US NAVY
MEDITERRANEAN—Operation CALENDAR: carrier Wasp (CV-7),
as part of the effort to reinforce fighter defenses of the embattled British
island of Malta, launches 47 RAF Spitfires. Within four days, however, heavy
German bombing raids on the besieged isle’s airfields reduce the number of
flyable Spitfires to six, necessitating a second ferry mission (see 9 May).
ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter West Imboden, her
presence advertised by an accidental fire in her stack, is torpedoed by German
submarine U-752 about 200 miles off Nantucket lightship, 41°14'N,
65°54'W, and abandoned as she is being shelled by the U-boat. U-752 nears
one of the lifeboats and asks about casualties. "That's good," one
German officer responds when told that the American merchant sailors have come
through unharmed.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
FIFTH AF—General Brett assumes command of Allied AF, which
has units based in N and E Australia, with advanced facilities in the Port
Moresby area.
US ARMY
VISAYAN ISLANDS—Japanese
conquest of Visayan Islands. is virtually completed. Cebu and Panay are in
enemy hands, although guerrillas continue to hold out in mountain areas. Small
garrisons in hills of Negros, Samar, Leyte, and Bohol are too weak to interfere
with enemy plans.
BURMA—Chinese 38th Division troops withdraw northward from
Yenangyaung toward Gwegyo and cover retreat of Burma 1st Division toward Mt
Popa area. In Sittang Valley, Chinese 5th Army troops fall back northward from
Pyinmana. Japanese continue active in vicinity of Loikaw. Taunggyi-Meiktila
road is left undefended as Chinese withdraw toward Hopong, closely followed by
Japanese. 2 Battalions of Chinese 93d Division reach Loikaw area but return at
once to Kengtung. Chinese 49th Division is ordered to move W.
US MARINE CORPS
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