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, 1 B-25 unsuccessfully investigates a reported submarine 4 mi (6.4 km) W of Bay Island. Four P-38's bomb the Main Camp, then scout Buldir. Lost is B-17E 42-30681

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 19 B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Thazi. P-40's hit positions S of Sarenghkyet.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's pound Vila and the airfield on Ballale. B-17's hit Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Heavy bombers, operating individually, attack vessels off Cape Gloucester, Cape Goltz and Gasmata. A-20's bomb and strafe forces in the Green's Hill-Mubo area. B-25's bomb a village near Beru. Heavy bombers, operating individually, attack vessels NNW of Dobo and Nabire and small vessels and targets of opportunity in the Marienberg, Wewak, and Finschhafen areas.

 

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BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's pound the docks at Monywa; 10 others attack river traffic in the Katha vicinity.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, about 20 Japanese medium bombers and a like number of fighters attack airfields at Kunming. High winds prevent bombing accuracy and little damage is done to the airfield. Several Chinese villagers near the field are killed. Defending P-40's shoot down 10 aircraft.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 3 B-24's continue snooper missions, bombing the airfield at Kahili.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's attack 2 vessels NNW of Dobo. Single B-17's hit buildings N of Finschhafen Airfield, Wilwilan village, and targets of opportunity along the coast of NE New Guinea from the Nankina River to Mur. 380th BG HQ and it's 528th, 529th, 530th and 531st Bombardment Squadrons arrive in Australia from the U.S. Group HQ, and the 528th and 530th Squadrons are based at Fenton; the 529th and 531st are at Manbulloo. The group is assigned to the Fifth Air Force but will be attached to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) until Jan 45. One of it's primary missions is the training of RAAF crews in operating the B-24. The group will fly it's first mission on 21 May 43.

NEIAF - Lost attacking ships is B-25D N5-135.

 

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SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Lost on an escort mission over Buin is P-38G 43-2218.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 4 B-25's, 17 P-38's, and 7 P-40's fly 4 missions to Kiska. Only the P-38's get through and blast Gertrude Cove, Main Camp, the submarine base and a ship.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 16 B-25's pound the Gokteik Viaduct, damaging the N end. Four others bomb the Maymyo railroad yards. Five B-24's bomb the Sule Pagoda wharves at Rangoon. Four P-40's and a B-25 hit Mohnyin, while 6 P-4O's attack a camp S of Weshi.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 5 B-17's bomb a bivouac area and revetments at Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single B-24's bomb Lae and airfields at Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 16 attack missions on Kiska and Attu are flown by 16 B-24's, 15 B-25's, 35 P-38's, 38 P-40's, and 4 F-5A's. Kiska targets include the Main Camp, hangar, submarine base (where a fire is started), runway, radar, ship, North Head, AA guns and Gertrude Cove. Attu targets include E Attu, Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor installations.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, the forward echelon of the Fourteenth Air Force, under Colonel Clinton D Vincent and Lieutenant Colonel David L ("Tex") Hill, moves into E China along the Hengyang-Kweilin line. This brings US aircraft within range of all major Japanese-held bases from N China to Indochina and Thailand, and makes shipping in the China Sea more vulnerable to US air strikes.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's bomb the landing strip at Nabire and hit a vessel in Manokwari harbor.

RNZAF - Lost on a traning mission is P-40E NZ3031.

 

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ALASKA: In the Aleutians, 6 B-25's, 8 P-40's, and 8 P-38's fly bombing, photographic and attack missions to Kiska. Targets include North Head, South Head and buildings and AA gun batteries on Gertrude Cove. On Attu Island in the Aleutians, an attempt to capture Jarmin Pass is made by a combined attack of the Northern and Southern Landing Forces. The Southern Force will attempt to inch forward up Massacre Valley while the Northern Force will attempt to drive the Japanese off the reverse slope of Hill X, continue on to seize Moore Ridge and then take Jarmin Pass from the rear. Each attack quickly bogs down. In the north, the Provisional Scout Battalion which has been pinned down since landing in Austin Cove on D-Day, remains pinned down. The second arm of the Northern Force also is unable to move forward because the 3d Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment does not reach its assault position in time. Major General Albert E. Brown, Commanding General 7th Infantry Division, calls off the attack and in a report to higher headquarters that evening, states that "progress through passes will, unless we are extremely lucky, be slow and costly, and will require troops in excess to those now available to my command."
USAAF support is hampered by poor weather. The air-ground liaison B-24 flies reconnaissance and photo reconnaissance over Attu throughout the day while another B-24, carrying supplies for the ground forces, hits a mountain side 10 miles (16 km) west of the drop zone. Ground support missions over Attu are flown by six B-24s and five B-25s while two P-40s bomb Kiska Island through the overcast. The USN continues gunfire support for the American troops.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 17 P-40's intercept 30-40 fighters near Lingling and in a running battle to just N of Changsha claim at least 7 Zekes downed. One P-40 is shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, B-17's on harassing strikes hit the Rekata Bay area and Munda Airfield. P-38's and P-39's join Navy aircraft in pounding the runway area at Munda.

