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.

Monday, 11 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—In the wake of the Battle of the Coral Sea, oiler Neosho (AO-23), damaged and adrift since 7 May and deemed beyond salvage, is scuttled by torpedoes and gunfire of destroyer Henley (DD-391), which rescues survivors from Neosho and Sims (DD-409). Among those men is the injured Chief Water tender Oscar V. Peterson, who dies of his wounds.

            Submarine S-42 (SS-153) torpedoes Japanese minelayer Okinoshima west of Buka Island, Solomons, 05°06'S,153°48'E (see 12 May).

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Oridono Maru is sunk by Japanese mine near Surabaya, Java, 07°00'S, 112°40'E.

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. motor tanker Aurora, torpedoed and shelled by German submarine U-506 the previous day, is brought to Southwest Pass, Louisiana, under tow of Coast Guard tug Tuckahoe (WYT-89). Civilian tug Robert W. Wilmot aids Tuckahoe but Aurora drifts onto a shoal at the entrance of the Pass. Subsequently, however, Aurora is salvaged and returns to service as Jamestown.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—The transport Andes docks in UK, carrying about 1,800 personnel for various Eighth AF units. This is first large shipment of AAF troops to UK.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack shipping at Kessa in N Solomons while B‑26’s hit seaplane base at Deboyne Island.

US ARMY

CHINA—In retaliation for the Doolittle raid, Japanese launch strong drive in Chekiang Province.

MEDITERRANEAN—3 of 4 British DD’s attempting to halt enemy convoy are lost to Axis aircraft.

US MARINE CORPS

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