Sunday, 31 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese midget submarines from submarines I-22, I-24, and I-27 penetrate the defenses of Sydney, Australia. Their torpedoes near-miss U.S. heavy cruiser Chicago (CA-29) but sink RAN accommodation ship Kuttabul and damage Dutch submarine K IX beyond economical repair. Three Japanese midget submarines are lost in the attack.

            Submarine Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.5 Shunsei Maru off Murotosan, 31°38'N,133°45'E.

INDIAN OCEAN—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-10 reconnoiters Diego Suarez.

CARIBBEAN—Submarine Grunion (SS-216) rescues survivors of U.S. Army-chartered freighter Jack, sunk by German submarine U-155 about 100 miles southwest of Port Saluit, Haiti, 17°36'N, 74°42'W. Three of the 9 man Armed Guard are lost.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack Lae and Salamaua.

SEVENTH AF—B‑17’s on detached service at Midway begin search operations.

ELEVENTH AF—54th Fighter Squadron (P‑38’s) arrives at Elmendorf.

US ARMY

LIBYA—Axis forces begin assault on Sidi Muftah, detached strongpoint of 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, and are engaged by 150th Brigade of 50th Division, to whom armored assistance is rushed. Later, 13 Corps begins preliminary phase of general counterattack but makes little headway.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 30 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TF 17 (Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), formed around carrier Yorktown (CV-5), departs Pearl Harbor to join TF 16 northeast of Midway.

            Submarine Pompano (SS-181) sinks Japanese army transport Atsuta Maru in East China Sea east of Okinawa,26°07'N, 129°06'E, and survives counterattack by her victim's escort.

INDIAN OCEAN—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-10 reconnoiters Diego Suarez.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Alcoa Shipper, en route to New York from Trinidad, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-404 at 37°49'N, 65°15'W; three men die in the initial explosion. The rapidity with which the ship sinks prevents the crew from launching boats, and four men are lost with the ship. U-404 provides the 25 survivors with rum, cigarettes and (for one ill-clad sailor) a pair of dungarees (see 1 June).

GULF OF MEXICO—Thirty-five survivors of U.S. freighter Alcoa Carrier, sunk by German submarine U-103 on 25 May, are rescued by Cuban gunboat and Navy patrol plane.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—During conferences with Air Chief Marshal Portal, General Arnold presents ‘Programme of Arrival of US Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom’ providing for 66 combat groups, exclusive of observation squadrons, by Mar 43.

TENTH AF—Myitkyina is again hit by Heavy Bombers. Again no activity is observed and the attacks are discontinued.

SEVENTH AF—Seventh AF begins flying B‑17’s from Oahu to Midway in face of expected attack on that island.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral Fletcher’s Yorktown force sails for Midway from Pearl Harbor. Japanese TF (2 transports, 2 carriers, 2 CA’s, 3 DD’s) leaves Japan for Aleutians, where it is to create a diversion for the invasion of Midway and land small forces on W Aleutians. Initial detachment of U.S. troops arrives at New Zealand.

INDIA—Chinese 113th Regiment, rear guard covering withdrawal of 38th Division and 5th Army from Burma, crosses the Chindwin.

LIBYA—Axis forces, in effort to consolidate bridgehead at gaps in mine fields, move W under attack by British Eighth Army and RAF. General Ritchie decides to counterattack on night of 31st, but accedes to request of corps commander to postpone attack 24 hours. 1st Armored Brigade, which has recently arrived in Libya, is used to bring other units up to strength.

GERMANY—RAF opens air offensive against Germany with attack of unprecedented scale against Cologne, night 30–31. Over 1,000 planes participate; more than 2,000 tons of bombs are dropped.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 29 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Seaplane tender (destroyer) Thornton (AVD-11) arrives at French Frigate Shoals, T.H., to relieve light minelayer Preble (DM-20) on patrol station there. Japanese submarine I-123 arrives the same day to find the Americans already there.

            Seaplane tender (destroyer) Ballard (AVD-10) arrives at Midway along with the eleven motor torpedo boats from Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron One (Lieutenant Clinton McKellar Jr.); the latter are assigned to local defense forces of Midway (Captain Cyril T. Simard).

            PBYs (VP 71) and RAAF Catalinas bomb Japanese base at Tulagi, Solomons.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-21 reconnoiters Sydney, Australia (see 31 May).

            Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tatsufuku Maru at the southwestern entrance to Balabac Strait, 07°33'N, 116°18'E.

CARIBBEAN—Destroyer Tattnall (DD-125) rescues 26 survivors (including three Armed Guard sailors) of U.S. tanker New Jersey, sunk on 28 May 1942 by German submarine U-103 (see 1 June 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—Molotov, who has been in London since 20 May for talks with Churchill, flies to Washington for conference with Roosevelt and US JCS. These talks, which end 2 Jun, deal mainly with the signing of a 20- yr Anglo-Soviet treaty for collaboration, shipments of material to USSR, and a second front in 1942.

TENTH AF—4 Heavy Bombers hit Myitkyina airfield in high-altitude strike. No activity is seen.

US ARMY

LIBYA—Upon breaching mine fields in center of British Eighth Army’s position, enemy starts passing vehicles through gaps despite British fire. Rommel’s main armored forces, temporarily on the defensive until a supply route can be opened to them, fall back southward under attack by armor of 30 Corps.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 28 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese First Fleet, Main Body (Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku in battleship Yamato) allocated to the Midway operation sorties from home waters. The Second Fleet, Escort Force (Rear Admiral Tanaka Raizo), whose composition includes15 transports, sails from Saipan; Second Fleet, Occupation Support force (Rear Admiral Kurita Takeo) sorties from Guam.

