Air Operations, Europe

161 aircraft including 93 Wellingtons, 31 Stirlings, 19 Whitleys, 11 Hampdens and 6 Manchesters are sent to the Baltic port town of Rostock in the first of 4 consecutive night raids. These raids had many of the characteristics of the successful raid on nearby Lübeck 1 month earlier - a concentrated, incendiary, area-bombing attack of a town with only light defences. An added feature on each night, however, is the inclusion of a small force of bombers to attempt a precision attack on the Heinkel aircraft factory on the southern outskirts of Rostock. On this first night, 143 aircraft are sent to bomb the town and 18 the Heinkel factory. Bombing conditions are good but the results of the raid are disappointing. The Heinkel factory ias not hit and most of the main bombing intended for the Altstadt fall between 2 and 6 miles away. 2 Wellingtons, 1 Manchester and 1 Whitley are lost on the raid.

Battle of the Atlantic

• During the next 12 days the first 'milch cow' U-boat U-459 refuels 14 other U-boats at a secret rendezvous 805 km northeast of Bermuda. This supply vessel doubles the operational range of the U-boats, which are no longer restricted by having to return to base for refueling.
• The US tanker Connecticut (8684t), bound for Capetown, South Africa, is torpedoed by the German motor torpedo boat LS-4 in the South Atlantic. Survivors are picked up by the German auxiliary cruiser Michel.
• The US freighter Lammont du Pont (5102t), bound for New York, is torpedoed by U-125 about 500 miles southeast of Bermuda with the loss of 4 of her crew.

Burma

The Chinese 200th Div of the Chinese 6th Army begins to retreat from Taunggyi toward Yunnan Province as the Japanese attack Loilem. The Allied forces in the Sittang and Irrawaddy Valleys are forced to retreat because the Japanese 56th Div has forged on from Taunggyi toward Lashio, threatening the left flank of the Allied Armies. Troops of the Chinese Expeditionary Force hold off Japanese advances around Twingon, allowing thousands of Allied troops around Yenangyaung to escape the Japanese net.

Deportation of the last Jewish inhabitants of Hohenlimburg. Germany, April 23, 1942. (Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz)

Jews Being Deported from Hohenlimburg

Diplomatic Relations

South Africa breaks off relations with Vichy.

Eastern Front

Golikov receives further orders, ordering him to also concentrate the 61st and 48th Armies for a concentric attack upon Orel. Golikov doubts whether he can complete the assembly of his forces in time and requests more time to prepare.

News of the Day

News for this April 23rd in 1942 was truly about a World consumed by war. From Russia came word that one of the B-25 bombers involved in the raid over Tokyo had been force-landed near Siberia and was being held by the Soviets (Russia hadn’t declared war on Japan yet, so . . .). News of near-hysteria on the East Coast of the U.S. over reports of gas rationing to the tune of 5 gallons maximum per week proved to be a false alarm, at least for now and a moratorium on new telephones or lines being installed. From India came word of increased fears over a pending Japanese invasion and fierce fighting taking place in Burma, thought to be the next big battle-front in the war. A stalemate of sorts on the Eastern Front, with Russian and German forces trading gains and losses.

And while the newscast was on, a raid was taking place in France.

And news, which was taking place while this newscast was on, of a British commando raid underway on the French town of Boulogne.(News of the Day Audio)