US NAVY
PACIFIC—Japanese naval force (3d Kure Special Landing
Force) occupies former RAAF seaplane base at Tulagi, Solomons (see 3-4 May).
Japanese
seize Parang and Cotabato, Mindanao.
ATLANTIC—First coastal convoy leaves New York for the
Delaware River.
Off Frying
Pan Shoals, British steamship Pacific Exporter rescues 27 survivors
(including the remaining four Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter Steel
Maker, sunk by German submarine U-136 on 19 April (see 18 May).
U.S.
tanker Mobileoil, proceeding alone, is torpedoed and sunk by German
submarine U-108 about 350 miles northwest of Turks Island, at 26°10'N,
66°15'W; all hands (43 man merchant crew and 9 man Armed Guard) survive the
loss of the ship (see 2 May).
CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. tanker Federal, bound for
Banes, Cuba, is shelled and sunk by German submarine U-507 at
21°13'N,76°05'W; heavy close-range fire from the U-boat's guns kill four
crewman and wound one of the 33 man merchant complement, as well as destroy one
lifeboat and prevent the tanker's crew from launching a second. U.S. Army
transport Yarmouth arrives on the scene soon thereafter but only circles
the survivors; fishing boats from Gibara, Cuba, rescue Federal's survivors
from rafts while the one boat that was launched follows the Cuban boats to
shore. The one wounded man dies subsequently.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
TENTH AF—Rangoon is again hit by a flight of Heavy Bombers
which pound dock area.
US ARMY
SOUTH PACIFIC—Admiral
King establishes South Pacific Amphibious Force (primarily 1st Marine Division).
PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—On Mindanao, Japanese begin offensive to
clear the island. Force of 4,852 men from Cebu lands on W coast at Cotabato and
Parang and takes both towns despite opposition of a Battalion of 104th Infantry,
101st Division (PA), at Cotabato and of 2d Infantry of 1st Division (PA) at
Parang; 3d Battalion of 102d Infantry is unable to prevent elements of the
Parang force from establishing contact with the Cotabato force. Enemy detachment
already on Mindanao, having been relieved at Davao, turns NW toward Sayre
Highway, which extends from Kabacan on S to Bugo on N. The E and the W assault
forces both have air support. Preinvasion air and artillery bombardment of Corregidor
becomes intense.
NEW GUINEA—Japanese order landing at Port Moresby.
BURMA—Japanese overrun Lashio, terminus of Burma Road, the
only land route to China, just as leading elements of Chinese 29th Division,
66th Army, arrive there. Blockade of China is thus completed. Chinese 200th Division
reaches Loilem; subsequently withdraws from this area to China. General Alexander
decides to make a stand on line Kalewa–Katha–Bhamo–Hsenwi and orders withdrawal
to this line to begin on 2 May.
MIDDLE EAST—General Auchinleck issues operation instructions
to commanders of British Ninth and Tenth Armies for action in the event of
enemy attack through Anatolia.
US MARINE CORPS
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