Wednesday, 29 April 1942

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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