AUSTRALIA: Japanese aircraft bomb Darwin.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In Timor, B-25's bomb Penfoei. In New Guinea, other B-25's unsuccessfully attack a vessel off Toeal. A single B-17 bombs dock area at Finschhafen.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 5 B-24's, 6 B-25's, 8 P-38's, 2 P-40's and 2 F-5A's take off on 2 Kiska and Attu missions. Missions to Kiska abort due to weather. At Attu targets include Chichagof Harbor, AA positions at Holtz Bay, and a floatplane. The 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group with B-24's transfers from Fort Greeley on Kodiak Island to Amchitka Island.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, 18 B-24's bomb dock installations, coal yards, and oil storage area at Samah on Hainan Island; 9 B-25's pound docks at Haiphong; 19 P-40's escort B-17's and B-25's to Hanoi and then proceed with B-25's to Haiphong and strafe the target area following the bombing strike.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's fly snooper strikes during the night of 3/4 May against Vila Airfield and the Rekata Bay area. P-40's join Navy aircraft in a strike on Vangavanga.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-24's bomb Babo and the town area, harbor, and shipping at Wewak. In the Bismarck Archipelago, single B-24's hit barges off the N coast of New Britain.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 5 B-24's, 6 B-25's, 8 P-38's, 2 P-40's and 2 F-5A's take off on 2 Kiska and Attu missions. Missions to Kiska abort due to weather. At Attu targets include Chichagof Harbor, AA positions at Holtz Bay, and a floatplane. The 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group with B-24's transfers from Fort Greeley on Kodiak Island to Amchitka Island.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, 18 B-24's bomb dock installations, coal yards, and oil storage area at Samah on Hainan Island; 9 B-25's pound docks at Haiphong; 19 P-40's escort B-17's and B-25's to Hanoi and then proceed with B-25's to Haiphong and strafe the target area following the bombing strike.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's fly snooper strikes during the night of 3/4 May against Vila Airfield and the Rekata Bay area. P-40's join Navy aircraft in a strike on Vangavanga.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-24's bomb Babo and the town area, harbor, and shipping at Wewak. In the Bismarck Archipelago, single B-24's hit barges off the N coast of New Britain.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, the weather reconnaissance airplane over Attu observes a floatplane burning on the water. Fourteen B-24's, 17 B-25's, 16 P-38's, 32 P-40's, and 5 F-5A's fly 4 attack missions to Attu and 6 [partly with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots] to Kiska. Bombs are dropped on Attu installations and fighters strafe and set afire 1 seaplane and silence AA guns. Targets include Main Camp, a radar site, North and South Head, runway, and Gertrude Cove installations.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 73d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from NAS Kaneohe to Mokuleia both in the Territory of Hawaii. The squadron will begin transitioning to razorback P-47D's in late 1943.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's and Navy F4U's administer thorough strafing to Nyanga.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's pound Toeal. In the Bismarck Archipelago, a lone B-24 bombs airfields at Cape Gloucester and Gasmata. Ditched at A-20A "Cindy" 40-176

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, B-24's, B-25's and P-38's drop over 52 tons (47.2 tonnes) on Attu targets including Holtz Bay, Sarana Bay, and the Chichagof Harbor area and nearby gun positions. Kiska is also hit. Targets include radar gun positions and the Gertrude Cove and Main Camp areas. Returning P-38's also bomb and strafe a hut on Rat Island. P-40's blast Kiska and Little Kiska.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-40's and Navy dive bombers and fighters hit Munda Airfield. During the evening, B-24's carry out harassing strikes on Kahili Airfield and on Fauro and Ballale Island. HQ 4th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group transfers from Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit forces in the Green's Hill area. Single B-24's hit Madang and Finschhafen while other B-24's hit Manokwari and Toeal. B-25's pound Dili.

