WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL 1942
US goverment begins the relocation of Japanese-Americans to interment camps
in the United States.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): During Apr, HQ 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons
, 27th Bombardment Group, are established at Charters
Towers, Australia; ground echelon remains on Bataan.
Bougainville - Japanese occupy Buka
Island, Solomons
THURSDAY, 2 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Major General Lewis H Brereton, Commanding General 10th
Air Force, leads 3 B-17's on a raid on shipping in the Andaman Islands off
the S
coast of Burma during the night of 2/3 Apr; they claim hits on 1 cruiser and
a transport; 2 B-17's are damaged by AA and fighters, but all return to base.
Earlier in the evening, a mission scheduled against the Rangoon, Burma
area is aborted when 1 B-17 crashes on takeoff and the other has mechanical
trouble.
FRIDAY, 3 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): 6 B-17's from Asansol, India, bomb warehouses and docks at
Rangoon, Burma, starting 3 large fires; 1 B-17 fails to return. (SWPA, 5th Air
Force): 21st and 22d Transport Squadrons, Air Transport Command, US Army Forces
in Australia, are activated at Archerfield and Essendon Airdrome, Australia
respectively with various transport aircraft. 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor),
35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Mount Gambier to Williamstown,
Australia with P-39's; first mission is 2 June.
SATURDAY, 4 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 36th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit Group
(Interceptor), transfers from Lowood to Townsville,
Australia with P-39's and P-400's; first mission is 30 Apr.
SUNDAY, 5 APRIL 1942
Manus is occupied by Japanese
CEYLON - At dawn 125 aircraft under the command of Commander Mitsuo Fuchida of the Akagi attacks Colombo on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) with a force comprised 36 Val dive bombers, 53 Kate attack bombers, and an escort of 36 Zeros, attacking the harbor as their principal target. Admiral Nagumo kept the rest of his force, approximately another 180 aircraft, in reserve as a second wave, to be launched once Fuchida had confirmed the location of the Eastern Fleet, his principle target. RAF launched two squadrons of RAF Hurricanes and two Navy Fulmars to intercept. The Eastern Fleet was not in port, but the Japanese sank 2 cruisers (HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall), 1 carrier, and several merchant vessels and destroyer HMS Tenedos, Nagumo's forces returns to the Singapore Straits.
MONDAY, 6 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): 10 DC-3's of Pan American Airways begin hauling 30,000 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of lubricants from Calcutta to
the airstrip at Asansol, India, completing the mission on the following day.
This fuel, subsequently transferred via Dinjan, India to China, is for use by
Lieutenant Colonel James H Doolittle's Tokyo raiders, already at sea aboard
the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8).
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), begin a transfer without personnel and equipment to the US. They
will be established at Columbia, AAB, South Carolina on 26 Apr, be re-equipped
with B-25's and transfer to India in Jul 42.
TUESDAY, 7 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): During the night of 6/7 the Japanese break the Philippine
II Corps front on Bataan, necessitating immediate removal of all remaining
fighters to Mindanao, where for the next 3 days they will fly reconnaissance,
cover heavy bombers (sent to Mindanao from Australia) operating against concentrations
at Legaspi, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, and carry out a strafing attack aircraft
at Davao. After the heavy bombers return to Australia on 12 Apr, the fighters
will continue to fly reconnaissance until Japanese forces envelop the troops
on Mindanao on 1 May. In New Guinea, nine 3rd BG A-24s escorted by six P-40E of RAAF 75 Squadron bomb Lae. Lost is A-24 41-15798
HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 2nd Bombardment Squadron transfers
from Ipswich to Townsville with B-26's; first mission is 8 Apr. 8th Photographic Squadron, Fifth
Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces) arrives at Melbourne, Australia from
the US with F-4's; 2 flights remain at March Field, Riverside, California until
16 Jun. 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium),
transfers from Brisbane to Townsville, Australia
with B-26's; first mission is 21 Apr. 33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d
Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Ipswich to Antil Plains with B-26's; first mission was 6 Apr.
WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): The air echelons of the 3d, 17th and 20th Pursuit Squadrons
(Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), and 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons
(Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) [attached to 24th Pursuit Group
(Interceptor)] based on Bataan, begin operating from Mindanao, Philippine Islands with whatever aircraft are left.
THURSDAY, 9 APRIL 1942
Philippines - Japanese capture Bataan after 3 months.
The US-Philippine forces surrender unconditionally. The voice of Freedom radio
station makes its last broadcast in the Philippines, saying, "Bataan has
fallen, but the spirt that made it stand... cannot fail." Japanese artillery
emplaced on Bataan opens fire on Corregidor in conjunction with air attacks.
