Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Truk Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 24 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese Army positions and occupied villages in the Buthidaung area.

• 3 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack 2 freighters in the Formosa Strait.

Air Operations, Europe

• 29 Mosquitos are sent to Leverkusen, 7 to Achéres, 9 Stirlings lay mines in the Frisians and there are 2 RCM sorties.

• 50 2nd Bomb Division B-24s, escorted by 108 VIII Fighter Command fighers, attack V-weapons sites in the Pas-de-Calais area using GH blind-bombing equipment.

• More than 250 IX Bomber Command B-26s and A-20s attack marshalling yards at three locations.
• More than 400 9th Air Force P-47s and P-51s attack airdromes and marshalling yards throughout France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

• 12th Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack bridges and marshalling yards.
• XII TAC A-20s attack an ammo dump near Rome.
• XII TAC fighter-bombers attack rail and road targets, bridges, landing grounds, and dumps in central and northern Italy.

• Nearly 250 15th Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Castel Maggiore and Parma, port facilities at La Spezia, and rail bridges at Faenza and Orbetello.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 2 V Bomber Command B-24s attack an airfield on Biak Island in the Schouten group.
• A-20s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers mount more than 120 sorties through the day against numerous targets between Hansa Bay and Wewak.
• 8 B-25s attack oil stores and other targets in the Wakde Islands.
• 2 B-25s attack airfields at Boram and Wewak.

Arctic

• U-674 is sunk by Swordfish 'B' of 842 NAS from the British escort carrier HMS Fencer during the passage of Convoy RA-58. Three depth charges straddle abaft the conning tower and when the explosions subside the U-boat could be seen sinking by the stern.

U-674 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Harald Muhs Location Arctic, NE of Jan Mayen Island Cause Air attack Casualties 49 Survivors None

U-959 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich Weitz Location Arctic, NE of Iceland Cause Air attack Casualties 53 Survivors None

• U-959 is sunk by Swordfish 'K' of 842 NAS from the carrier HMS Fencer also during the passage of Convoy RA-58.

Eastern Front

The 2nd Tank Army and 27th Army launch a spoiling attack at Targul-Frumos, north of Jassy. The LVII Panzer and IV Corps counterattack, inflicting heavy casualties upon the attackers.

Indian Ocean

U-852 had been detected by HF/DF fixes on her long voyage around the Cape of Good Hope. When she came into the area patrolled by the East Africa Command, she was found by Wellington 'E' of No 621 Squadron. She endures two days of attacks by Wellingtons of Nos 621 and 8 Squadrons. Finally, Wellington 'G' of No 8 Squadron inflicted so much damage the U-boat is run aground, abandoned and scuttled.

U-852

Occupied France

The management of the Aubert and Duval steel works at Ancizes co-operates with the Resistance in a complete shut-down.

Pacific

The US submarine Tautog (SS-199) completes the destruction of the Japanese army transport Ryoyo Maru (5973t) near Natsuwa Jima, Kurils.

Spain, Politics

In exchange for Allied oil from the Americas, Spain changes its pro-Axis political attitude withdrawing its volunteers from the Azul Division on the Russian front and cutting down its monthly export to Germany of tungsten to 40 tons. Tungsten is required in the production of hollow-charge shells.

United States, Planning

The JCS orders Gen Stilwell to shift his emphasis from supporting the British efforts in Burma and opening the Burma Road to developing air bases in China by February 1945 to support the planned attack on Formosa, the Philippines, the Ryukyus, or the coast of China.

Images from May 2, 1944

Ki-54 Cyclops Wreck

HMAS Vendetta Landing Troops and Stores

Cargo Ship Sunk by Submarine