Saturday, 18 April 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Searaven (SS-196) completes rescue of Australians from Japanese-occupied Timor, begun the previous evening.

            Japanese troops land at Panay, Visayan Islands.

            Halsey-Doolittle Raid: TF 16 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.), formed around carriers Enterprise (CV-6) and Hornet (CV-8), approaches to within 650 miles of Japan. Discovery by Japanese guard boat No.23 Nitto Maru compels Vice Admiral Halsey to order Hornet to launch 16 USAAF B-25s (Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle) earlier than planned. B-25s bomb targets in Tokyo, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagoya; one B-25 bombs and damages carrier Ryuho (being converted from submarine depot ship Taigei) at Yokosuka. Of the 16 B-25s launched, 15 are lost in occupied China, where brutal reprisals by Japanese against Chinese populace (Chekiang province) ensue; one B-25lands intact at Vladivostok where it and its crew are interned by the Soviets. SBDs (VB 3, VB 6) and F4Fs (VF 6) from Enterprise, meanwhile, attack Japanese guard boats ("picket" boats) encountered near TF 16, damaging armed merchant cruiser Awata Maru and guard boats Chokyu Maru, No.1 Iwate Maru, No.2 Asami Maru, Kaijin Maru, No.3Chinyo Maru, Eikichi Maru, Kowa Maru, and No.26 Nanshin Maru. Guard boats No.23 Nitto Maru and Nagato Maru, also damaged by SBDs and F4Fs from Enterprise, are sunk by gunfire of light cruiser Nashville (CL-43) (see 19April). While the material damage inflicted by the bombers is small, the psychological effect of an air raid on the Japanese capital itself is great. Most importantly, the Halsey-Doolittle Raid ends all debate within the Japanese high command whether or not a thrust against the important U.S. advanced naval base at Midway should be attempted.

            Carrier Lexington (CV-2), in TF 11 (Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch), ferries USMC F2As (VMF 211) to Palmyra Island.

            USAAF B-26s sink Japanese aircraft transport Komaki Maru in Rabaul harbor, 04°12'S, 152°10'E.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker Axtell J. Byles, in a coastal convoy, is torpedoed by German submarine U-136 off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, 35°32'N, 75°19'W, but reaches Hampton Roads the next day; there are no injuries to any of the 39 man crew.

EUROPE—Change of government in Vichy France: Pierre Laval becomes Chief of Government, Minister of Interior, Foreign Affairs and Information.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—Doolittle raid on Japan. 16 B‑25’s launched from carrier Hornet carry out first AAF attack on Japanese mainland. 15 of the B‑25’s bomb in Japan, the principal targets being Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohoma, and Nagoya. Since the bombers had to be launched earlier than scheduled they are unable to reach planned bases in China and have to be crash-landed or abandoned, 15 in China and the other in the USSR.

FIFTH AF—Fifth AF units come under control of Allied AF (SWPA) which is created in Australia to control AAF, RAAF and Dutch elements. General MacArthur assumed command of allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA). All Fifth Air Force assets came under the control of SWPA.

US ARMY

PACIFIC—General MacArthur assumes supreme command of SWPA, USAFFE becoming inactive. General Sir Thomas Blarney, CinC Australian Military Forces, is to command Allied Land Forces; General Brett is to head Allied Air Forces; Admiral Leary, previously in command of ANZAC Force, is to command Allied Naval Forces. USAFIA, under General Barnes, has about the same supply and administrative functions. USAFIP, under General Wainwright, remains in the new command structure until its dissolution on 6 May.

VISAYAN ISLANDS—Japanese make another unopposed landing on Panay, at San Jose.

JAPAN—Tokyo undergoes its first air attack of the war. 16 B–25’s of 17th Bombardment Group, U.S. Eighth Air Force, led by Lt Col James H. Doolittle, take off from USS Hornet, standing with naval TF under Admiral Halsey some 800 miles from Tokyo, in morning and at 1215 begin strikes on Japanese homeland, hitting Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, and Nagoya with good effect. Search and fighter support are provided by planes of USS Enterprise. After the attack, all bombers head for China where they were to have come under control of General Stilwell, but because of poor weather conditions and the late hour, all crash-land or are abandoned by crews. One lands near Vladivostok and its crew is interned; 2 land in enemy territory and their crews are imprisoned, some of the flyers being executed on 15 October 1942. Admiral Halsey’s naval TF (the 2 carriers plus 4 cruisers, 8 DD’s, and 2 oilers) withdraw safely. This is the first occasion on which medium land bombers are moved by carriers and launched off enemy shores.

BURMA—In Yenangyaung area, Burma 1st Division drives to outskirts of Twingon; Chinese 38th Division clears portion of Pin Chaung. On Sittang front, Chinese 22d Division is relieved by Chinese 96th and withdraws N of Pyinmana. Chinese 200th Division is ordered to Meiktila but does not move. Chinese T-55th Division collapses under enemy attacks S of Loikaw, and communications between it and Chinese 6th Army cease. Road to Lashio is thus uncovered. Elements of 93d Division, which were to have assisted T-55th, do not reach the T-55th in time to be of help.

US MARINE CORPS

Doolittle raid strikes Tokyo, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagoya.