
The 8th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) with A-20's transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Dobodura. On 25 May 43, the group and it's 4 squadrons will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron to reflect it's true mission.
Bismarck Archipelago: A lone B-17 strafes barges SE of Bogia and trucks at Cape Croisilles while another bombs the airfield at Arawe.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 3 B-25's, 24 P-40's, and 13 P-38's fly 7 missions to Kiska. The fighters also strafe Little Kiska. AA fire damages 1 P-40 and 1 P-38. The P-38 force-lands safely.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's hit the airfield at Magwe. P-40's bomb and strafe the ammunition and supply dump at Walawbum.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's strafe more than 20 vehicles 25 mi (40 km) E of Loiwing.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Single B-24's continue snooper strikes, hitting Kahili Airfield twice during the evening. The 68th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group with P-40's (and some P- 39's) transfers from Guadalcanal to Fiji but continues to operate from Guadalcanal until Dec 43.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's and B-17's pound the airfields at Rabaul and Gasmata, shipping in the Saint George Channel, and targets of opportunity in the Ubili and Talasea areas. B-24's and B-17s hit shipping in Hansa Bay, the airfields at Lae and Nubia and Bogia harbor. B-24's, operating individually, attack several targets, scoring hits on the Madang dock area and at Toeal. Lost are B-17E "Blue In The Night" 41-9209, P-38G 42-12857, P-38G 43-2382.

Japanese - "Operation I-GO" raid against Port Moresby Japanese planes attack Port Moresby. Japanese aircraft, 43 "Betty" bombers escorted by 131 fighters, attack Port Moresby. This bombing destroys 3 B-25s, an RAAF Beaufighter and several fuel dumps as well as the runways of 3 airfields. Fifth Air Force pilots shoot down 17 "Betty" bombers and 10 fighters; 2 P-39 Airacobras are shot down.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Flying Fish sinks a Japanese merchant cargo ship at the eastern entrance to Tsugaru Strait, just off Shiriyazaki, northern Honshu.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 4 B-25's, 22 P-40's, and 8 P-38's hit Kiska 5 times. The last mission aborts due to weather. The other 4 missions bomb various targets starting large fires. Some fighters strafe Little Kiska.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-38's and Navy fighters strafe gun positions in the Rekata Bay area. B-17's bomb airfields at Kahili and on Ballale.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-17's bomb Lae and Finschhafen. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen 3 times and hit Madang once. Enemy airplanes attack Oro Bay and destroy 2 merchant vessels. In Timor, B-25's hit Vila Salazar and another village. Lost returning from a mission to Wau is P-39 piloted by Cohen.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 15 B-24's, 15 B-25's, 28 P-38's and 20 P-40's fly 11 attacks to Kiska; 43 tons of bombs are dropped on the Main Camp, North Head, and runway. Fighters attack the Main Camp causing large fires, and also strafe aircraft on the beach. Heavy AA fire damages 2 P-38's, 1 of which later crashes into the sea, and 1 B-25.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb the Myitnge bridge without inflicting further damage to the structure. Nine others hit Monywa Airfield. Six P-40's knock out a bridge at Shaduzup.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-38's and Navy aircraft bomb the airfield at Munda and strafe a barge at Bambatana

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and strafe the Labiabi area while a single B-l7 bombs the runway at Finschhafen.

 

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ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The Eleventh Air Force dispatches 30 P-40s, 17 P-38 Lightnings, 9 B-24 Liberators and 6 B-25 Mitchells to fly 10 missions to Kiska Island, bombing and strafing the runway, North Head area, installations, parked seaplanes, and facilities on Little Kiska.

BURMA: Tenth Air Force P-40s dropping 1,000 pound (454 kg) bombs, hit airfields at Myitkyina and Manywet, rendering the runways at both unusable.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force P-40s strafe pack horses south of Tengchung, barracks and warehouses in Lungling, and cattle and trucks north of Lungling.

NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force B-17s, B-24s and B-25s carry out widespread attacks on individual enemy vessels. During these raids, B-17s bombing Hansa Bay sink an army cargo ship.
An estimated 144 Japanese bombers and fighters carry out a heavy attack on the Milne Bay area, severely damaging 1 vessel, beaching 1 vessel, and hitting 2 others, but doing very little damage to USAAF facilities in the area. AA defenses and the 40+ P-40s and P-38s that intercept the enemy strike shoot down 7 aircraft with the loss of three US fighters.
Captain Richard I "Dick" Bong becomes a Double Ace when he gets his 10th kill, one of the Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers (Allied Code Name "Betty") attacking the Milne Bay area.
HMAS Wagga, a minesweeper, with HMA ships Kapunda and Whyalla, took part in the defense of Milne Bay during a heavy Japanese air attack.
The British vessel "Gorgan" was damaged and the Netherlands troopship "Van Heemskerk" was hit by bombs and set on fire. Minutes before the fire reached drums of petrol, which blew up, the Wagga took the survivors off the ship and saved a lot of lives in doing so. The ship was beached, but became a total loss. The Wagga sustained superficial damage.

U.S.: John Grist Brainerd, director of research at the University of Pennsylvania' s Moore School, submits a proposal for an electronic computer to colleagues at the U.S. Army's Ballistics Research Laboratory. The proposal was written by the Moore School's John Mauchly. In May 1943, the Army contracted the Moore School to build ENIAC, the first electronic computer. Although ENIAC was not finished until after the war had ended, it nevertheless marked a major step forward in computing.
The USAAF activates the Weather Wing at Asheville, North Carolina to provide scientific weather information for the USAAF and the rest of the Army. This new wing assumes responsibility from HQ USAAF for the supervision of the Army Air Forces Weather Service which was established in 1937.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, reconnaissance over Kiska, Attu, Semichis, and Agattu spots no new enemy activities. Two bomber missions from Adak and 11 fighter missions from Amchitka, composed of 23 B-24's, 20 B-25's, 25 P-38's, and 44 P-40's, hit Kiska; 1 F-5A takes photos; 85 tons of bombs are dropped. Fires result on North Head and Little Kiska. One B-24 is shot down in flames and 4 bombers receive battle damage.
The US begin preparations for attacks on Attu in the Aleutians with the 7th Division US Army.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 10 B-25's bomb the Mandalay Marshaling Yard; 9 more bomb the marshaling yard at Ywataung. Eight B-24's hit the Thilawa oil refinery while 7 others hit Prome.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) The 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25's arrives on Guadalcanal from the U.S.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb the airfields at Rabaul and Gasmata. In New Guinea, B-17's bomb the airfield at Lae. The 7th and 8th Fighter Squadrons, 49th Fighter Group with P-40's transfer from Port Moresby to Dobodura.
On or about this date, the Royal New Zealand Air Force's No. 15 Squadron equipped with Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. IAs (P-40Es), arrives on Guadalcanal. This is the first RNZAF fighter unit to operate under Aircraft Solomons (AirSols) command.

NORTH PACIFIC: Submarine USS Seawolf sinks a Japanese transport about 275 miles (443 km) south-southwest of Marcus Island.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, Kiska is bombed and strafed 13 times. A total of 13 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, 29 P-38's, and 2 F-5A's cover targets which include installations in the Holtz Bay area and gun positions on North Head.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's, bombing a railroad bridge near Mogaung, score a direct hit on the target and blow up both approaches, leaving the bridge temporarily unserviceable. Later in the day the bridge near Pinbaw is demolished by direct hits. Eight B-24's hit the Rangoon Marshaling Yard, 9 B-25's bomb the Thazi rail junction, while 9 more, weathered out of Maymyo, hit rail targets in Mandalay.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe a group of buildings E of Tenchung.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's bomb Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's bomb Kaimana, Wewak, Madang, and Lae. B-17's pound shipping at Wewak, leaving 3 vessels sunk or in sinking condition. In Timor, B-25's bomb Vila Salazar. Lost on a training flight is B-25C "Chatterbox " 41-13088.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 7 B-24's bomb and score 8 direct hits on the runway and gun emplacements at Attu. One B-24 and 2 F-5A's abort due to weather. 4 B-25's, 31 P-38's, and 14 P-40's hit Kiska 9 times, bombing installations and strafing gun emplacements and 3 parked airplanes.

American listening post in Aleutian Islands intercepts a radio message announcing that Admiral Yamamoto is taking a tour of Japanese bases in the South Pacific.

EAST INDIES: The submarine USS Searaven begins the rescue of stranded Australian sailors, airmen, and soldiers from Japanese-occupied Timor Island.

