Chronology of World War II

March 1942

Sunday, March 15

Air Operations, CBI

A 3rd AVG Fighter Squadron P-40 down an A5M 'Claude' fighter near Nyunglabin, Burma at 1615 hours.

[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

BOMBER COMMAND
  • 6 Bostons are sent on shipping sweeps off Brittany.
  • 3 Blenheims are sent to Dutch airfields. Schiphol airfield is attacked with no losses.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Battle of the Atlantic

  • Coast Guard lighthouse tender Acacia (WAGL-300) is shelled and sunk by U-161 south of Haiti.
  • The unarmed US tanker Ario (6952t) is torpedoed, shelled and sunk by the German submarine U-158 11 southwest of Cape Lookout. The destroyer Dupont (DD-152) rescues the 29 survivors of the 36-man crew.
  • U-158 next sinks the US tanker Olean (7118t) about 13 miles south of Cape Lookout. Coast Guard motor lifeboats from Cape Lookout and Fort Mason stations rescue the 33 survivors.
  • Land-based naval aircraft (VP-82) sink U-503 in the North Atlantic.

    • U-503

    ClassType IXC
    CO Kapitänleutnant Otto Gericke
    Location Atlantic, SW of Newfoundland
    Cause Air attack
    Casualties 51
    Survivors None
    [rarrrarr | rarrrarr2]

    Burma

    Gen Stilwell is officially notified that the Commander-in-Chief of operations in Burma is still the British Gen Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces in India. There has arisen some disagreement about spheres of authority.

    [larrlarr | rarrrarr2]

    Eastern Front

    GERMAN CASUALTIES

    Since January 1 the Ostheer has suffered 240,000 casualties, an average loss rate of 3,200 men per day.

    [rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

    Germany, Home Front

    In Berlin, Hitler declares that Russia will be 'annihilatingly defeated' in the coming summer. He says: 'The Bolshevist masses which were not able to conquer the German and allied soldier in the winter, will be beaten in every direction in the summer.' He blames the halt of the German thrust on the exceptionally early winter. German casualties since the start of the year have now reached 250,000.

    [larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

    Mediterranean

    The cruisers, Dido and Euryalus, with 6 destroyers bombard the harbor of Rhodes.

    German 1800kg ‘Satan’ Bomb (NWMA Malta)


    German 1800kg ‘Satan’ Bomb

    Mass bombing returns to Malta today as the enemy responds to the recent success of Spitfires against their raiders. The city of Valletta became a specific target for the first time this year. The Luftwaffe chose the heaviest bomb carried by Junkers aircraft for their mission: the two-ton ‘Satan’. In five raids on the capital, German bombers dropped over 15000 kg of high explosive bombs on the streets, killing twelve civilians and one serviceman on leave.

    Observers report that the number of aircraft in each raid has risen significantly. Fighter escorts have increased in size, to outnumber the Island’s modest Spitfire force and overcome their recent success rate.

    [larr2larr | rarrrarr2]
    Luftwaffe armorers are cleaning the barrels of the Messerschmitt Me-109 fighter machine guns parked in the background. North Africa, 15 March 1942.

    Armorers Are Cleaning the Barrels of an Me-109


    Armorers Are Cleaning

    Norway, Home Front

    A group of Norwegian patriots seize the Oslo-Bergen ship Galtesund, and sail her to a British port arriving on March 17th.

    [rarr | rarr]

    Norwegian Sea

    The German steamer Nicole Schiaffino (4969t) is sunk by a torpedo near Tromsø.

    [larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

    Philippines

    In the Bay of Manila the Japanese artillery is reinforced and pounds the fortified islands day after day. This intensified fire continues until March 21.

    [rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

    United States, Home Front

    Rachel Field, author of All This and Heaven Too, dies at the age of 47.

    [larr2larr | rarrrarr2]
    [March 14th - March 16th]