 

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SOLOMONS: The waters around New Georgia in the Solomons are mined.
Amplifying the above: Task Group 36.5 consisting of the destroyer USS Radford and the light minelayers USS Gamble, USS Preble and USS Breese, lay mines across Blackett Strait, the western entrance to Kula Gulf and directly in the favorite route of the "Tokyo Express."

USA: USN representatives witness landing tests of the Sikorksy XR-4-SI helicopter aboard the merchant tanker SS Bunker Hill in a demonstration sponsored by the U.S. Maritime Commission and conducted in Long Island Sound. The USAAF pilot makes about fifteen flights, and in some of these flights he lands on the water before returning to the platform built on the deck of the tanker.

BURMA: The British evacuate Buthidaung, Burma.

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, an attempted mission to Kiska by 6 P-40's is aborted due to weather.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's bomb the airfield, supply dumps, and other targets at Madang. Japanese fighters from Wewak were on patrol and intercepted seven B-17s and six B-24s over Madang. The B-17s reported interception by seven Japanese fighters including two that dropped aerial bombs that missed by a considerable distance. Four B-17s were damaged, one seriously, in conventional attacks. A-20's hit forces in the Green's Hill area. In Timor, B-25's pound Penfoei. Lost is B-17F "Reckless Mountain Boys" 41-24518. Lost on a training flight is P-61B piloted by Hornaday.

RAAF - Lost returning from a mission to Aru is Hudson A16-116.

 

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NEW GEORGIA: Three Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers are sunk by mines laid yesteday near New Georgia in the Solomon Islands.
Amplifying the above: As a result of mining of Blackett Strait by the USN yesterday, the Japanese destroyer HIJMS Kuroshio strikes a mine and sinks in the Strait. Two destroyers are damaged by mines off Rendova Island and are subsequently sunk by aircraft, HIJMS Oyashio by USN Douglas SBD Dauntlesses and HIJMS Kagero by USMC aircraft. A fourth destroyer, HIJMS Michisio is damaged by USN SBDs in Blackett Strait.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 16 B-24's and 11 B-25's bomb Tien Ho Airfield, the shop and factory area, and White Cloud Airfield at Canton. The 24 escorting P-40's strafe the target areas following the bombing strikes. Considerable damage is done, including the destruction of about 20 enemy aircraft.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-40's join Navy aircraft in an attack on destroyers in Blackett Strait. Other P-40's and P-38's hit AA positions at Vila.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb the airfield at Rabaul, and single B-17's attack barges and small boats off the N coast of New Britain. A 43rd BG B-17F on armed reconnaissance mission radioed its discovery of shipping between Wewak and Madang. Lost on reconassance missions is B-17F "Fighting Swede" 41-24520 B-17F "Fighting Swede" 41-24520, likely rammed by escorting Ki-43 fighters.

B-25 strafers along with 8 x Beaufighters of the RAAF, escorted by 16 x P-38s of the 39th FS claim the destruction of 2 cargo vessels at Madang. The two Japanese sea trucks (small transports, 550 and 950 tons each) were entering Madang Harbor carrying vital supplies and full of troops. Beaufighters swooped down and strafed the larger ship setting fires. A few minutes later the B-25s followed up against the ships with bombs and gunfire. Both ships were lost with all their supplies and heavy casualties. This included many of the personnel and much of the equipment of the 11th Airfield Construction Unit moving from Wewak to Madang.

Beaufighters strafed and destroyed a fighter at Madang Airfield but aborted further attacks when eight or more Type 1 (Ki-61 Tony) fighters appeared over Madang. Some of the Japanese fighters attacked the Beaufighters, damaging one, and chased them down the coast toward Saidor. Other Japanese fighters headed for the B-25s but the P-38s finally arrived on the scene and reported encountering three ZEKES and two HAMPS a few miles south of Madang. Three P-38s jumped these at 5,000 feet, dispersed the formation and claimed one damaged. On the return flight a single fighter identified as a HAMP was sighted at 1,000 feet. This was jumped by Capt. Thomas Lynch's flight. In the low level combat that followed double ace Lynch claimed a HAMP destroyed but this cannot be verified. Lynch went into this action despite having difficulty dropping one of his external fuel tanks.

 

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SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's and B-17's bomb Manokwari, Nabire, Kaimana, and Madang Airfield, and the Wewak-But area. B-25's hit the airfield at Gasmata. The 89th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) with A-20's transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura. Both the squadron and group will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron on 25 May 43 to reflect it's true equipment and mission.