PACIFIC: Three Japanese ships are sunk at sea:
- A mine laid by USN TBF Avengers on 30 March sinks a transport near Buin, Bougainville, Solomon Islands.
- An ex-whale factory ship is sunk by unknown agent about 160 miles east of Formosa.
- Submarine USS Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks an army cargo ship off Yerimozaki, Hokkaido, Japan.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 7 B-25's bomb the Myitnge bridge, scoring 4 damaging hits. Ten others hit the Myitnge railroad works. Sixteen P-40's damage the bridge at Kamaing, attack the town of Nanyaseik, and score hits on the N approach to the bridge at Namti. Six B-24's damage the S approach to the Pazundaung railroad bridge.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: During the night of 16/17 April, 15 Thirteenth Air Force B-17s and 8 TBF Avengers of Torpedo Squadron Twenty Six and Composite Squadron Twenty Eight bomb Kahili Airfield on Bougainville. Two of the VC-27 TBFs conduct a mast-high bombing attack on ships in New Georgia Sound, the first attack of this kind in this theater.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, B-17's during the night of 16/17 Apr again fly a strike against Kahili Airfield. HQ 18th Fighter Group transfers from Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Moluccas, B-24's bomb Amboina. In New Guinea, a single B-24 scores hits on the NW shore of Hollandia Bay. Lost in an aerial collision is B-17F 41-24425.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 22 P-38's (some flown by Royal Canadian Air Force pilots) and 37 P-40's hit Kiska 9 times. The submarine base and gun emplacements on North Head are bombed and gun emplacements near the submarine base are silenced.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Ellice Islands, the 371st and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group based at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-24's begin operating from Funafuti.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe an enemy-held supply village SE of Tengchung.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) "Operation Peacock": G4M1 Betty carrying Admiral Yamomoto is intercepted by sixteen P-38 Lightning's led by Major John W. Mitchell (2 others abort) on a low-level, circuitous, over-water trip from Guadalcanal to a spot up the Bougainville coast to intercept Admiral Yamamoto who, according to US intelligence, is on an inspection trip in the S Pacific and is due at Ballale at 0945 local. Admiral Yamamoto's punctuality is calculated to allow the interception to take place at 0935 local. Two hours and 15 minutes after takeoff at 0725 local, the P-38's having flown at almost sea level find the flight of 2 Betty bombers and 6 Zero escorts. The 4-aircraft attack section under Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. attacks the bombers. The Zekes spot the attacking P-38's at about 1 mi (0.6 km) and try in vain to cut off the attack and bombers attempt to escape. In the air battle, P-38G 43-2238 piloted by Captain Lanphier and P-38G "Miss Virginia" 43-2264 piloted by 1st Lt Rex Barber shoot down the bomber carrying Yamamoto. G4M1 Betty 2656. The other G4M1 Betty Tail T1-326 is also shot down and ditches. Lost is P-38G piloted by Hine.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In Timor, B-25's bomb the airfield at Penfoei. Single B-24's hit the Finschhafen and Saidor areas. A detachment of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group based at Kipapa, Territory of Hawaii begins operating from New Guinea with P-70's.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Drum sinks a Japanese ammunition ship about 200 miles NNW of Mussau Island, Bismarck Archipelago. A submarine chaser rescues survivors, who include a number of Army prostitutes among them.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 9 missions involving 14 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, and 23 P-38's are flown to Kiska. The first mission is weathered out of the primary target, Attu, and directed to Kiska. Bombing and strafing concentrates on 4 grounded ships and the submarine base area where fires are started. One ship, believed to serve as a power station, is set afire.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) P-40's hit bridges in Burma, seriously damaging the Namti railroad bridge between Mogaung and Myitkyina. Nine B-24's bomb Rangoon's main railroad station.

PACIFIC: The submarine USS Scorpion mines waters off Kashima Nada, Japan while USS Seawolf sinks a Japanese depot ship east of Okinawa.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the first night fighter victory in the Pacific, a USAAF P-70 shoots down a "Betty" bomber near Tulagi Island at 0425 hours.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single medium or heavy bombers bomb airfields at Hollandia and Lae, New Guinea and Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.

