Thursday, May 21, 2026

Thursday, 21 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—North Pacific Force (Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald) is established for operations in Alaskan sector.

            Destroyer Helm (DD-388) rescues four survivors from Neosho (AO-23) that had abandoned ship when the oiler was damaged on 7 May.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Plow City, en route from Trinidad to New York, mistakes lifeboat from British motorship Peisander (sunk by German submarine U-653 on 17 May) and flees, her smoke attracting the attention of U-588, which torpedoes and sinks Plow City at 39°08'N, 69°57'W. One crewman dies in the attack. U-588 briefly interrogates one crewman on board the submarine before returning him to his shipmates with rum and cigarettes; U-boat sailors also help the Americans right a capsized lifeboat (see 26 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s bomb aircraft at Lae.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald, as commander of TF 8, becomes responsible for all forces, U.S. Army and naval and Canadian, in Alaska area.

GERMANY—Adolf Hitler decides to postpone projected conquest of Malta, Operation HERCULES, until Egypt is conquered.

US MARINE CORPS

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