Air Operations, Europe

• 24 Bostons are sent on a daylight raid on Le Havre attacking ships in the harbor. 1 Boston is lost.
• 104 Wellingtons and 11 Stirlings are sent to Essen. Heavy Flak is encountered over the target area along with night fighters along the routes. 10 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling are lost. Hits on the Krupp factory and fires in Essen are claimed but the raid is another failure. Essen reports receiving only 22 high-explosive bombs that destroy 2 houses. 6 people are killed and 14 are injured while the bombing force suffers nearly 10 per cent casualties.
• In minor operations, 8 aircraft are sent to Le Havre, 11 Blenheims intruding over Holland, 36 planes lay mines off Wilhelmshaven, in the Frisians and in the Gironde River, and 15 aircraft on leaflet missions over France. 2 Blenheim Intruders and 2 Hampden minelayers are lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The American 'Q-ship' Atik (AK-101), a disguised anti U-boat hunter, is sunk in a fierce gun duel with U-boat U-123.
• The unarmed US tanker Dixie Arrow (8046t), heading for Paulsboro, New Jersey, is torpedoed and sunk by U-71 about 12 miles off Diamond Shoals, North Carolina. The US destroyer Tarbell (DD-142) rescues 22 survivors; 11 sailors are lost in the attack.

The tanker Dixie Arrow burns off the North Carolina coast on 26 March 1942 after being torpedoed. (National Archive Photo)

The Tanker Dixie Arrow Torpedoed off North Carolina

• The Panamanian freighter Equipoise (6210t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-160 about 60 miles southeast of Cape Henry, Virginia.

Britain, Home Front

For reasons not readily apparent to most people at the time, Churchill declares, 'It now seems very likely that we and our Allies cannot lose this war... except through our own fault.'

Burma

Part of the town of Toungoo is now under Japanese control. A Chinese division is sent to reinforce the 200th Div, still fighting in the town and on the outskirts.

Eastern Front

The Soviets renew their offensive on the Kerch peninsula, but immediately their leading units encounter strong resistance and suffer heavy casualties.

Germany, Home Front

Fritz Sauckel is appointed General Commissioner for the Employment of Labor.

German Destroyer Z-26 Sinking in the Barents Sea. 26 March 1942. (Photo-Vladimir Tarnovski)

Z-26, Flag Still Flying, Rolling Over and Sinking in the Barents Sea

The Norwegian steamer Talabot is hit just after noon on 26 March 1942. The ship was set on fire and was later scuttled to prevent her ammunition exploding and causing heavy damage to the towns in the proximity.

Norwegian steamer Talabot Hit by Torpedo

Mediterranean

• U-652 sinks the British destroyer Jaguar with two torpedoes north of Sollum. 3 officers and 190 ratings are lost. 8 officers and 45 ratings are picked up by the British whaler Klo and taken to Tobruk.
• U-205 sinks the British fleet oiler Slavol (2,623t) off Sidi Barani, Egypt. 36 of the crew are lost, 20 survivors are picked up by the Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga.

United States, Command

Adm Ernest J. King is named Chief of Naval Operations succeeding Adm Harold R. Stark as the ranking naval officer. His chief assistants are Vice-Adm Frederick J. Horne, Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Vice-Adm R. Wilson, Chief of Staff.

United States, Home Front

In an accidental explosion of 21 tons of Gelignite at a Pennsylvania quarry 31 people are killed.

United States, Policy

• Roosevelt orders a speedup in the shipment of supplies to the Soviet Union.
• The US Navy is given operational control over US Army Air Forces in conducting antisubmarine patrols.
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