Air Operations, CBI
7th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the Rangoon port area.
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]Air Operations, Europe
During the night Norwich is again heavily bombed.
Damage in York |
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Aftermath of the York Air Raid |
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- 6 Bostons hit the Dunkirk docks without a loss.
- 73 Wellingtons, 9 Hampdens and 6 Stirlings are sent to hit the Gnome and Rhone aero-engine factory outside of Paris. The main factory is not hit but other industrial buildings in the nearby Port de Paris on the Seine. There are no casualties among the French people. 3 Wellingtons are lost on the raid.
- In minor operations, 20 aircraft are sent to Ostend, 6 Blenheim Intruders to Holland and 5 Manchesters lay mines off Kiel and the Danish coast. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley from the Ostend rain and 1 mine-laying Manchester are lost.
| ]Axis Diplomacy
- Hitler and Mussolini meet at Salzburg. The two allies review the situation, which although not catastrophic, is hardly rosy. Hitler is obsessed with the Eastern Front. He seems quite changed, thoughtful and preoccupied, yet as Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, emphasizes, he has lost none of his 'verbosity', which he demonstrates in a monologue lasting 1 hour 40 minutes.
[ | ]Battle of the Atlantic
The US tanker Mobiloil (9925t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-108 about 350 miles northwest of Turks Island. All hands survive the loss of the ship.
[ | ]Britain, Home Front
In the Rugby and Wallasey by-elections Independent candidates win both seats.
[ | ]Burma
The Japanese 56th Division enters Lashio, the southern terminus of the 'Burma Road' by which supplies are transported to China, having defeated the Chinese 55th Division. The Japanese covered 300 miles in only 18 days. That pace was maintained in a race with the monsoon weather. If the rains had not been delayed the Japanese would have been stuck in the mud and water. China is now cut off by land and all supplies from the Allies must go by air. Elements of the Japanese Army now turn southwest to begin the attack on Mandalay, in support of the 18th Division heading directly up from the south.
The Chinese 200th Div reaches Liolem, but then turns around and marches toward the Chinese frontier. Gen Alexander decides to withdraw to a new defensive line between Kalewa, Katha, Bhamo and Hsenwi. All available troops will begin to fall back on this line beginning May 2.
[ | ]Caribbean
The unarmed US tanker Federal (2881t), en route to Banes, Cuba, is shelled and sunk by U-507 killing 4 of the 33-man crew. Fishing boats from Cuba rescues the survivors.
[ | ]Japan, Planning
The Japanese Imperial General Staff Headquarters designates Port Moresby as a priority objective to assist in controlling New Guinea and the Solomons. The MO Plan is developed to establish a base in Tulagi while a major landing takes place at Port Moresby, New Guinea. The plan involves five elements, including a landing force element, a support group, a carrier striking force with the two fleet carriers, the Shokaku and Zuikaku, a patrol group, and a covering group, with the light carrier Shoho.
[ | ]Middle East
Gen Auchinleck issues instructions on the tasks that will fall to the British 9th and 10th Armies in case of a German attack across Anatolia. There is a real fear that the Germans will carry out an enormous 'pincer movement' from Russia to the Mediterranean.
[ | ]New Guinea
The Japanese, who are considering an invasion of Australia, make arrangements for an amphibious attack on capital of Papua, Port Moresby (Operation Mo).
[ | ]Occupied Belgium
250 workers are killed in an explosion at a chemical works in Tessenderloo.
[ | ]Philippines
The Japanese forces continue to bombard Mindanao, with reinforced strength and air support, they push back the defenders. On Mindanao the Japanese reinforcements land on the west coast at Cotabato and Parang, and capture both. One regiment and two Filipino battalions fight bravely but are unable to prevent the two bridgeheads from joining up. The Japanese, who had already landed at Davao, advance northwestwards toward Bugo.
On Luzon the shelling and bombing of the fortified island of Corregidor is intensified. Rations and water are in short supply, and power to the Malinta tunnell, where the bulk of the garrison is located, is failing. Bombs and artillery shells have demolished most of the fixed defensive positions.
[ | ]United States, Home Front
In ARP, Air Raid Precaution, measures, the upper stories of New York skyscrapers are blacked out and neon signs in Times Square are dimmed.
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