Air Operations, Europe

In the Mediterranean Allied forces are again active. La Spezia is heavily attacked in connection with the U-boat offensive. Allied aircraft strike at communications in Italy and Sicily and shoot down numerous transport aircraft flying to North Africa. Italian and German naval units are also involved in the supply operations. Despite Allied attacks 28,000 men are landed along with 19,000 tons of supplies and other equipment.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine strength has now become 425 boats of which 240 are operational. The Allied losses are 64 ships of 334,700 tons in total, to submarines, 56 ships of 327,900 tons. (Allied Ships Lost to U-boats this month) There is something of a lull at the start of the month, but among the later operations are attacks on ONS-5 (see April 28-May 6) and HX-233 which loses only 1 ship and sinks 1 U-boat with the help of a support group. There is some success toward the end of the month and in early May for a small group off Freetown. 15 U-boats are lost during the month.

Air Operations, Aleutians

16 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 5 B-25s, and 12 343rd Fighter Group P-38s attack Kiska.

Air Operations, CBI

• 16 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail facilities at Maymyo.
• 8 B-25s attack rail facilities at Ywataung.

• After strafing Hengyang Airfield without opposition, 9 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters fly on to Lingling Airfield, where they are challenged by P-40s of the 23rd Fighter Group’s 75th Fighter Squadron. 5 'Oscars' Ki-43s are shot downt at Lingling and 2 others apparantly go down along the return flight to their base. 1 P-40 with its pilot are lost.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Mosquitos bomb a power station and the railway yards at Trier.

• A lone Lancaster of No. 103 Squadron piloted by Squadron Leader C. O'Donoghue is sent to bomb the town of Emmerich just over the German border. The plane is shot down over Holland and all the crew are killed.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack a Japanese convoy off Kavieng, New Ireland, and mount attacks against the Cape Gloucester and Gasmata airfields on New Britain. 1 Japanese Navy transport is sunk and a heavy cruiser and a destroyer are damaged.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s, in strike groups ranging from 1 to 3 planes, attack coastal shipping and shore targets of opportunity over a wide area.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s, in strike groups ranging from 1 to 3 planes, attack coastal shipping and shore targets of opportunity over a wide area.

Air Operations, North Africa

El Maou airfield, near Sfax, is bombed by British, American and South African aircraft.

Air Operations, Sicily

2 IX Bomber Command B-24s staging through Malta mount an experimental low-level attack against the ferry terminal at Messina. Many direct hits are observed, and the B-24's low-level capability is confirmed.

Air Operations, Solomons

• In the first phase of a Japanese Navy attack plan dubbed Operation I GO, 58 A6M Zeros organized in two waves attempt to sweep Allied fighters from the skies over the Russell Islands. They are engaged by 28 AirSols F4Fs, 8 F4Us, and 6 P-38s.
• VF-27 and VF-28 F4Fs based at Guadalcanal down 8 Zeros between 1100 and 1132 hours, and VMF-124 F4Us and VMF-221 F4Fs down 1 D3A 'Val' dive bomber and 10 Zeros over the Russell Islands during a series of engagements lasting 3 hours. 5 Marine Air Group 21 fighters and 1 VF-27 F4F are lost with 3 of their pilots.

Air Operations, Aleutians

18 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 6 B-25s, with 16 343rd Fighter Group P-38s and 24 P-40s attack Kiska in several waves. 4 B-24s attack the airfield on Attu.

Air Operations, Europe

• The first sortie of the newly formed No 1409 (Meteorological) Flight, based at Oakington, by 1 Mosquito, crewed by Flt-Lt P Cunliffe-Lister and Sgt I Doyle. They make a weather reconnaissance flight to Brittany in preparation for the Bomber Command raids to be carried out in the coming night. The Flight operates until the end of the war, flying 1,364 sorties and losing only 3 Mosquitos.

• 55 aircraft are sent to St Nazaire and 47 to Lorient on the last raids on these French ports. Bomber Command is released from its obligation to bomb these 2 targets 3 days later.
• 1 Lancaster is lost on the St Nazaire raid.
• 33 aircraft lay mines off the southern part of the Biscay coast.
• 1 Lancaster is lost.

27 IX Bomber Command B-24s are sent to bomb Naples, but the area is totally obscured by clouds. 9 planes release their bombs through the clouds and 3 attack targets of opportunity their bombardiers can see.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against the Cape Gloucester and Gasmata airfields on New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail facilities at Thazi.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Salamaua and a bridge near Finschhafen.
• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack several targets.

Air Operations, Pacific

US planes bomb Kiska and Attu.

Air Operations, Sicily

2 IX Bomber Command B-24s conduct a special mission in which each attacks the ferry terminals at Messina and Villa San Giovanni.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Fighter Command P-38s and P-40s attack a small ship in Kokolope Bay. The P-38s drop their auxiliary fuel tanks on the ship’s deck and strafe the vessel to set her aflame.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and individual 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Kavieng airfield on New Ireland.