 

[parsifal]

April 21st: Admiral Koga succeeds yammamoto as Commander In Chief of the Combined Fleet

 

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JAPAN: The Japanese Cabinet is re-organized with Shimegitsu as Foreign Minister.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Runner mines the waters near Hong Kong while submarine USS Scorpion sinks a Japanese gunboat off the east central coast of Honshu, Japan.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 10 bombing and strafing missions by 15 B-24's, 16 B-25's, 10 P-38's, and 32 P-40's hit shipping in the harbor at Kiska and gun positions in North Head. Other targets include buildings in the Main Camp area and the runway.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Gilberts, 22 B-24's, from Funafuti, carry out a photo-bombing mission over Nauru. Several direct hits on runways and the dispersal areas are claimed.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Thazai.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb Wewak, Nubia, and Boram Airfields and shipping off Wewak. B-24s bomb Kaimana and targets of opportunity on Kendari Island in the Celebes.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, Commander North Pacific Forces (NORPACFOR) places all Army and Navy Air Forces [Task Group (TG) 16.1] under Brigadier General William O. Butler, Commanding General Eleventh Air Force. The Army Air Striking Unit (Eleventh Air Force) is designated Task Unit 16.1.1 (TU 16.1.1) and the Naval Air Search Unit (Patrol Wing Four) is designated TU l6.l.2. Two P-38's take off for Kiska but abort the mission.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's bomb the railroad yards at Maymyo, and 9 more bomb the area around the Myitnge bridge. In Thailand, 16 B-24's are dispatched to bomb the Bangsue Arsenal and other targets in Bangkok, but only 4 reach the target area and loose bombs over the city.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's bomb Kaimana and Laga. Single B-17's attack coastal villages in NE New Guinea and hit Ubili and Gasmata.

EAST INDIES: RAAF No. 18 (NEI) Squadron B-25s bomb Laga on Timor Island.

INDIAN OCEAN: A U.S. freighter is torpedoed by the Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci off the coast of South Africa and abandoned. Leonardo da Vinci then surfaces, finishes off the freighter with gunfire, and temporarily detains a member of the crew on board for questioning before returning him to his shipmates.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Stingray mines the waters off Wenchow, China.
USS Grenadier, CO John A. Fitzgerald is scuttled after damage by an enemy aircraft off Penang Malaya. All hands taken prisoner and 4 died in pow camp.

ELLICE ISLANDS: IJN bombers from Nauru Island, staging through Tarawa Atoll in the Gilberts, attack the airfield on Funafuti Atoll. One Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberator is destroyed and five others damaged.

THAILAND: 16 Tenth Air Force B-24s are dispatched to bomb the Bangsue Arsenal and other targets in Bangkok, but only 4 reach the target area and loose bombs over the city.

 

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EAST INDIES: The submarine USS Grenadier (SS-210) is scuttled off Penang, Malaya, after having been damaged by Japanese aircraft of the 936th Kokutai yesterday. The sub was running on the surface at dawn when it was spotted by the aircraft.
As the sub crash dived, her skipper, Commander John A. Fitzgerald commented "we ought to be safe now, as we are between 120 and 130 feet." Just then, bombs rocked Grenadier and heeled her over 15 to 20 degrees. Power and lights failed completely and the fatally wounded ship settled to the bottom at 267 feet.
She tried to make repairs while a fierce fire blazed in the maneuvering room. After 13 hours of sweating it out on the bottom Grenadier managed to surface after dark to clear the boat of smoke and inspect damage. The damage to her propulsion system was irreparable. Attempting to bring his ship close to shore so that the crew could scuttle her and escape into the jungle, Commander Fitzgerald even tried to jury-rig a sail. But the long night's work proved futile.
As dawn broke, 22 April, Grenadier's weary crew sighted two Japanese ships heading for them. As the skipper "didn't think it advisable to make a stationary dive in 280 feet (81.5 meters) of water without power," the crew began burning confidential documents prior to abandoning ship. A Japanese plane attacked the stricken submarine; but Grenadier, though dead in the water and to all appearances helpless, hit the plane with machine gun fire on its second pass.
As the damaged plane veered off, its torpedo landed about 200 yards from the boat and exploded. Reluctantly opening all vents, Grenadier's crew abandoned ship and watched her sink to her final resting place. A Japanese merchantman picked up 8 officers and 68 enlisted men and took them to Penang, Malay States, where they were questioned, beaten, and starved before being sent to other prison camps. They were then separated and transferred from camp to camp along the Malay Peninsula and finally to Japan.
Throughout the war they suffered brutal, inhuman treatment, and their refusal to reveal military information both frustrated and angered their captors. First word that any had survived Grenadier reached Australia 27 November 1943. Despite the brutal and sadistic treatment, all but four of Grenadier's crew survived their 2 years in Japanese hands.

