Air Operations, Europe

Bath is again heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. In the 2 raids(1st?) on Bath, 400 people are killed.

• 106(109?) of 7 different type are again sent to Rostock, about half to the town and the rest to the Heinkel factory. Successful bombing is reported by both groups. 1 Stirling, 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley are lost.
• The 4 raids in this series result in the destruction of 1,765 buildings and serious damage to 513 more buildings in Rostock. Bomber Command estimates that 130 acres are destroyed, 60 per cent of the main town area. Casualties are 204 people killed and 89 injured.
• In minor operations, 24 aircraft are sent to Dunkirk, 2 Blenheim Intruders to Leeuwarden, 4 aircraft lay mines and 7 on OTU sorties. There are no losses.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US destroyer Sturtevant (DD-240) hits a mine and sinks off Marquesas Key, Florida. 15 of her crew are lost.

Burma

Fearing that Burma is lost, Gen Alexander decides to concentrate all available forces on the defense of India.

Caribbean

The unarmed US freighter Alcoa Partner (5513t) is torpedoed by U-66 80 miles northeast of Bonaire, BWI. 10 of the crew are lost, but 25 survivors reach Bonaire the next day.

Germany, Politics

Hitler, speaking in the Reichstag, claims that the Russian winter has been extremely severe, the worst for 140 years, with temperatures as low as minus 50° C. With the coming of spring he foretells major victories for Germany and calls for supreme effort. Hitler also asks the Reichstag to grant himm 'the positive assurance that I possess the legal authority to see to it that every individual performs his duty and that I may condemn such cases which in my opinion do not fulfull their duties to be imprisoned or to be deprived of their office. . . no matter who they be or what rights they may have acquired.' His absolute power is extended and confirmed.

Hitler addressing the Reichstag on April 26, 1942

Malta

German aircraft hit and silence a number of anti-aircraft positions in different parts of the island.

Philippines

Fighting continues on Mindanao where Filipino forces resist the Japanese invaders. A Japanese force of 4,800 men from Cebu lands on Mindanao to reinforce troops in action against the Filipinos.

Survivors from the Bataan Death March Begin Entering Camp O’Donnell

The survivors from the Bataan death march began to enter O’Donnell camp on the other side of the peninsula on 25th April, groups continued to arrive until the beginning of May. Along the way thousands had died at the hands of the Japanese. There was little respite in suffering for the US and Philippine troops who had endured the horrors of the march. They were all now in very poor condition, at best weak and emaciated. Many more men were ill and the death rate continued even after they entered the camp.