Air Operations, CBI

17 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge at Myitnge in 2 waves.

Air Operations, Europe

FW-190 fighter-bombers raid Eastbourne and strafe streets crowded with shoppers.

• 12 Venturas bomb shipping at Brest and 8 Mosquitos attack railway targets in Belgium and France.
• 1 Mosquito is lost.

• 348 aircraft are sent to Essen. In this total are 225 Lancasters, 113 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos.
• The weather forcast was not favorable and the Pathfinders prepare a plan for both skymarking and ground-marking the target area. The Main Force crews are a little confused to find two kinds of marking taking place. The bombing, however, is accurate and there is a lot of good photographs of the results. Reports from the ground indicate widespread damage in the city center and in the western half of Essen.
• 12 Halifaxes and 9 Lancasters are lost with 2 more Halifaxes crashing upon return to England.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Korindini.
• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Kitchen Creek.

Air Operations, North Africa

Spitfires, flown by American pilots destroy a Stuka squadron over Tunisia.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATAF (Northwest African Tactical Air Force) aircraft attack Axis military vehicles in eastern Tunisia.
• NATBF B-25s attack Ste.-Marie du Zit Airdrome.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack Sfax/El Maou Airdrome.
• WDAF A-20s attack Axis motor vehicles and gun emplacements.
• In a lopsided attack near El Guettar about 1730 hours, Spitfire pilots of the 52nd Fighter Group's 2nd Fighter Squadron down 13 Ju-87s in a matter of minutes.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-124 is sunk by the British ships, corvette Stonecrop and sloop Black Swan, who were in support of convoy OS-45.

U-124

Class	Type IXB
CO	Korvettenkapitän Johann Mohr
Location	Atlantic, W of Oporto
Cause	Depth charge
Casualties	53
Survivors	None

• U-155 torpedoes and sinks the US tanker Gulfstate (6883t) off Key West, Florida. A USCG planes rescues 3 survivors; 34 crewmen and 9 Armed Guard sailors are lost in the attack.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group Command B-17s attack the Kavieng airfield and town area on New Ireland and mount individual attacks against Cape Gloucester.

Air Operations, Europe

• 24 Venturas attack an airfield at Caen, 24 more a shipyard and Rotterdam and 12 a railway target at St Brieuc. All targets are successfully bombed.
• 2 planes from the Rotterdam raid are lost.

• 577 aircraft are sent to Kiel. Included in this total are 203 Lancasters, 168 Wellingtons, 116 Halifaxes and 90 Stirlings.
• The Pathfinders encounter thick cloud and strong winds over the target area which makes it difficult for accurate marking. Decoy fire sites may have also drawn off some of the bombing.
• 5 Lancasters, 4 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings and 1 Wellington are lost.

• US bombers raid the Renault plant on the outskirts of Paris and prepare for a similar mission to Antwerp the following day.
• German aircraft drop mines in the Thames Estuary.

• 85 VIII Bomber Command B-17s conduct a precision-bombing attack against the Paris Renault Billancourt works, the first USAAF mission within Paris city limits. 251 tons of bombs fall within the target area.
• 4 B-17s are lost, 16 are damages; 6 crewmen wounded, 39 missing

• 99 IX Bomber Command B-17s and 64 XII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Capodichino Airdrome, port facilities, barracks, power plants, and gas works throughout Naples.
• NASAF B-25s attack several small Axis ships at Carloforte, San Pedro Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 7 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the oil refinery at Thilawa.
• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail facilities at Maymyo.
• 9 B-25s attack rail facilities at Pyawbwe.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against Salamaua.
• V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s attack ground targets and Huon Gulf, Kitchen Creek, and two other areas.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Naples, Palermo and Syracuse in Sicily, and Carloforte in Sardinia are heavily bombed. Official sources put the dead in Naples alone at 221 with 387 injured.

Air Operations, Aleutians

A force of 16 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 6 B-25s attack the airfields on Kiska and Attu, and the Kiska base facilities. In a separate attack, 3 B-25s, 16 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 16 P-40s attack Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against Cape Gloucester.

Air Operations, Europe

US bombers make a heavy raid on Antwerp causing heavy damage.

• 12 Venturas attack a tanker at Brest. The ship is not hit but nearby dock installations are.
• 3 Venturas are lost.

Air Operations, CBI

• 5 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack rail facilities at Mahlwagon.
• 17 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail targets at Mandalay.
• 2 B-25s attack Ngamya.
• 1 B-25 and 12 51st Fighter Group P-40s provide direct support to Allied ground forces.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against a variety of targets.

