Air Operations, CBIDuring the night 4 7th Bomb Group B-17s attack the Rangoon/Mingaladon airfield. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeThere is a Luftwaffe night raid on the Isle of Wight. BOMBER COMMAND
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Air Operations, North AfricaAxis aircraft bomb Alexandria, hitting port and railway installations. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Pacific22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s from the Bismarcks attack the Rabaul/Vunakanau airfield in New Guinea. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Battle of the Atlantic
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Battle of the Coral SeaThe bagins as Task Force 17 under Rear-Adm Frank Jack Fletcher attacks the Japanese Tulagi Invasion Force under Rear-Adm Shima Kiyohide at Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. Elements of the invasion force goes ashore on Tulagi and Gavutu to establish defenses. Aircraft from the US carrier Yorktown (CV-5) sink the destroyer Kikuzuki, the mine sweeper Tama Maru and the auxiliary minesweepers WA-1 and WA-2. Damaged in the attack are the destroyer Yuzuki, minelayer Okinoshima, the transport Azumasan Maru and the cargo ship Kozui Maru. This is the first carrier-versus-carrier naval battle as opposing surface ships never exchange fire. The Yorktown then returns south to join the rest of the Allied forces. [![]() ![]() ![]() BurmaAkyab on the Bay of Bengal is evacuated by the British. The Chinese 29th Division is defeated at Wanting on the Burma Road and other Chinese forces at Bhamo on the Irrawaddy. Chiang-Kai-shek orders the Chinese 5th Army to concentrate in the Myitkyina area. The American Flying Tigers abandon Burma and re-establish their base at Kunming, China.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() CaribbeanThe unarmed US freighter Tuscaloosa City (5687t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-125. The entire 34-man crew is rescued by the US steamship Falcon. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() MadagascarBritish forces land on the north coast encountering only light Vichy French opposition. The German steamer Wartenfels (6181t) is scuttled at Diego Suarez. [![]() ![]() ![]() New BritainA Japanese invasion fleet leaves Rabaul for Port Moresby. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Norwegian SeaThe German steamer Klaus Fritzen (2936t) is sunk by British bombing at Maaloy near Bergen. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Pacific
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PhilippinesMINDANAOThere is reduced activity as the Filipinos complete their withdrawal to a new defense line in the Dalirig and Puntian sectors. The 102nd Division is reorganized to include the 2.95-inch gun detachment, 62nd Infantry, 91st FA, and 2 PS companies of the 43rd Infantry and is stationed in the Dalirig sector. The 61st FA and the 93rd Infantry is stationed in the Puntian sector. The 103rd Infantry, isolated from the rest of the force is to defend the Cagayan River Valley. Japanese planes are active, but the front is otherwise quiet. CORREGIDORIn Manila Bay the bombardment of Corregidor becomes most intense. At least 16,000 bombs and shells hit the island.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() United States, PolicyThe War Production Board rations sugar to save scarce sources. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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[May 3rd - May 5th] |