JAPAN: Japanese Prime Minister Kideki Tojo announces that American fliers captured while bombing Japan will be given "one-way tickets to hell."

NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs and B-25 Mitchells bomb the Lababia-Duali area on Nassau Bay while individual B-17s bomb the Dobo and Nubia area.

PACIFIC: The submarine USS Stingray mines waters off Wenchow, China, while the Dutch submarine HMNS O 21, despite presence of an escort vessel, sinks a Japanese army cargo ship in Malacca Straits.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Ellice Islands, the airfield on Funafuti is bombed twice during the night of 21/22 Apr by the Japanese. Two B-24's are destroyed and 5
others damaged.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives in Fiji from the U.S.

 

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NEW GUINEA: Australian troops occupy Mubo.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Gilberts, 12 B-24's from Funafuti attack Tarawa Atoll, bombing fuel storage and barracks areas. After this mission, the 371st and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group cease operating from Funafuti and return to their base at Wheeler Field and Kahuku, Territory of Hawaii respectively. The 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from Midway to Barking Sands, Hawaii.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb the Mandalay warehouse area. Five P-40's damage the approaches to the bridge at Shaduzup.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe a 15-truck convoy SW of Lungling.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) The 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25's transfers from New Caledonia to Fiji.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single B-24's bomb the airfield and town area at Finschhafen and score a direct hit on a cargo vessel SE of Kavieng in the Bismarck Archipelago.

 

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USA: San Francisco: A US invasion force sails to take Attu, in the Aleutians.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 2 P-38's bomb Kiska and strafe personnel near Mutton Cove. Weather cancels other missions.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's, escorted by 11 P-40's, bomb the Namtu mines and railroad yards. 7 of the P-40's strafe the mine and smelter area. In China, 13 P-40's intercept 25 fighters near Lingling and shoot down 5.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, single B-24's bomb the runway at Cape Gloucester. In the Celebes, B-24's bomb Kendari Airfield. In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and strafe positions in the Mubo area. Single B-24's attack Lae, Gumbi, and Singor. B-25's pound Dili Airfield. Lost is C-49 "Calamity Mary Jane" Serial Number 41-7694.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 15 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, 23 P-38's, and 1 F-5A fly 12 missions to Kiska and Attu. Targets include Holtz Bay, North Head, South Head, the beach areas, the runway, shipping, and the submarine base.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 11 B-25's attack the Ywataung railroad yards and vicinity. The 492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group transfers with B-24's from Bishnupur, India to Panagarh, India.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, 3 B-24's fly a harassing strike during the night of 25/26 Apr against Kahili Airfield. 12 others bomb the same target later during the night. The 394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group with B-24's, based on Fiji, begins operating from Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb Wewak Airfield and the towns of Madang and Saidor. A-20's bomb and strafe positions at Green's Hill. Single B-24's hit airfields at Madang and Finschhafen.

 

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ALASKA: Japanese held harbor at Attu in the Aleutian Islands is bombed by a US naval squadron under the command of Admiral McMorris. This was Task Grouop 16.6 consisting of:
Light cruisers USS Richmond, USS Detroit and USS Santa Fe, and Destroyers USS Caldwell, USS Bancroft, USS Coghlan, USS Frazier, USS Gansevoort and USS Edwards.
The TG bombarded Adak Island from 0815 to 0840 hours local; the Japanese did not return fire. Kiska Island is also bombed on this day. Royal Canadian Air Force P-40K-1-CUs of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron based on Kodiak Island fly 24 sorties while five USAAF B-25s abort due to the usual Aleutian Island weather.

SW PACIFIC: Operation Cartwheel is agreed to. This has Halsey's forces move through New Georgia and Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. MacArthur will move NW along the coast of New Guinea. Then they will both attack Rabaul, New Britian and Kavieng, New Ireland.