Air Operations, CBI
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeIn another 'Baedeker' Raid the Luftwaffe heavily bombs Exeter. 90 aircraft start a conflagration in the city center. The cathedral and 9 churches are wrecked. Firemen and ARP personnel are machine-gunned in the bright moonlight. The Germans lose 7 planes in the raid.
2 He-111s, taking off from a northern France airfield, are shot down by Sqn-Ldr James Maclachlan, a one-armed fighter pilot. BOMBER COMMAND
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, New Guinea8th Pursuit Group P-39s shoot down 3 G3M 'Nell' bombers over Port Moresby at 0900 hours. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Norwegian SeaThe German steamer Konsul Carl Fisser (5843t) is sunk by British bombing near Alesund, Norway. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Occupied DenmarkThorvald Stauning, the Prime Minister of Denmark 1929-1942, dies a the age of 68. [![]() ![]() PhilippinesMINDANAOA Japanese amphibious force from Panay goes ashore on Mindanao about 0100 hours at Cagayan and at the mouth of the Tagoloan River, in Macajalar Bay, and presses south along the Sayre Highway. Troops of the Cagayan defense sector (PA 102nd Division, formed from the 61st and 82st FA and the 103rd Infantry) oppose the landing but are unable to halt the enemy. In a desperate effort to hold the Sayre Highway, reserves including a 2.95-inch gun detachment and the 62nd and 93rd Regiments (PA) are committed, but these also fall back under pressure. During the night, Gen Sharp orders a general withdrawal. Meanwhile, other Japanese forces gain control of the road to the north shore, routing the 73rd Infantry, which withdraws into the hills north of Lake Lanao. Still other enemy forces arrive at Kabacan after the Digos defense force has made good its escape, but are halted there. CORREGIDORIn preparation for the invasion, air and artillery activity against Corregidor continues without respite. A US submarine succeeds in withdrawing 25 persons from the island.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Solomon IslandsThe Japanese land at Tulagi, as expected, and immediately begin to convert it into a seaplane base for the support of the landing operations at Port Moresby, New Guinea, the gateway to Australia. Adm Fletcher arrives in the area with the Yorktown and escorting ships, but the Japanese have already left and the Americans are only able to sink some enemy transports. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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