Wednesday, 6 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Corregidor and Manila Bay forts surrender to the Japanese. To deny the enemy use of river gunboats Oahu (PR-6)and Luzon (PR-7) and minesweeper Quail (AM-15), the ships are scuttled off Corregidor, 14°23'N, 120°35'E. Lost to Japanese occupation of the Philippines are district patrol craft YP-97; ash lighters YA-52, YA-59, and YA-65; miscellaneous district auxiliaries YAG-2, YAG-3, and YAG-4; open lighters YC-178, YC-181, YC-537, YC-643, YC-644, YC-646, YC-647, YC-648, YC-649, YC-652, YC-653, YC-654, YC-669, YC-683, YC-714, YC-715, and YC-716; floating derricks YD-19, YD-47, YD-56, and YD-60; covered lighters YF-177, YF-178, YF-179, YF-180, YF-181, YF-212, YF-223, YF-224, YF-230, and YF-317; ferry launches San Felipe (YFB-12), Rosal (YFB-682), Camia (YFB-683), Dap Dap (YFB-684), Rivera (YFB-685), Magdalena (YFB-687) and Yacal (YFB-688); dredge YM-4; fuel oil barge YO-64; pile driver YP-D 22; salvage pontoons YSP-41, YSP-42, YSP-43, YSP-44, YSP-45, YSP-46, YSP-47,YSP-48, YSP-49, and YSP-50; sludge removal barge YSR-2; harbor tugs Banaag (YT-104), Iona (YT-107), and Mercedes (YT-108); and water barge YW-54.

            Fitted out with weapons, ammunition, provisions and clothing scrounged from abandoned Navy-commandeered tug Ranger, commanding officer, one other officer, and 16 men in 36-foot motor launch from Quail (AM-15) escape Manila Bay.

            Submarine Skipjack (SS-184) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Kanan Maru about 26 miles northeast of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 12°33'N, 109°30'E.

            Submarine Triton (SS-201), attacking Japanese convoy north-northeast of Keelung, Formosa, sinks cargo ship Taiei Maru, 28°42'N, 123°50'E, and transport/cargo ship Taigen Maru, 28°19'N, 123°28'E.

            Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Nawiliwili, Kauai, T.H., is established.

ATLANTIC—Auxiliary Semmes (AG-24) is damaged when she accidentally rams and sinks British (ex-French) armed trawler HMS Senateur Duhamel off Cape Lookout, North Carolina, 34°32.7'N, 75°35.6'W.

            Net tender Mulberry (YN-22) rescues all 46 survivors from U.S. freighter Afoundria, sunk by German submarine U-108 on 5 May.

            Unarmed U.S. tanker Halsey is torpedoed by German submarine U-333, northeast of Jupiter Inlet, Florida, 27°14'N,80°03'W, and abandoned by all hands (32 men). The ship explodes and breaks in two. Submarine chaser PC-451 proceeds to the survivors' assistance but breaks off her efforts to conduct an unsuccessful pursuit of U-333. Local fishing boats ultimately tow Halsey's two lifeboats to the Gilbert Bar Lifeboat Station.

            Fishing boat Ocean Star rescues last survivor of U.S. freighter Eastern Sword, torpedoed by German submarine U-162 on 4 May.

            Steamship San Blas rescues 23 survivors of U.S. tanker Norlindo, sunk by German submarine U-507 on 4 May.

            Yacht Coral (PY-15) shells and scuttles fire-gutted U.S. tanker Joseph M. Cudahy, attacked by German submarine U-507 on 5 May, as a menace to navigation.

GULF OF MEXICO—Unarmed U.S. freighter Alcoa Puritan is shelled by German submarine U-507 at 28°40'N, 88°22'W, and abandoned by all hands (47 man crew and 7 passengers). After the U-boat delivers the coup de grace to Alcoa Puritan with a torpedo, the submarine comes to within 100 yards of the survivors. "Sorry we can't help you," an officer shouts through a megaphone, "hope you get ashore." Coast Guard cutter Boutwell (WPC-130) rescues Alcoa Puritan’s survivors later the same day.

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. freighter Green Island is torpedoed by German submarine U-125, while en route from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Aruba, N.W.I., 18°25'N, 81°30'W, and abandoned by her 22 man crew. Although her men reboard her later in the day, Green Island is beyond salvage and sinks (see 7 May).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS—Corregidor surrenders. All US organized resistance to Japanese in  Philippine Islands ends.

TENTH AF—Mingaladon airfield is hit for second consecutive night. 3 B‑17’s score direct hits on fuel dump at the field.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s unsuccessfully attack shipping in Bougainville area.

US ARMY

CORAL SEA—Continuing search for enemy vessels, Admiral Fletcher’s TF moves toward Louisiade Archipelago, leaving DD Sims and tanker Neosho behind at fueling point.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General Wainwright surrenders all forces in the Philippines to Japanese unconditionally. Surrender negotiations are begun at 1030 and continued until midnight, when surrender document is signed. On Corregidor, Japanese seize Malinta Tunnel and land additional troops. Garrison of 11,000 surrenders. On Mindanao, Japanese resume attack, moving into Tankulan and pushing on toward Dalirig, which comes under artillery fire.

BURMA—Chinese 200th Division plus elements of T-55th, still at Taunggyi, are ordered to Myitkyina and eventually make their way to China.

LIBERIA—Initial detachment of U.S. forces arrives in Liberia.

MADAGASCAR—British hold northern ports of Diego Suarez and Antsirene.

US MARINE CORPS

Japanese capture Corregidor.