 

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CBI BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 P-40's bomb and strafe Kwitu, leaving several areas burning fiercely. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, 8 P-40's fly an offensive sweep against communications in the Nam Dinh and Hanoi areas. Four locomotives and 3 riverboats are destroyed, a train carrying troops and supplies is heavily damaged, and several trucks of troops are destroyed.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-38's join Navy and Marine aircraft in a strike against gun emplacements, runway, and revetments at Munda Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and strafe the Labu area. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's pound Cape Gloucester Airfield. B-17's and B-24's, operating individually attack coastline targets in NE New Guinea; New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago; and on Jamdena Island in the Sunda Islands. The 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group with P-39's transfers from Mareeba to Port Moresby.

RAAF - Lost is Spitfire A58-81.

 

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ALASKA: The US 7th Division lands on Attu in the Aleutian Islands.
Amplifying the above:
Operation LANDCRAB, the invasion of Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands begins. At 0309 hours local, the submarines USS Narwhal and USS Nautilus rendezvous off the north coast of Attu and land scouts of the 7th Infantry Scout Company. The actual unopposed invasion by the 17th and 32d Infantry Regiments, 7th Infantry Division, begins in the afternoon.
At 1530 hours local, the Northern Force lands on the north side of Holtz Bay and pushes southeast; the Southern Force lands at Massacre Bay at 1620 hours and pushes north. By 2200 hours, the Northern Force is 0.5 miles (805m) from a hill dominating Holtz Valley while the Southern Force has secured a beachhead in Massacre Bay.
The operation is supported by the U.S. Navy's Task Force 51 consisting of the battleships USS Idaho, USS Nevada and USS Pennsylvania; the auxiliary aircraft carrier USS Nassau with Composite Squadron Two One and Marine Observation Squadron One Hundred Fifty Five embarked; eight destroyers; plus the transports and escorts which included two Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvettes, HMCS Dawson and HMCS Vancouver. The Northern Force is supported by the heavy cruisers USS San Francisco and USS Wichita; the light cruiser USS Louisville and four destroyers. The Southern Force is supported by the light cruisers USS Detroit, USS Raleigh, USS Richmond and USS Santa Fe plus five destroyers.

BURMA: The British pull the 26th Division back from Maungdow in the Burma
Theater. General Irwin and Lloyd are relieved.

ALASKA: In the Aleutian Islands, the following missions are flown to support US forces landing on Attu: 1 air-ground liaison sortie by 1 B-24; a B-24 supply sortie dropping supplies to ground forces; and 5 attack missions, flown by 11 B-24's and 12 B-25's. The first attack mission cannot find the target and instrument-bombs targets which include the runway, radar, submarine base, and camp area. Because of poor visibility the next 2 missions hit Kiska, where the runway and Main Camp are attacked. Two B-24's then bomb the Chichagof Harbor area through fog while another drops leaflets on Attu.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 26th BS, 11th BG (Heavy), with B-17's, transfers from Bellows Field to Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii and begins transitioning to B-24D's.

CBI BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24's pound Syriam, causing large fires in the town area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's fly harassing strikes during the night of 10/11 against Kahili Airfield and Shortland. The 390th BS, 42d BG (Medium) with B-25's, transfers from the Fiji to Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's and B-24's hit the airfield and general area at Rabaul. B-25's bomb Penfoei and Dili. The 403d BS, 43d BG (Heavy), with B-24's transfers from Mareeba to Port Moresby.

 

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, a P-39 reconnaissance sortie over Kiska and Rat Island encounters poor weather and turns back. At Attu, an air-ground liaison B-24 watches US forces land on beach "Red" while another B-24 drops supplies. Seven attack missions flown by 10 B-24's, 12 B-25's, and 24 P-38's bomb and strafe assigned Attu targets. Four barges are set afire in the W arm of Holtz Bay.

On Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands, the Americans advance from three directions. The Northern Landing Force advanced on two fronts; the Provisional Scout Battalion, which landed on Beach Scarlet in Austin Cove, moves southward and approaches the Japanese rear but they are fired on and pinned down for three days. By1830 hours, the second advance, by the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment advancing southward from Holtz Bay, overruns the Japanese front line on Hill X and then faces counterattacks resulting in hand-to-hand combat.
At 0900 hours, the Southern Landing Force begins a two pronged attack from Massacre Bay towards Jarmin Pass but fail to gain ground due to fog in the hills concealing Japanese positions. During the day, the battleships USS Pennsylvania and USS Nevada bombard Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor. As the USS Pennsylvania turns away, the Japanese submarine HIJMS I-31 fires torpedoes that miss. Two U.S. destroyers attack the submarine for ten hours before finally sinking her. A second submarine, HIJMS I-35, attacks the light cruiser USS Santa Fe but the torpedoes miss and the submarine is sunk by two U.S. destroyers.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night of 11/12 May, B-17's fly snooper strikes against Kahili Airfield. During the early morning hours, P-40's and Navy aircraft hit AA positions, runway and revetments there.