            U.S. troops (500 men drawn from the garrison at Efate) arrive at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

            TF 16 (Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance), formed around carriers Enterprise (CV-6) and Hornet (CV-8), departs Pearl Harbor to take up position northeast of Midway.

            Submarine Salmon (SS-182) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ganges Maru in the South China Sea about 250miles south-southeast of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 09°00'N, 111°00'E.

            Submarine Seal (SS-183) damages Japanese army cargo ship Tatsufuku Maru at western entrance to Balabac Strait,07°27'N, 116°17'E.

NORTH RUSSIA—In the aftermath of German air attacks on convoy PQ 16, U.S. freighter City of Joliet, damaged by near-misses the previous day, is abandoned in Barents Sea, 73°41'N, 21°58'E. All hands (including the 11 man Armed Guard detachment) reach safety on board British tug HMS St. Elstan and Free French corvette Roselys.

CARIBBEAN—U.S. tanker New Jersey is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-103 about 90 miles southwest of Grand Cayman Island, 18°32'N, 82°28'W. There are no casualties among the 36 merchant seamen and five Armed Guard sailors, and all hands abandon ship in two lifeboats (see 29 May and 1 June).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s attack airfield at Lae.

ELEVENTH AF—A B‑17 flies the first armed reconnaissance mission from the secretly constructed airfield at Umnak over the Aleutian Chain, but finds no sign of the enemy. XI Fighter Command elements are now deployed at Umnak (P‑40’s, P‑38’s), Cold Bay (P‑40’s), Kodiak (P‑39’s), and Ft Richardson (P‑38’s, RCAF Kittyhawks).

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—2 fighter squadrons (58th and 59th) of 33d Fighter Group begin deployment from E coast for defense of W coast. Some Heavy Bomber units in W are redeployed for better defense against Japanese Navy.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Main body of Japanese naval force under command of Admiral Isoroko Yamamoto leaves Japan for Midway. From Pearl Harbor, Admiral Spruance’s naval force also heads for Midway. U.S. troop detachment (500 from the Efate garrison) arrives at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, where bomber strip is to be built to support invasion of the Solomons.

CHINA—Chinese withdraw from Kinhwa, Chekiang Province, under pressure.

BURMA—Japanese seize Kengtung.

LIBYA—British Eighth Army defeats enemy efforts to break out to coast in rear of Gazala positions in order to gain supply line to forces NE of Bir Hacheim.

USSR—Battle of Kharkov ends as Germans complete reduction of Red Army salient W of the Donets in Kharkov area.

US MARINE CORPS

U. S. forces arrive at Espiritu Sante, New Hebrides.

Wednesday, 27 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese forces begin heading for Midway. Chief among them is First Mobile Force, Carrier Strike Force (Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi), which departs home waters on this date.

            Japanese submarine I-19 prepares to launch her small reconnaissance seaplane off the northern side of Bogoslof Island, Aleutians, but sights what she identifies as a U.S. destroyer and submerges hurriedly, irreparably damaging the aircraft.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 reconnoiters Kodiak, Alaska.

            Marines and Seabees occupy Wallis Island, South Pacific Ocean.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer tender Prairie (AD-15) and gunboat Spry (PG-64) are damaged by fire, Argentia, Newfoundland.

ARCTIC—German planes attack convoy PQ 16. U.S. freighter Alamar is bombed and sunk approximately 100 miles southeast of Bear Island. British corvette HMS Starwort, tug HMS St. Elstan and submarine HMS Trident rescue all hands (36 merchant seamen and nine Armed Guard sailors); Trident torpedoes and scuttles the irreparably damaged freighter as a hazard to navigation. U.S. freighter Mormacsul is sunk by a direct hit and three near-misses; three of the ship's crew perish in the attack. The survivors (36 merchant seamen and the 9 man Armed Guard) abandon ship and are rescued by HMS Starwort and a British tug. U.S. freighter Alcoa Banner is damaged by near-misses 200 miles southwest of Bear Island; there are no casualties to the 44 man merchant complement or the two Armed Guard sailors. U.S. freighter City of Joliet is damaged by near-misses; her pumps fight a losing battle against inrushing water but there are no casualties among the 37 merchant seamen or the 11 man Armed Guard (see 28 May 1942).

GULF OF MEXICO—British tanker Orina rescues two survivors from U.S. tanker Halo, sunk by German submarine U-506 on 20 May1942.

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. freighter Alcoa Pilgrim, en route to Mobile, Alabama, from Trinidad, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-502 at 16°28'N, 67°37'W. The rapidity with which the ship sinks prevents the crew from launching boats, and 31 men of the 40 man complement are lost with the ship (see 2 June).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb base at Rabaul.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—54th Fighter Group begins deployment from Louisiana to strengthen defense of W coast.

US ARMY

HAWAII—Admiral Fletcher’s naval force, based on carrier Yorktown, arrives at Pearl Harbor from S Pacific.

MIDWAY—Japanese Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo’s Carrier Striking Force leaves Japan for Midway. Enemy transports depart from Saipan and covering cruisers and DD’s from Guam for same objective.

