Wednesday, 8 April 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Hydrographic Office and Naval Observatory are transferred from the Bureau of Navigation to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

PACIFIC—Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) delivers food to Corregidor, and evacuates the final increment of naval radio and communications intelligence people.

ATLANTIC—Submarine Mackerel (SS-204) is attacked by USAAF plane six miles south of Watch Hill light, but is not damaged in the accidental encounter.

            Unarmed U.S. tanker Bidwell, bound from Corpus Christi, Texas, to New York City, is torpedoed by German submarine U-160 about 30 miles east of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, 34°25'N, 75°57'W, but manages to reach Hampton Roads under her own power. One man of her 33 man crew is lost in the attack.

            Unarmed U.S. tanker Oklahoma, en route from Port Arthur, Texas, to Providence, Rhode Island, is torpedoed by German submarine U-123 about 12 miles off Brunswick, Georgia, 31°18'N, 80°59'W; U-123 then proceeds to attack unarmed U.S. tanker Esso Baton Rouge approximately 15 miles off St. Simons Island, Georgia, 31°13'N, 80°05'W, torpedoing that ship as well. U-123 returns and shells Oklahoma. Both tankers sink in shallow water, and survivors from both vessels (18 from the 37 man crew from Oklahoma and 36 of the 39 man crew from Esso Baton Rouge) meet and proceed together for Brunswick, which they reach with the help of a Coast Guard boat. Both ships are not lost to the war effort; they are refloated, repaired, and returned to service.

            Yacht Zircon (PY-16) rescues 16 survivors (including one Armed Guard sailor) from U.S. freighter Otho, sunk by German submarine U-754 on 3 April (see 25 April).

            Panamanian merchantman Santa Monica rescues survivors from unarmed U.S. tanker T.C. McCobb, sunk by Italian submarine Pietro Calvi on 31 March (see 10 April and 16 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—Harry Hopkins and General Marshall arrive in London for talks with British service and supply chiefs concerning integration of US and British manpower and war production for action in Europe. General Marshall urges an offensive in the west to relieve pressure upon Russia, and promises a constant flow of US troops, including many air units, to UK.

NINTH AF—V Air Support Command (activated 1 Sep 41) is redesignated Ninth AF. HQ is at New Orleans AAB.

US ARMY

LUZON—II Corps disintegrates completely under sustained enemy attacks from ground and air. Japanese soon discover gaps in Alangan River line— held by 31st Infantry (U.S.), 57th Infantry (PS), 26th Cavalry (PS), 803d Engineer Battalion (U.S.), 14th Engineer Battalion (PS), and Constabulary troops—and stream southward at will. In final effort to stem enemy advance, Provisional Coast Artillery Brigade (AA), serving as infantrymen, forms weak line just N of Cabcaben, but other units ordered to extend this line are unable to do so. General King decides to surrender Luzon Force; orders equipment destroyed during night 8–9. Of the 78,000 men of Luzon Force, about 2,000 succeed in escaping to Corregidor.

UNITED KINGDOM—General Marshall and Mr Harry Hopkins arrive in London for series of conferences with the British on BOLERO.

US MARINE CORPS

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