NEW GEORGIA: Admiral Ainsworth with a US naval force of 4 cruisers and 7 destroyers shells Vila and Munda in the Solomons.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb the airfield and surrounding area at Finschhafen. In the Moluccas B-24's hit Saumlakki. Single heavy bombers hit Salamaua and Gasmata.

 

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ALASKA: In the Aleutians, bad weather keeps the air-ground liaison B-24 from observing or hearing friendly ground forces on Attu and it returns to base. An air-ground support mission of 6 B-24's divert from Attu to Kiska; 2 of the bombers don't get the message, proceed to Attu, and bomb Chichagof Harbor and Holtz Bay. The other 4 bomb the Main Camp area. Eight P-40's dispatched to Kiska in 2 waves cannot see the target and instead bomb Little Kiska installations.
US forces on Attu in the Aleutian Islands outnumber the Japanese 4:1 but are holding. Bad weather and the terrain work in favor of the Japanese. As U.S. losses continue to mount, the American front-line positions remain essentially the same as they were on D-Day. At 1100 hours, the 3d Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, part of the Southern Landing Force, attempts to take Jarmin Pass; Japanese fire from fog-shrouded heights stop the attack and kill two company commanders and wound two others. The Japanese attack the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, part of the Northern Landing Force, which has occupied the crest of Hill X but their attacks are driven off.
The battleship USS Idaho and a destroyer silence enemy shore batteries on Attu permitting American artillery to move forward.
The Japanese dispatch 19 land-based torpedo aircraft from Kiska to attack the U.S. naval forces at Attu but they must turn back because of poor weather.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) The 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, with P-40's, transfers from Kunming, China to Lingling, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night of 12/13 May, 2 B-24's on snooper missions bomb Kahili and Ballale Airfields. They are followed shortly by 6 B-17's which pound the same targets. During the day, 34 P-38's, P-39's, and P-40's, along with 62 Navy and Marine fighters and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40's, intercept 20+ airplanes over the Russells-Tulagi area. Allied pilots claim 16 aircraft shot down (1 by USAAF fighters). During the early evening, 5 B-17's again hit Kahili and Ballale Airfields.
In the Solomon Islands, Task Force 18 bombards Munda and Vila on New Georgia Island while minelayers sow a minefield across the northwestern approaches of Kula Gulf.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island and Wewak and Boram in New Guinea. 38th BG B-25's blast the airfield, town area, and targets of opportunity at Gasmata while A-20's hit Cape Gloucester Airfield and area. Single B-24's and B-17's attack various shoreline and offshore targets, including landing strips, buildings, gun positions, barges, and vessels, on the NE New Guinea coast, New Britain, and in the Admiralty Islands.

 

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ALASKA: In the Aleutians, poor weather curtails bombings. The air-ground liaison B-24 flies reconnaissance and photo reconnaissance over Attu throughout the day. One B-24 carrying supplies for the ground forces hits a mountain side 10 miles (16 km) W of the drop zone. Six B-24 s and 5 B-25's fly ground support bombing missions over Attu. Two P-40's bomb Kiska through the overcast.
On Attu Island in the Aleutians, an attempt to capture Jarmin Pass is made by a combined attack of the Northern and Southern Landing Forces. The Southern Force will attempt to inch forward up Massacre Valley while the Northern Force will attempt to drive the Japanese off the reverse slope of Hill X, continue on to seize Moore Ridge and then take Jarmin Pass from the rear.
Each attack quickly bogs down. In the north, the Provisional Scout Battalion which has been pinned down since landing in Austin Cove on D-Day, remains pinned down. The second arm of the Northern
Force also is unable to move forward because the 3d Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment does not reach its assault position in time.
Major General Albert E. Brown, Commanding General 7th Infantry Division, calls off the attack and in a report to higher headquarters that evening, states that "progress through passes will, unless we are
extremely lucky, be slow and costly, and will require troops in excess to those now available to my command."
The USN continues gunfire support for the American troops.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Single B-24's fly early evening snooper strikes against airfields at Kahili, Ballale, and Munda. During the night of 14/15 May, B-17's on a snooper mission bomb Kahili

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's administer a thorough pounding to the airfield and surrounding area at Gasmata while B-24's and B-17's pound Rabaul Airfield. B-25's bomb Penfoei Airfield and the Dili area. Single heavy bombers hit various targets in NE New Guinea, New Britain and the Netherlands East Indies. The 475th Fighter Group and it's 431st, 432d and 433d Fighter Squadrons are activated at Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. The unit will be equipped with P-38F and H aircraft and will enter combat in Aug 43.

PACIFIC: The MS Centaur, 2/3rd Australian Hospital Ship, was a motor passenger ship converted in early 1943 for use as a hospital ship. In November 1941 it had rescued survivors of the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran after it had sunk and been sunk by HMAS Sydney.
On 12 May 1943 the Centaur sailed unescorted from Sydney at 0945 hours carrying her crew and normal staff, as well as stores and equipment of the 2/12th Field Ambulance but no patients. It was sunk
without warning by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine on 14 May 1943 at approximately 0400 hours, its position being approximately 27 17' S, 153¡58' E about 50 miles east north-east of Brisbane. The wreck was discovered in 1995.
Of the 332 persons on board, only 64 survived. These survivors spent 35 hours on rafts before being rescued. Sister Ellen Savage, the only one of twelve nursing sisters on board to survive, though injured
herself, gave great help to the other survivors and was awarded the George Medal for this work.
The ship had been appropriately lit and marked to indicate that it was a hospital ship and its sinking was regarded as an atrocity.
The Australian Government delivered an official protest to Japan over the incident. The Japanese did not acknowledge responsibility for the incident for many years and the War Crimes Tribunal could not identify the responsible submarine. However, the Japanese official war makes clear that it was submarine 1-177, under the command of Lt Commander Nakagawa who had sunk the Centaur. Lt Commander Nakagawa was convicted as a war criminal for firing on survivors of the British Chivalry which his ship had sunk in the Indian Ocean.

 

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ALASKA: In the Aleutians, weather again curtails operations. The air-ground liaison B-24 observes and directs air operations at Attu throughout the day as visibility permits and directs a supply drop for ground forces by another B-24 in 2 air-ground support missions. Six B-24's bomb Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor and 6 P-38's strafe AA installations in the Holtz Bay area.
On Attu in the Aleutians, the fog lifts at 1100 hours and elements of the Northern Landing Force move forward. They find that the Japanese has withdrawn from the reverse slope of Hill X to Moore Ridge in the center of Holtz Valley leaving food and ammunition behind. This pullback permits the Provisional Battalion, which has been pinned down since D-Day, to link up with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry and the 3d Battalion, 32d Infantry. As the American troops enter the valley to the north of Moore Ridge, the clear skies permit Japanese troops to place accurate fire on them.
The Southern Landing Force again attacks Jarmin Pass but is repulsed. On Adak, the reported situation on Attu appeared grim. Of special interest was the exposed position of the USN ships supporting the Army on the island; a Japanese submarine has already fire torpedoes at a battleship and there are reports that a Japanese task force is enroute to challenge the landings. The Navy advises the Army that the support ships will be withdrawn no later than 17 May.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) 7 B-24's from Midway bomb Wake; 4 others abort and 7 others fail to find the target. 22 fighters intercept the formation; the B-24's claim 4 shot down; 1 B-24 is lost.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 25-35 Japanese bombers and 30-40 fighters attack Kunming. Nearly all of the bombs fall in W and SW of the airfield, causing little damage. 28 P-40's intercept, claiming 13 fighters and 2 bombers shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's pound the airfield at Lae; A-20's strafe the aircraft and building at Lae; and B-24's hit Nabire. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's pound the airfield at Gasmata; B-24's bomb the airfield at Rabaul; and single heavy bombers hit Gasmata, Cape Gloucester, and barges SW of Ubili.

 

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ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the air-ground liaison B-24 bombs Chichagof Harbor with unobserved results. Another B-24 drops supplies to ground forces on Attu. 8 B-24's, 12 B-25's, and 12 P-38's fly ground support missions to Attu; because of weather, only the P-38's get through and strafe AA guns, installations and barges, scoring several hits. The bombers are directed to bomb Kiska. 2 P-40's fly reconnaissance mission over Kiska.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Celebes, B-24's bomb the Kendari Airfield area. Single heavy bombers attack coastal or offshore targets in NE New Guinea, New Britain, and New Ireland. HQ 8th Fighter Group transfers from Mareeba to Port Moresby.