NEW CALEDONIA—Americal Division, its name a contraction of words “America” and “New Caledonia,” is activated under General Patch.

INDIA—USAFCBI SOS Base Section Island is activated at Karachi; Base Section 2 (Calcutta) is authorized.

LIBYA—Axis forces open offensive against Gazala- Bir Hacheim line of British Eighth Army at dawn, making main effort on S and staging demonstration on N. In 30 Corps sector, FF 1st Brigade Group holds detached strongpoint at Bir Hacheim against attack. German armored columns disposed SE of this village sweep northward toward El Adem and Acroma and are opposed by Indian 3d Motor Brigade, a few miles E of Bir Hacheim, and 7th and 1st Armored Divisions to N.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 26 May 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Anglo-American air conference opens in London to discuss allocation of aircraft; U.S. Navy representative is Rear Admiral John H. Towers, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics.

PACIFIC—Aircraft ferry Kitty Hawk (AKV-1) arrives at Midway with reinforcements for MAG 22, as well as the 3-inchantiaircraft group (3d Defense Battalion) and a light tank platoon earmarked for a mobile reserve.

            Submarine Salmon (SS-182) sinks Japanese repair ship Asahi about 180 miles south-southeast of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 10°00'N, 110°00'E.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-9 reconnoiters Kiska.

ATLANTIC—Eight survivors from U.S. freighter Quaker City, sunk by German submarine U-156 on 18 May reach safety on Dominica.

            Coastal yacht Sapphire (PYc-2) rescues the 30 survivors of U.S. freighter Plow City, sunk by German submarine U-588 on 21 May.

            German planes attack Reykjavik, Iceland-bound U.S. freighter Carlton (detached from convoy PQ 16 for repairs), under tow of British trawler HMS Northern Spray, but cause no additional damage. As in the previous day's attack, there are no casualties.

ARCTIC—U.S. freighter Syros, in convoy PQ 16, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-703 approximately 200 miles southwest of Bear Island, 72°35'N, 05°30'E. Of the 39 souls on board (37 merchant seamen and two Navy signalmen),27 civilians and one signalman survive, rescued by British minesweeper HMS Hazard.

GULF OF MEXICO—Unarmed U.S. tanker Carrabulle is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-106 at 26°18'N, 89°21'E. Reportedly, the submarine's commanding officer, Kapitanleutnant Herman Rasch, asks survivors if all men are clear of the ship. When told no, he laughs and orders a second torpedo launched that strikes the ship directly beneath a lifeboat as it is being lowered, killing 22 of the 24 men in it. U.S. freighter Thompson Lykes rescues the 18 survivors. Later the same day, U-106 shells U.S. freighter Atenas at 25°50'N, 89°05'E, but accurate Armed Guard gunfire drives off the U-boat before she can cause much damage. There are no casualties on board Atenas among the 54 man crew, eight man Armed Guard and ten passengers.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—General Arnold, Admiral Towers, and Air Chief Marshal Portal attend Anglo-American air conference in London. Topics of discussion include allocation of aircraft and establishment of US air forces in UK. Meeting begins at 10 Downing Street with Churchill.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Gulf TF, I Bomber Command is established and placed under operational control of Commander, Gulf Sea Frontier, for antisub operations in Gulf of Mexico.

US ARMY

HAWAII—Naval TF under Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, built around carriers Enterprise and Hornet, arrives at Pearl Harbor from S Pacific.

MIDWAY—USS Kittyhawk brings in additional air and ground reinforcements.

NEW GUINEA—Australian Kanga Force is strengthened by arrival of Australian 5th Independent Company by air.

LIBYA—Rommel prepares to resume offensive, moving armored forces around S flank of British Eighth Army to positions SE of Bir Hacheim under cover of darkness. British Eighth Army is now disposed with 13 Corps (50th Div; South African 1st and 2d Divisions; 1st Army Tank Brigade; 9th Brigade of Indian 5th Division) on N and 30 Corps (1st and 7th Armored Divisions; 201st Guards Brigade; Indian 3d Motor Brigade Group; 29th Brigade of Indian 5th Div; FF 1st Brigade Group) on S.

UNITED KINGDOM—Anglo-American air conference opens in London to consider allocation policy. Among those attending are General Arnold, Rear Admiral John H. Towers, and British Chief of Air Staff Sir Charles Portal.

20-year Anglo-Soviet mutual aid agreement is signed in London.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 25 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49) arrives at Midway and disembarks Companies "C" and "D," 2d Marine Raider Battalion, and 37-millimeter gun battery of the 3d Defense Battalion.

            Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kitakata Maru east of Nojimazaki, Honshu, Japan,34°00'N, 139°00'E.

            Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese transport Senko Maru, 00°20'N, 118°20'N.

            Submarine Pompano (SS-181) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Tokyo Maru about 70 miles west of Naha, Okinawa,27°03'N, 127°03'E.

            Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese transport Shoka Maru about 385 miles southwest of Ulithi, Carolines,04°07'N, 143°32'N.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-9 reconnoiters Kiska and Amchitka, Aleutians.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Blakely (DD-150) is torpedoed by German submarine U-156 off Martinique, French West Indies.

            German planes attack convoy PQ 16 as it proceeds toward Murmansk, USSR, from Reykjavik, Iceland; U.S. freighter Carlton is damaged by near-misses. She leaves the convoy under tow of British trawler HMS Northern Spray. There are no casualties among Carlton's 35 man merchant crew or 11 man Armed Guard (see 26 May 1942)

GULF OF MEXICO—Unarmed U.S. freighter Alcoa Carrier is torpedoed and shelled by German submarine U-103 at 18°45'N, 79°50'W, and abandoned. U-103 surfaces and her commanding officer asks the Americans for the name and speed of their ship, and if all of her men have been accounted for, before he provides them with cigarettes. Alcoa Carrier sinks early the following morning, after which time the U-boat departs (see 30 May).

            Mexican freighter Oaxaca rescues three survivors from U.S. tanker Halo, sunk by German submarine U-506 on 20 May; two of the men recovered, however, will die of their wounds (see 27 May).

CARIBBEAN—Destroyer Goff (DD-247) scuttles the hulk of U.S. tanker Samuel Q. Brown, torpedoed by German submarine U-103 on 24 May.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—4 B‑17’s bomb Rangoon during 24/25 May.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul.

US ARMY

INDIA—Chinese 38th Division (-113th Regiment, which acts as rear guard) reaches India.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 24 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Pompano (SS-181) sinks Japanese merchant fishing boat Kotoku Maru, 25°16'N, 122°41'E.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-21 reconnoiters Auckland, New Zealand.

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. freighter Beatrice is torpedoed by German submarine U-558 at 17°23'N, 76°58'W, but the torpedo fails to explode. U-558 then surfaces to shell the ship, which is abandoned under fire with the loss of one man. A PBY arrives on the scene and drives off the submarine. Of the 30 survivors, 21 men in a lifeboat reach Pigeon Island, Jamaica; British patrol craft Hauken rescues the remaining nine sailors. Beatrice sinks the next morning.

            Steamship Marpesia rescues two survivors on a raft from U.S. freighter Norlantic, sunk by German submarine U-69 on 13 May.

            Destroyer Goff (DD-247) rescues 48 survivors of U.S. tanker Samuel Q. Brown, torpedoed by German submarine U-103 the previous day (see 25 May).

ATLANTIC—Fifteen survivors from U.S. freighter Quaker City, sunk by German submarine U-156 on 18 May reach safety at Barbados (see 26 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII AF Bomber Command, under overall logistical control of SOS, is given primary responsibility for all supply and maintenance peculiar to AAF, thus leaving much logistical autonomy to AAFIB.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s attack Lae airfield but heavy AA and at least 15 intercepting Zeros prevent accurate bombing. Several of the Medium Bombers are shot down or badly damaged and forced to crash-land.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Deployment of air units from eastern US is begun as a result of threat of a naval attack on the W coast. 12th Bomb Group begins movement from Louisianna to California.

US ARMY

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US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 23 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—District patrol craft YP-277 is destroyed by fire after striking U.S. mine at French Frigate Shoals, T.H.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-29 reconnoiters Sydney, Australia.

CARIBBEAN—U.S. tanker Samuel Q. Brown is torpedoed by German submarine U-103 south of the Yucatan Channel, 20°15'N,84°38'W; two merchant seamen die at the outset. After the U-boat surfaces and the Germans ask the identity of the ship and her cargo, the survivors (37 merchant seamen and the 16 man Armed Guard) gather in two lifeboats. Later that day, a Navy plane from the Panama Canal Zone rescues five wounded men (see 24 May and 25 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Agreement is reached on plan to transfer repair depot at Burtonwood to US forces following period of joint control to begin at end of Jun. Burtonwood later becomes greatest AAF depot overseas.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s strike airfield and buildings at Lae.

US ARMY

ALEUTIANS—U.S. fighter aircraft land safely on runway at new air base on Umnak Island.

USSR—Continuing counteroffensive in Kharkov area, Germans isolate Red Army forces in Izyum salient W of the Donets.

US MARINE CORPS

Training Center, Fleet Marine Force, organized at Marine Barracks, New River, North Carolina, to include all Fleet Marine Force units and replacements except the 1st Marine Division.

Friday, 22 May 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Mexico declares war on Germany, Italy, and Japan.

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. tanker William Boyce Thompson, en route to Curacao, N.W.I., is torpedoed by German submarine U-558 at 16°26'N, 76°55'W; there are no casualties among the 37 merchant seamen and two Navy signalmen, and the ship reaches port under her own power.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Blakely (DD-150), at 15°01'N, 57°38'W, rescues seven survivors from U.S. freighter Quaker City, sunk by German submarine U-156 on 18 May (see 24 and 26 May).

            Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), boards Swedish passenger liner Drottningholm at Lisbon, Portugal, for passage home to the United States. He will arrive in New York on 1 June.

PACIFIC—Submarine Tautog (SS-199) damages Japanese transport Sanko Maru southwest of Truk, 07°00'N, 151°00'E.

            Submarine Silversides (SS-236) damages Japanese transport Asahisan Maru at the mouth of Kii Suido, between Ichiyozaki and Shionomizaki, Honshu, 33°30'N, 135°27'N. Counterattack by Japanese aircraft (Maizuru Kokutai) is unsuccessful.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s pound airfield and shipping at Rabaul while B‑26’s hit airfield at Lae and attack shipping in the harbor.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—21st Troop Carrier Sq begins movement of some 300 troops and supplies to Wau to reinforce weak Australian group, called Kanga Force, defending Bulolo Valley. Kanga Force consists largely of troops of New Guinea Volunteer Reserve (NGVR).

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 21 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—North Pacific Force (Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald) is established for operations in Alaskan sector.

            Destroyer Helm (DD-388) rescues four survivors from Neosho (AO-23) that had abandoned ship when the oiler was damaged on 7 May.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Plow City, en route from Trinidad to New York, mistakes lifeboat from British motorship Peisander (sunk by German submarine U-653 on 17 May) and flees, her smoke attracting the attention of U-588, which torpedoes and sinks Plow City at 39°08'N, 69°57'W. One crewman dies in the attack. U-588 briefly interrogates one crewman on board the submarine before returning him to his shipmates with rum and cigarettes; U-boat sailors also help the Americans right a capsized lifeboat (see 26 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s bomb aircraft at Lae.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald, as commander of TF 8, becomes responsible for all forces, U.S. Army and naval and Canadian, in Alaska area.

GERMANY—Adolf Hitler decides to postpone projected conquest of Malta, Operation HERCULES, until Egypt is conquered.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 20 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Air Force, South Pacific Area (Rear Admiral John S. McCain) is established.

ATLANTIC—District patrol craft YP-387 is sunk in collision off the coast of Delaware, 39°00'N, 75°00'W.

GULF OF MEXICO—Unarmed U.S. tanker Halo is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-506 approximately 50 miles from Southwest Pass, 28°42'N, 90°08'W; 23 survivors from a merchant complement of 42 men initially survive the loss of the ship (see 25 and 27 May).

            U.S. freighter George Calvert is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-752 near the Yucatan Channel, 22°55'N,84°26'W; three Armed Guard sailors perish in the attack. Fifty-one merchant seamen and seven surviving Armed Guard sailors abandon ship in three boats, in which they reach the coast of Cuba, going ashore the following day.

            U.S. tanker Esso Dover rescues 20 merchant sailors and two Armed Guard sailors, survivors of freighter Ogontz, sunk by German submarine U-103 the previous day.

CARIBBEAN—U.S. freighter Clare is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-103 approximately 40 miles off the south coast of Cuba, 21°35'N, 84°43'W; the 33 man merchant complement and 7 man Armed Guard (all hands) survive, abandoning ship in one boat and three rafts. Later the same day, U-103 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Elizabeth at 21°36'N,84°48'W; six of the 35 merchant seamen perish, the remainder, along with the 7 man Armed Guard, reach the coast of Cuba the following day.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack airfield and AA guns at Koepang on Timor Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Adm McCain, aboard USS Tangier at Noumea, assumes command as COMAIRSOPAC.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Reinforcements are being hastily moved to Midway and the Aleutians, since Japanese plan to invade the islands is by now known. In the Aleutians, work on secret air base on Umnak Island is being rushed to a conclusion. Rear Admiral John S. McCain takes command as COMAIRSOPAC.

BURMA—With conquest of Burma completed, Japanese (56th, 18th, 33d, and 55th Divisions of 15th Army) take up defensive positions.

INDIA—Burma I Corps is placed under command of 4 Corps as rear guard reaches India.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 19 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Light cruiser Nashville (CL-43) sails independently from Midway, bound for the western Aleutians.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-21 reconnoiters Suva Bay, Fiji.

INDIAN OCEAN—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-30 reconnoiters Zanzibar and Dar-es-Salaam.

ATLANTIC—Armed Guard officer on board U.S. freighter Ironclad, at Hvalfjordur, Iceland, reports disturbance among the crew, occasioned by some of the merchant seamen breaking into a quantity of liquor consigned to Admiral William H. Standley, USN (Ret.), U.S. Ambassador to the USSR. Battleship Washington (BB-56) provides a guard of marines from her detachment to bring the rowdies under control. Consequently, Ironclad is withdrawn from the list of ships to comprise convoy PQ 16 so that the incident can be investigated.

            Last three survivors of unarmed U.S. fishing trawler Foam, attacked by German submarine U-432 on 17 May, are rescued by Canadian corvette HMCS Halifax.

            U.S. steamship Howard rescues the 29 survivors of U.S. tanker Mercury Sun, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-125 the previous day; she transfers one to a Coast Guard boat at the Tampa Sea Buoy for medical attention and transports the rest to Mobile, Alabama.

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. freighter Heredia is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-506 two miles south of the Ship Shoal Buoy, Louisiana, 27°32'N, 91°00'W; the rapidity with which the ship sinks gives the crew no time to launch boats. Of the 62men on board (48 man merchant crew, six man Armed Guard and eight passengers), 36 (30 crewmen, five Armed Guard sailors and one passenger) perish. Shrimp boats Papa Joe, Conquest, J. Edwin Treakle, and Shellwater rescue 23 survivors; a seaplane rescues three.

            U.S. freighter Ogontz is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-103 at 23°30'N, 86°37'W; 17 merchant seamen and two Armed Guard sailors perish in the attack, the majority of the casualties caused when a mast falls across a lifeboat when the ship is being abandoned. U-103 questions two survivors on board before returning them to their shipmates. The Germans provide medical assistance and cigarettes before leaving (see 20 May).

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. freighter Isabela is torpedoed, shelled and sunk by German submarine U-751 35 miles south of Navassa Island light, 17°50'N, 75°00'W; three crewmen perish. Survivors subsequently reach Cape Briton, Haiti, in two lifeboats.

            Latvian freighter Kegums rescues the 22 survivors of U.S. freighter William J. Salman, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-125 the previous day. She transports them to Key West, Florida.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Det, HQ Eighth AF, under General Eaker, assumes control of all AAF organizations in British Isles.

US ARMY

MIDDLE EAST—General Auchinleck issues instructions to Commander, British Tenth Army, on action to be taken should the enemy attack through Iran from the Caucasus.

UNITED KINGDOM—U.S. Eighth Air Force detachment HQ under General Eaker takes control of all U.S. Army air organizations in British Isles.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 18 May 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Office of Naval Inspector General (Rear Admiral Charles P. Snyder) is established.

ARCTIC—U.S. freighter Deer Lodge, anchored in Kola Inlet, is bombed by German planes, and damaged by near-misses. There are no casualties among the 34 man merchant complement or among the 11 man Armed Guard sailors, and the ship is moved to another anchorage.

ATLANTIC—Brazilian steamship Commandante Lyra is torpedoed by Italian submarine Barbarigo at 02°59'S, 34°10'W; light cruisers Milwaukee (CL-5) and Cincinnati (CL-4) rescue survivors. Small seaplane tender Thrush (AVP-3) tows the damaged ship to Fortaleza, Brazil, while PBYs (VP 83) provide cover.

            Unarmed U.S. freighter Quaker City is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-156 approximately 300 miles east of Barbados, 15°47'N, 53°12'W; ten men perish (one man will subsequently die of wounds). The 30 survivors take to four lifeboats. U-156 surfaces and questions the survivors as to the name of the ship and her cargo and destination; the Germans then provide the Americans with directions to Barbados (see 22, 24 and 26 May).

            British steamship Hororata rescues raft with the last survivor from U.S. freighter Alcoa Guide, sunk by German submarine U-123 on 16 April. A total of six have perished from Alcoa Guide's 34 man complement.

            Rescue craft (not specified) recovers last survivor from torpedoed U.S. freighter Steel Maker, sunk by German submarine U-136 on 19 April. This man, the radio operator, had pooled the supplies from several rafts in his vicinity after the ship sank and "lived comfortably" until rescued.

            Lifeboat with 17 survivors of unarmed U.S. fishing trawler Foam, attacked by German submarine U-432 the previous day, reaches Sambro Light Ship, whence they are transported to Halifax by a Canadian patrol craft (see 19 May).

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. tanker Mercury Sun is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-125 at 20°02'N, 84°25'W, and abandoned; six merchant seamen perish in the attack (see 19 May).

            Unarmed U.S. freighter William J. Salman is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-125 at 20°08'N, 83°47'W, as the American ship proceeds to Antigua, B.W.I.; six men perish (see 19 May).

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. tanker Benjamin Brewster rescues 19 survivors from U.S. tanker Gulfoil, sunk by U-506 on 16 May, and transports them to Galveston, Texas.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—US and Panama sign agreement concerning use of Panama defense areas by US forces.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb shipping in Koepang Bay.

SEVENTH AF—Seventh AF is placed on alert in anticipation of a possible attack on Midway. For next 10 days the old B‑18’s on hand are used on search to supplement the B‑17’s. VII Bomber Command receives influx of B‑17’s during this period, and the 72d Bomb Squadron is converted from B‑18’s to B‑17’s.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—U.S. Seventh Air Force is alerted for possible enemy attack on Midway or Hawaii.

BURMA—Chiang Kai-shek orders Chinese 5th Army, which now consists largely of Chinese 22d and 96th Divisions, to take up positions between Myitkyina and Fort Hertz. Chinese 22d Division survivors reach Ledo area in July and August. Chinese 96th eventually makes its way to China via Fort Hertz.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 17 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Grampus (SS-207) is damaged by gunfire of Japanese patrol craft off Truk, 08°02'N, 151°03'E.

            Submarine Silversides (SS-236) damages Japanese transport Tottori Maru and merchant cargo ship Thames Maru off Shionomisaki, southern Honshu, 33°28'N, 135°33'E.

            Submarine Skipjack (SS-184) sinks Japanese army transport Taizan Maru near the mouth of the Gulf of Siam,06°22'N, 108°36'E.

            Submarine Tautog (SS-199) torpedoes and sinks Japanese submarine I-28 north of Rabaul, 06°30'N, 152°00'E.

            Submarine Triton (SS-201) torpedoes and sinks Japanese submarine I-64 southeast of Kyushu, Japan, 29°25'N,134°06'E.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Hambleton (DD-455) is damaged in collision with destroyer Ellyson (DD-454) while in TF 36, en route to the United States from the Gold Coast of Africa.

            U.S. freighter Challenger, en route to Trinidad for voyage repairs, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-155at 12°11'N, 61°18'W; five merchant seamen, two Armed Guard sailors, and one passenger perish. Yacht Turquoise (PY-19) rescues the 36 merchant seamen, nine Armed Guard sailors, and 11 passengers who survive the loss of the ship, and transports them to Trinidad.

            Unarmed U.S. fishing trawler Foam is shelled by German submarine U-432 approximately 85 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, 43°20'N, 63°08'W; and abandoned by her 21 man crew (one of whom dies of wounds) (see 18 and 19May).

            Twenty three survivors of U.S. tanker Esso Houston, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-162 on 12 May1942 reach St. Vincent, British Windward Islands. One Armed Guard sailor perishes of wounds suffered in the attack five days previous; he is the only casualty.