Australia - 2nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium),
transfers from Townsville to Reid River with B-26's; first mission was yesterday. 7th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor),
49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Bankstown to Batchelor Field, Australia with P-40's; they
have been in combat since 14 Mar.
CEYLON - IJN aircraft attack Trincomalee HMAS Vampire sunk by Japanese planes off the coast of Ceylon.
FRIDAY, 10 APRIL 1942
USN - A reorganization of the Pacific Fleet abolished the Battle and Scouting
Forces and set up new type commands for ships and aviation. With the change,
titles of the aviation type commands became Carriers, Pacific, and Patrol Wings,
Pacific.
SATURDAY, 11 APRIL 1942
RAAF - After a sweep over Lae, Lost is P-40E A29-38 that force lands on the beach near Salamaua.
5th AF - 22nd BG B-26 attack Lakunai Drome near Rabaul. Lost is B-26 40-1418 that force lands on the return flight. Its crew return to their unit on May 28th. 3rd BG A-24s bomb Lae, lost is A-24 Dive Bomber 41-15773.
SUNDAY, 12 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Royce
Mission Australia-based B-25's, staging through Mindanao,
hit the harbor and shipping at Cebu while B-17's carry out single-bomber
strikes from Mindanao against Cebu Harbor and Nichols
Field. 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium),
22d Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Townsville to Reid River with B-26's; first mission is 21 Apr; 18th is redesignated
408th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Apr.
MONDAY, 13 APRIL 1942
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPOA, 7th Air Force): Vice Admiral Robert L Ghormley
is assigned as Commander-in-Chief South Pacific (COMSOPAC). He is to command
all
Allied base and local defense forces (land, sea, and air) in the South Pacific
Islands, with the exception of New Zealand land defenses.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Royce
Mission Australia-based B-25's hit targets in the Philippines for the second consecutive day. Staging through Del Monte Airfield, the B-25's
take off just after midnight during 12/13 Apr and bomb shipping at Cebu and installations at Davao. Later
in the day the B-25's again attack Davao, bombing the dock area. Lost is B-17E 41-2447.
5th AF - Seven A-24s of the 3rd BG escorted by 8 P-40Es of 75 Squadron attack Lae. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-15
TUESDAY, 14 APRIL 1942
WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 1942
THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): B-17's take off from Dum Dum Airfield near Calcutta, India
to bomb Rangoon, Burma. 6 B-17's, guided by flares, bomb the target; numerous
searchlights make it impossible to estimate the bombing results.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): HQ 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) transfers from Bankstown
to Darwin.
FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 49th Pursuit Group
(Interceptor), transfers from Canberra to Darwin,
Australia with P-40's; first mission is 20 Apr. A6M2 Zero piloted Sakai is lost on a mission to Port Moresby.
RAAF: Shot down is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-7.
BURMA - British engineers blow up Chinese and Allied oil fields in Burma, destroying
nearly 6,000 wells to keep them out of Japanese hands.
SATURDAY, 18 APRIL 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 18th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 28th Composite
Goup, transfers from Elmendorf Field to Ft Greely, Kodiak, Aleutian
with P-40's.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA): Doolittle Raid on Japan led by Lieutenant Colonel
J. H. Doolittle, USA, are the first attack on the Japanese homeland are made
at sea 668 miles from Tokyo. 16 B-25's launched from the aircraft carrier USS
Hornet (CV-8) carry out the first AAF attack on the Japanese mainland. The Hornet
sortied from Alameda 2 April, made rendezvous with Enterprise and other ships
of Task Force 16 (Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey) north of Hawaii,
and proceeded across the Pacific to the launching point without making port.
15 of the B-25's bomb in Japan, the principal targets being Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama,
and Nagoya. Since the bombers had to be launched earlier than scheduled they
are unable to reach planned bases in China and have to be crashlanded or abandoned,
15 in China and the other in the USSR. Participating are:
No 1 - 40-2344 (17th BG, 34th BS) piloted by Dolittle
No 2 - 40-2292 (17th BG, 37th BS)
No 3 - B-25B "Whiskey Pete" 40-2270 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 4 - 40-2282 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 5 - 40-2283 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 6 - B-25B "Green Hornet" 40-2298 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 7 - B-25B "Ruptured Duck" 40-2261
No 8 - 40-2242 (17th BG, 95th BS) *
No 9 - 40-2303 (17th BG, 34th BS) ***
No 10 - 40-2250 (17th BG, 89th RS) ***
No 11 - B-25B "Hari Carrier" 40-2249 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No 12 - 40-2278 (17th BG, 37th BS)
No 13 - 40-2247 (17th BG, 37th BS)
No 14 - 40-2297 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No 15 - B-25B "TNT" 40-2267 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No 16 - B-25B "The Bat " 40-2268 (17th BG, 34th BS)
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 5th Air Force units come under control of the Allied
Air Forces (SWPA) which is created in Australia to control AAF, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Dutch elements. HQ 19th
Bombardment Group transfers from Melbourne to Garbutt Field. Lost on a mission to bomb Lakunai Airfield and shipping in Simpson Harbor is B-26 40-1400.
