Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Gasmata airfield onNew Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

• 21 Stirlings lay mines off La Pallice and in the Gironde River. There are no losses.

• Preparations begin for Operation CORKSCREW, the massive air and naval bombardment of the island of Pantelleria. The NAAF is ordered to turn its entire attention to the bombardment, which will last until the island is to be invaded on June 11.
• NATAF A-20s and fighters and IX Bomber Command B-25s attack the landing ground.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Allied air raids on towns in southern Italy and Sicily continue without respite.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Madang airfield, Kaimana, Manokwari, Nabire, and Wewak.

Air Operations, Sicily

• A total of 122 USAAF B-17s, 89 USAAF b-25s and B-26s, and 23 RAF Wellingtons attack various targets in Palermo with 485 tons of bombs.
• 1 B-17 is lost; about 50 others damaged by flak
• P-38s of the 1st and 14th Fighter Groups down 4 Axis aircraft in two separate actions over Palermo between 0915 and 1415 hours.
• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the Messina ferry terminal.

Air Operations, Tunisia

Even though the Axis high command in Tunisia surrenders unconditionally, some German units continue to fight on. NATAF A-20s and fighters and IX Fighter Command fighters mount an all-out ground-support effort throughout the ground battle zone.

Allied Preparations

The US Gen Raymond G. Wheeler is given the task of co-ordinating and speeding up the construction of a big airfield in Assam, India to support the Burma front and increase the Allies' capacity to send supplies to China.

Mediterranean

A violent bombardment heralds the Allies' operation, called Operation CORKSCREW, for the capture of the island of Pantelleria.

Major General Manton S. Eddy (left), commander of the 9th Infantry Division, and his assistant commander, Brigadier General Daniel A. Stroh, in Bizerte on May 9, 1943.

Maj-Gen Manton Eddy and Brig-Gen Daniel Stroh

North Africa

Fighting ends in northeast Tunisia at 11:00a.m. as the Germans accept unconditional surrender. 6 generals are among the prisoners. Meanwhile the Allies advance towards the Cape Bon peninsula. The British arrive near Hammam Lif, where they are fiercely engaged by the Germans.

The US II Corps receives the unconditional surrender of the enemy within its zone. Thousands of prisoners, including 6 generals, are taken. The 1st Armored Div drives to the coast on the left and makes contact with the British 7th Armored Div on the right.

The British 1st Army continues to meet resistance in the region south of the US II Corps zone. The IX Corps' 6th Armored Div is still held up at the Hamman Lif defile. The French XIX Corps battles the enemy in the Zaghouan area.

The unconditional surrender of all Axis troops in Tunisia takes at 11am on this day in 1943.

Unconditional Surrender in Tunisia

Occupied Holland

Following resistance to German occupation of the Netherlands, the Reich Commissioner Arthur Seyss-Inquart imposes martial law and an 8pm to 8am curfew along with other restrictive measures.

Pacific

• The US submarine Gar (SS-206) sinks the Japanese gunboat Aso Maru (3749t) southeast of Cagayan Island.
• The US submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ships Takao Maru (3204t) and Jinmu Maru (1912t) off Kone Zaki, northeastern Honshu.
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Secret War

Luftwaffe defectors land a Ju-88R night-fighter at Aberdeen. This aircraft is fitted with the new Liechtenstein BC radar set. The analysis of this new advanced equipment and other data about the organization and tactics of German night-fighters is vital to the Allies.

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