CARIBBEAN—Norwegian motor vessel Somerville rescues 27 survivors (one of whom dies of his wounds after being picked up) from U.S. freighter Ruth Lykes, sunk by German submarine U-103 the previous day, and transports them to Key West, Florida.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Det, Eighth AF, with help of III Bomber Command staff, issues a directive defining its mission, which is the organization, training and supplying of units of ADVONs of Eighth AF to prepare for immediate operations upon arrival of tactical elements of the Eighth. 50 US intelligence officers arrive in UK for training by RAF Bomber Command.

US ARMY

USSR—Battle of Kharkov opens as Germans counterattack from Izyum area and in region E of Kharkov, bringing Soviet offensive to a halt.  

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 16 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Tautog (SS-199) torpedoes Japanese fleet tanker Goyo Maru west of Royalist Bank, Truk, 07°00'N,152°00'E. Tautog's first "fish" circles, forcing her to go deep at once.

ATLANTIC—Last three survivors from unarmed U.S. tanker T.C. McCobb, sunk by Italian submarine Pietro Calvi on 31 March, land at Surinam. Two of the three men, however, later die of exposure.

            Destroyer Tarbell (DD-142) rescues 23 survivors from U.S. freighter Lammont Du Pont, sunk by German submarine U-125 on 23 April. There had been originally 31 men on the raft spotted by the destroyer, but eight had perished between 23 April and 16 May.

            U.S. tanker Esso Augusta rescues the 27 merchant seaman and four Armed Guard sailors who have survived the loss of freighter Nicarao, sunk by German submarine U-751 the previous day.

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. tanker Sun, en route to Beaumont, Texas, is torpedoed by German submarine U-506 at 28°41'N, 90°19'W, but escapes the U-boat to reach New Orleans, Louisiana, under her own power without further incident. Sun suffers no casualties among the 37 man merchant crew and 5 man Armed Guard. Later the same day, U-506 torpedoes and shells U.S. tanker William C. McTarnahan approximately 35 miles east of Ship Shoal Light, Louisiana, 28°52'N, 90°20'W, but retires without finishing off her quarry; 18 of the 38 man merchant crew perish in the attack. The 20 merchant seamen and all seven Armed Guard sailors survive to be rescued by shrimp boats Defender, Pioneer and Viscali (as well as a fourth unnamed craft). Coast Guard tug Tuckahoe (WYT-89), assisted by civilian tug Baranca tows the damaged tanker to Southwest Pass; she will subsequently return to service. Still later, U-506 torpedoes and sinks U.S. tanker Gulfoil approximately 75 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi, 28°08'N, 89°46'W; the tanker sinks so rapidly that the crew have no time to launch boats. Of the 36 man merchant complement and 4 man Armed Guard, only 19 merchant seamen survive to reach two life rafts that float free when the ship sinks (see 18 May).

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. freighter Ruth Lykes is attacked by German submarine U-103 at 16°37'N, 82°27'W; after the U-boat scores a hit with a dud torpedo she surfaces to shell her quarry, killing five sailors. U-103 rescues one sailor and transfers him into a lifeboat; after which action Kapitanleutnant Werner Winter, the submarine's commanding officer, apologizes: "You can thank Mr. Roosevelt for this. I am sorry." The U-boat also gives the Americans bandages and cigarettes before departing (see 17 May).

            Dutch schooners India and Mississippi sight lifeboats of U.S. freighter Norlantic, sunk by German submarine U-69 on13 May. The latter tows the boats into Bonaire the following day (see 24 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—HQ completes its move from US to New Delhi. Heavy Bombers again strike airfield at Myitkyina, pounding runways and buildings. Subsequent reconnaissance indicates that the runways are unusable.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s, B‑26’s and B‑17’s hit airfield and storehouses at Lae and seaplane base at Deboyne Island.

US ARMY

INDIA—First detachment of SOS troops—393d QM Battalion (Port) and 159th Station Hospital—arrives at Karachi.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 15 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Tuna (SS-203) sinks Japanese transport Toyoharu Maru 65 miles off Sohuksando, Korea, 33°34'N,125°09'E.

ARCTIC—German planes bomb Allied shipping at Murmansk; U.S. freighter Yaka suffers a direct hit that causes extensive damage but no casualties to the 38 man merchant crew or the 11 man Armed Guard. The ship is beached to prevent loss.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Nicarao is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-751 north of San Salvador, Bahamas, 25°20'N,74°19'W; eight of the 35 man merchant crew perish as they abandon ship. The four man Armed Guard survives intact (see 16 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES—Interceptor and pursuit organizations of AAF are redesignated ‘fighter’.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—Australian 14th Brigade Group and 700 attached Australian AA troops start to Port Moresby to bolster positions there.

INDIA—General Alexander moves HQ from Burma to Imphal area of India. General Stilwell arrives in India.

LIBYA—British Eighth Army has completed most of its preparations for offensive, but Rommel’s forces are showing signs of forestalling it.

USSR—Germans announce capture of town and harbor of Kerch, in the Crimea. Red Army continues offensive toward Kharkov.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 14 May 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-213 mines the waters off St. John's, Newfoundland.

            Norwegian freighter Havprins rescues 18 survivors of U.S. tanker Esso Houston, sunk by German submarine U-162 on 12 May; Havprins will transfer these men to Latvian freighter Everagra for transportation to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (see 17 May).

GULF OF MEXICO—Norwegian merchantman Norsol rescues two survivors from U.S. freighter David McKelvy, sunk the day before by German submarine U-506.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—General Eaker designated commander of Det HQ Eighth AF in addition to his duties as CG VIII Bomber Command. General Hunter assumes command of VIII Interceptor Command.

