Air Operations, Australia

P-40 pilots of the 49th Pursuit Group's 7th Pursuit Squadron shoot down a Japanese G4M 'Betty' bomber and 4 A6M 'Zeros' over Horn Island (Darwin) around 1300 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

6 Bostons are sent on shipping sweeps off Le Havre.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

The RAF carries out a night raid on Rhodes. Some bombs are mistakenly dropped on Milas, Turkey 113 km to the east.

Air Operations, North Africa

Benghazi is hit in another bombing raid by the RAF.

Allied Planning

The Chief of Staffs Committee decides to maintain defensive positions in the Pacific theater and proceed with the build-up of American forces in Britain for the opening of a second front against the Axis in Europe.

Australia

The first convoy with US troops arrives in Australia disembarking about 30,000 soldiers. Since March 2, all physically fit Australian adult male civilians have been eligible for war service.

Australia Begins Preparations to Defend Itself

The challenge of war led to new perspectives on Britain for the countries within the Commonwealth. The war was challenging the established power relationships between nations. While in Britain there was shock at the loss of Singapore, an omen for the loss of Empire, in Australia there was a much more pressing realisation – that there was a real threat of invasion of Australia itself. John Curtin, Australian Prime Minister now signalled a realignment of loyalties. It was a practical response to the reality of the situation – who was best placed to stand beside Australia. From North Africa Australian troops, from the 6th and 7th Divisions, were now pulled back to defend the homeland, Curtin refused to allow Australian troops to be diverted to defend Burma. The 9th Division would continue to distinguish itself in the Desert war – but would not participate when the war returned to the European mainland. Thousands of Australian airmen in the RAF and RAAF would continue the fight against Germany until the end.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Unarmed US collier Lemuel Burrows is torpedoed and sunk by U-404 off Atlantic City, New Jersey. Survivors are picked by the US freighters Sewalls Point and James Elwood Jones>

China

Maj-Gen L. E. Dennys, British military advisor to Chiang Kai-shek, is killed in an air crash near Chungking.

Germany, Planning

Hitler orders terror attacks, Terrorangriffe, against British provincial towns.

Malta

There are more Axis raids on Ta Venezia and Hal Far.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean

• Over the next 4 days 3 Italian submarines are sunk by the British submarines, the Tricheco by the Unbeaten on the 17th, Ultimatum and Upholder.
• U-133 is sunk when it strays into a German minefield because of a navigational error with the loss of her entire crew.

  U-133

  Class	Type VIIC
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Eberhard Mohr
  Location	Mediterranean, off Salamis
  Cause	Mine
  Casualties	45
  Survivors	None

North Sea

• German MTBs lay mines and engage some British light naval forces in the North Sea. 2 E-boats are lost and the British destroyer Vortigern is sunk by German motor torpedo boat S-104 off Cromer. 145 of the crew are lost, 14 survivors are picked up by the British patrol sloop Guillemot.
• The German steamer Kellerwald (5032t) sinks on a mine in German waters.

Philippines

Gen MacArthur and his staff arrive on Mindanao.

Vichy France

Pétain names Laval as premier.