Sunday, 31 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese midget submarines from submarines I-22, I-24, and I-27 penetrate the defenses of Sydney, Australia. Their torpedoes near-miss U.S. heavy cruiser Chicago (CA-29) but sink RAN accommodation ship Kuttabul and damage Dutch submarine K IX beyond economical repair. Three Japanese midget submarines are lost in the attack.

            Submarine Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.5 Shunsei Maru off Murotosan, 31°38'N,133°45'E.

INDIAN OCEAN—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-10 reconnoiters Diego Suarez.

CARIBBEAN—Submarine Grunion (SS-216) rescues survivors of U.S. Army-chartered freighter Jack, sunk by German submarine U-155 about 100 miles southwest of Port Saluit, Haiti, 17°36'N, 74°42'W. Three of the 9 man Armed Guard are lost.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack Lae and Salamaua.

SEVENTH AF—B‑17’s on detached service at Midway begin search operations.

ELEVENTH AF—54th Fighter Squadron (P‑38’s) arrives at Elmendorf.

US ARMY

LIBYA—Axis forces begin assault on Sidi Muftah, detached strongpoint of 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, and are engaged by 150th Brigade of 50th Division, to whom armored assistance is rushed. Later, 13 Corps begins preliminary phase of general counterattack but makes little headway.

US MARINE CORPS

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