TENTH AF—Heavy Bombers pound Myitkyina for second time, scoring direct hits on runways and several buildings.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s, B‑26’s, and B‑25’s attack Rabaul and Lae.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Legislation establishing Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is enacted.

AUSTRALIA—U.S. 32d Division arrives.

BURMA—British Imperial forces withdrawing from Burma reach Tamu, Assam.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 13 May 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Bureau of Navigation is renamed Bureau of Naval Personnel.

PACIFIC—Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Shonan Maru northeast of Mikimoto, Honshu, 34°00'N, 139°00'E.

            RAAF Hudsons bomb Japanese shipping off Ambon, N.E.I., sinking auxiliary Taifoku Maru and damaging gunboat Taiko Maru.

            Japanese merchant cargo vessel Nagasaki Maru is sunk by Japanese mine off Nagasaki, Japan.

ATLANTIC—French agree to immobilize aircraft carrier Béarn, light cruiser Emile Bertin, and training cruiser Jeanne D'Arc at Martinique, French West Indies.

            Unarmed U.S. freighter Norlantic is shelled by German submarine U-69 while en route to Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, from Pensacola, Florida, 12°13'N, 66°30'W; U-69 continues to shell the freighter as the latter's crew abandon ship. U-69 then torpedoes Norlantic and sinks her. Six of the freighter's 29 man crew perish in the attack (two below in the engine room and four trying to launch boats under fire); one sailor will die of wounds (see 16 and 24 May, and 19 June)

GULF OF MEXICO—Unarmed U.S. tanker Gulfprince is attacked by German submarine U-506 approximately six miles south of the Ship Shoals (Louisiana) Sea Bouy, 28°32'N, 91°00'W, but Gulfprince is skillfully handled and evades the first two torpedoes. The second pair only strike a glancing blow and Gulfprince escapes to reach New Orleans without further incident. Later, U-506 torpedoes and sinks unarmed tanker Gulfpenn at 28°29'N, 89°12'W; 12 men die in the initial explosion or perish with the ship. Of the 26 survivors, one dies of his injuries. Coast Guard plane directs Honduran freighter Telde toward the position of the survivors, and the merchantman rescues them. Still later, U-506 torpedoes U.S. freighter David McKelvy approximately 35 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi, 28°30'N, 89°55'W; explosion ignites the ship's cargo of 81,000 barrels of crude oil and forces the crew to abandon ship. U-506 retires without expending further torpedoes, apparently thinking the freighter doomed. Coast Guard cutter Boutwell (WPC-130) rescues survivors (see 14 and 29 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Flying personnel of 15th Bomb Squadron, the first US bomb unit sent to UK, arrive at Newport, UK, without aircraft.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s and B‑26’s hit shipping and airfield at Rabaul.

US ARMY

FIJI ISLANDS—Americans relieve New Zealand forces of responsibility for Fiji Islands. and prepare to reinforce positions there.

AUSTRALIA—Rear echelon of U.S. 41st Division arrives.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 12 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine S-44 (SS-155) torpedoes and sinks Japanese repair ship Shoei Maru 15 miles southwest of Cape St. George, 05°06'S, 152°30'E, and survives counterattacks by her victim's escort. Shoei Maru had been en route to try and salvage the damaged minelayer Okinoshima. Attempt to save Okinoshima (damaged the previous day by submarine S-42), by transport Kinryu Maru and destroyer Mochizuki, fails, and the doomed minelayer sinks.

GULF OF MEXICO—Unarmed U.S. tanker Virginia is torpedoed by German submarine U-507 as the former lies-to approximately one and a half miles off Southwest Pass, Louisiana, 28°53'N, 89°29'W, awaiting the arrival of a pilot. The explosion of the second and third torpedoes ignites the tanker's cargo (150,000 barrels of gasoline), and the rapid spread of the fire prevents the crew from launching boats or rafts. Of Virginia's 41 man crew, 27 perish in the inferno. Motor torpedo boat PT-157 rescues the 14 survivors.

ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker Esso Houston is torpedoed by German submarine U-162 approximately 150 miles east of Barbados,12°12'N, 57°24'W, and abandoned. After the U-boat has administered the coup de grace to the tanker, she surfaces nearby and her commanding officer offers assistance, helpfully informing the ship's master that one of the lifeboats is sinking. Survivors (38 man civilian complement and 4 man Armed Guard) congregate in two lifeboats (see 14 and 17May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—39 officers and 348 enlisted men of HQ and the bomber, fighter, and service commands arrive at High Wycombe, UK, where VIII Interceptor Command sets up HQ.

TENTH AF—Heavy Bombers fly their first mission in direct defense of air cargo line to China when 4 B‑17’s from Dum Dum airfield heavily damage runways and set fire to several parked aircraft at Myitkyina. Myitkyina, which fell to the Japanese on 8 May, poses serious fighter threat to Allied base at Dinjan.

US ARMY

BURMA—Japanese force heading for Kengtung crosses the Salween.

USSR—While Germans continue Crimean offensive toward Kerch, Red Army opens 2-pronged attack toward Kharkov, thrusting SW across upper Donets on N and northward from Izyum salient on S. Attack at first goes well.

UNITED KINGDOM—First large detachment of U.S. Eighth Air Force arrives.

US MARINE CORPS

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