US NAVY
PACIFIC—Naval Air Transport Service Squadron (VR) 2 is
established at Alameda, California, for operations in the Pacific. Japanese
occupy Buka Island, Solomons.
Submarine Seawolf
(SS-197) torpedoes Japanese light cruiser Naka off Christmas Island,
10°00'S, 105°00'E.
British
submarine HMS Truant sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Yae Maru and
Shunsei Maru in Malacca Strait, 80 miles west-northwest of Penang,
Malaya, 05°42'N, 98°57'E.
ATLANTIC—District patrol vessel YP-52 rescues 42
survivors of U.S. tanker Tiger, torpedoed by German submarine U-754 late
the previous day. Coast Guard cutter Jackson (WPC-142) and Merritt,
Chapman, and Scott salvage tug Relief take the damaged ship in tow (see
2 April).
US ARMY AIR FORCE
ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Air Corps Proving Ground becomes
Proving Ground Command, with main base at Eglin Field.
US ARMY
UNITED STATES—Pacific
War Council holds its first meeting at Washington, D.C.
NEW GUINEA—Japanese from Netherlands East Indies land at a number
of points on Dutch New Guinea coast, from Sorong on NW tip to Hollandia, during
period 1–20 April; landings are virtually unopposed.
BURMA—CinC India, visiting front, agrees to immediate
withdrawal of Burma I Corps to Allanmyo area, N of Prome. Japanese continue to
press in on Prome.
IRAQ—Dock construction project at Umm Qasr is begun after
cargo of City of Dalhart is unloaded.
USSR—Stalemate exists along entire line. Germans of Army
Group North are largely concerned during the month with extricating II
Corps of Sixteenth Army from pocket SE of Staraya Russa.
US MARINE CORPS
Japanese occupy Buka Island, Solomons.
