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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