May 16, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 16 MAY 1942

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): HQ 10th Air Force completes its move from the US to New Delhi. B-17's again strike at Myitkyina Airfield pounds runways and buildings. Subsequent reconnaissance indicates that the runways are unusable.

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (SOPAC, 7th Air Force): 68th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group transfers from Amberly Field to Tongatabu with P-40's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-26's and and B-17's hit Lae Airfield and storehouses at Lae. 3rd BG B-25s fly two sorties against Lae. The morning strike took off at 6:00am armed with twleve 100 lbs bombs. Led by led by Cpt. H. F. Lowery. Over Salamaua bad weather was encountered and the first flight split off in search of enemy shipping. Lt. Feltham assumed the lead and by following the coastline from Salamaua to Lae succeeded in wading the worst of bad tropical thunderstorms. Breaking out of a storm the flight spotted Lae ­ five miles ahead, just as Zeros took off to intercept them head on. The bombing run was made at 800' against anti-aircraft positions and supply dumps at Lae. After the attack the formation was scattered and returned individually. In an afternoon sortie, the B-25s return to bomb Lae Airfield again from 2,400', lost on the return flight is B-25C Mitchell 41-12478 pilot 2nd Lt. John D. Feltham force lands at Aiyary Airfield. Also bombers hit Deboyne Seaplane Base. 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Sidney to Daly Waters, Australia with B-17's.