RAAF - Hudsons attack Simpson Harbor. Sunk is Komaki Maru.
SUNDAY, 19 APRIL 1942
MONDAY, 20 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Major General George H Brett assumes command of the
Allied Air Forces, which has units based in N and E Australia, with advanced
facilities in the Port Moresby, New Guinea area. 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor),
35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Williamstown to Woodstock with P-39's; first mission is 2 Jun. Ground echelon of 70th Bombardment
Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Ballarat
to Amberley
Field, Australia; air echelon is still in the US with B-26's.
TUESDAY, 21 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Lost after a search mission, crashing into Mount Bartle Frere is B-25C 41-12486.
WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Aircraft begin to evacuate military and civilian personnel
and supplies from Burma to India. By 15 Jun the 10th Air Force has evacuated
4,499 passengers and 1,733,026 pounds (786,095 kg) of freight.
(SOPOA, 7th Air Force): A joint US-New Zealand Naval Command is ordered established
under Vice Admiral Robert L Ghormley. It is to operate separately but in close
liaison with General Douglas MacArthur and Vice Admiral Herbert F Leary.
Fiji Lost is P-39F 41-7104
Ditched on a training flight is A-20A "Strawberry Roam" 40-173
FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 1942
RAAF - Shot down near Port Moresby is P-40 A29-43.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Photographic Squadron, 5th Air Force (attached to
Allied Air Forces), transfers from Melbourne to Brisbane Australia with F-4's; first mission was 16 Apr. Lost on a ferry flight are: B-25C "Tojo's Nitemare" 41-129??, B-25C "Chattanooga Choo Choo" 41-129??, B-25C "Salvo Sadie" 41-129??.
In the morning, a substantial Japanese air raid destroyed two B-26s at 7-Mile Drome at Port Moresby. Also, PBY Catalina moored in the harbor, and three P-40E Kittyhawks from 75 Squadron were shot down.
USN - A new specification for color of naval aircraft went into effect. The
color of service aircraft remained non-specular light gray with non-specular
blue-gray on surfaces visible from above. Advanced trainers were to be finished
in glossy aircraft gray with glossy orange yellow on wing and aileron surfaces
visible from above while primary trainers were to be finished glossy orange-yellow
with gray landing gear.
SATURDAY, 25 APRIL 1942
DARWIN - Flying together for the first time, the 49th Pursuit Group downs 10
Japanese bombers and 3 Zero fighters over Darwin , Australia without incurring
any combat losses.
SUNDAY, 26 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 35th and 36th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit
Group (Interceptor), transfer from Brisbane and Townsville, Australia
respectively to Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-39's and P-400's; first mission
is 30 Apr.
MONDAY, 27 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Ground echelon of 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), transfers from Karachi to Lahabad, India; the air echelon is
at Baumrauli, India with B-17's.
TUESDAY, 28 APRIL 1942
Six Kittyhawks took off at 1036K to intercept eight Japanese bombers escorted by A6M2 Zeros over Port Moresby. From this combat, S/Ldr J F Jackson piloting P-40E A29-8 and F/Lt B M Cox piloting P-40E A29-47 failed to return. S/Ldr Jackson listed as killed, F/Lt Cox listed as missing. F/O Brereton was also wounded in this action, and his aircraft severley damaged, though returned to base. Lost is A6M2 Zero 1575, piloted by Yoshimitsu Maeda who is taken POW.
WEDNESDAY, 29 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Rangoon, Burma is again hit by a flight of B-17's which pound
the dock area.
THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): The Japanese capture Lashio, Burma and begin a move to drive
the Chinese back along the Burma Road toward China and drive US and British
forces back toward India.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): P-39's flying out of Port Moresby strafe airplanes and fuel dumps at Lae and Salamaua.
Lost are P-39D 41-6930 and P-39F 41-7128. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and ground echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron
(Medium) transfer from Ballarat to Amberley
Field, Australia; air echelon of the 69th is still in the US with B-26's.
71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers
from Ballarat to Batchelor Field, Australia with B-26's; first mission is 15
Sep.
Lost defending Port Moresby are: P-39D 41-6982 and P-39F 41-7186.
