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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