Air Operations, CBI

• The RAF bombs Akyab, Burma.
• 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the airfield at Myitkyina rendering it unusable.

Air Operations, Europe

7 Lancasters and 7 Manchesters lay mines off Heligoland and Kiel. There are no losses.

The wartime prime minister stands with Maj-Gen Brian Horrocks (closest to the camera) on a tank during an inspection of the 9th Armored Division, near Newmarket, UK, May 16, 1942.

Inspecting the 9th Armored Division

Air Operations, New Guinea

14 5th Air Force B-25s and 4 22nd Medium Bomb Group attack Lae and Lae's airfield.

Air Operations, Pacific

5th Air Force bombers attack the Japanese seaplane base at Deboyne Island.

Eastern Front

The Germans capture Kerch dashing Russian hopes that the siege of Sevastopol can be lifted any time soon.[MORE]

Bodies and Destroyed War Material on the Beach of Kerch

United States, Home Front

Oveta Culp Hobby is appointed Director of Women's Auxiliary Army Corps.

United States, Politics

Roosevelt orders the release of US Communist party leader Earl Browder from federal prison. He had served 14 months of a sentence for passport irregularities, which the Russians insist was a trumped-up charge. Moscow has been calling for his release since the Soviets became allies of the US.