Air Operations, North Africa

P-38 Lightnings shoot down 14 Ju-52 transports off the Tunisian coast.[MORE]

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATBF A-20s attack the El Djem landing ground and La Fauconnerie Airdrome.
• NAAF fighters attack German Navy E-boats encountered off Pont-du-fahs and German army motor vehicles near Bou Hamran.
• WDAF aircraft attack various ground targets in support of Allied ground operations.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Liberator 'N' of No 120 Squadron RAF is en route to meet convoy HX-231 when 10 miles north of the convoy U-635 is seen surfacing in front of them. An attack is carried out from about 50ft. The depth charges are released just as the U-boat disappeared beneath the aircraft's nose. The submarine vanishes in the explosions and is never seen again.

U-635

Class	Type VIIC
CO	Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Eckelmann
Location	Atlantic, SW of Iceland
Cause	Air attack
Casualties	47
Survivors	None

• U-563 torpedoes the US tanker Sunoil (9005t), a straggler from Convoy HS-231. All hands are lost, 43 crewmen and 26 Armed Guard sailors.

Burma

The British military disaster in the Arakan continues to unfold. The Japanese have by now pushed the British forces halfway back up the Mayu Peninsula. The Japanese on the Mayu peninsula continue to advance northwestwards, in the direction of Indin on the Arakan coast. They overrun the headquarters of the 6th Indian Brigade. Meanwhile the 26th Indian Division has replaced the 14th on the Burma front.

Air Operations, Europe

• 8 Mosquitos attack the Namur railway workshops without a loss.

• 47 aircraft lay mines off the Biscay ports.
• 1 Halifax and 1 Wellington are lost.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a bridge at Pazundaung.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

301st Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack a convoy of Axis transports and freighters near Bizerte. The largest ship, filled with munitions, is hit and blow clean out of the water. The explostion is large enough to damage several of the bombers. The bombers are attacked by Luftwaffe fighters as the bombers withdraw, but none are lost. 9 crewmen are wounded. Bomber gunner claim 8 German fighter shot down, plus 3 probables.

An Allied recon plane locates 2 of the Italian Navy's 3 remaining cruisers, the Trieste and the Gorizia, behind a wall of submarine nets in a cove near Maddalena in northern Sardinia. All available NAAF B-17s armed with 1,000-pound bombs are sent with a heavy long-range fighter escort. The attack force is divided into three groups; one mixed group of 24 B-17s is sent to bomb the harbor installations; one group of 36 97th Bomb Group B-17s is sent after the Gorizia; one group of 24 301st Heavy Bomb Group B-17s is sent after the Trieste. The harbor facilities and the Gorizia are badly damaged, and the Trieste is sunk by several direct hits.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against Finschhafen.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Salamaua and nearby anti-aircraft batteries.

Air Operations, Sicily

• NAAF B-17s attack port facilities and shipping at Trapani.
• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the ferry terminal at Messina.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATBF A-20s and B-25s attack Enfidaville Airdrome, La Fauconnerie Airdrome, and the El Djem landing ground.
• In direct support of a new British 8th Army offensive, IX Bomber Command B-25s mount two separate missions against German Army troop concentrations along the Oued el-Akarit River.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-167 is attacked twice by aircraft, Hudsons 'W' of 'L' of No 233 Squadron. The U-boat sustained severe damage in the two attacks and the Captain is badly wounded. The submarine is scuttled east of Grand Canary Island as the crew made their way ashore for internment.

U-167 Class Type IXC/40 CO Korvettenkapitän/i> Kurt Sturmn Location Atlantic, Canary Islands Cause Scuttled Casualties Unknown Survivors Unknown

U-632 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Hans Karpf Location Atlantic, SW of Iceland Cause Air attack Casualties 48 Survivors None

• Liberator 'R' of No 86 Squadron sights a surfaced U-167 while on patrol 18 miles from convoy HX-231. The aircraft carries out two attacks with depth charges as the submarine dived. An oil slick subsequently forms on the surface ove the spot where the U-boat had sunk.

Gulf of Mexico

U-185 attacks Mobile, Alabama-bound Convoy GTMO-83 and sinks the US freighter John Sevier (7176t). The US destroyer Bennett (DD-473) rescues all 39 crew members and the 17-man Armed Guard and one passenger.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Cape Gloucester and Kavieng.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a Japanese Army headquarters at Toungoo.
• 18 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a marshalling yard at Ywataung.
• 2 B-25s attack a rail bridge at Ye-u.
• 51st Fighter Group P-40s support Allied ground forces near Shingbwiyang.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Fak Fak and the Babo landing ground.
• B-24s and 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individial attacks against Finschhafen, Lae, Lorengau, Salamaua, and Wewak.

Air Operations, Sicily

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack Palermo harbor.

Air Operations, Solomons

In the second phase of Operation I GO, 67 D3A 'Val' dive bombers, escorted by an estimated 117 A6M Zeros—all borrowed for this assignment from Japanese Navy aircraft carriers—attack Allied shipping off Guadalcanal at about 1400. Though challenged by 36 AirSols F4Fs, 9 F4Us, 12 P-38s, 6 P-40s, and 12 P-39s, the 'Vals' are able to complete numerous bombing attacks that sink a US Navy oiler, a destroyer, and a Royal New Zealand Navy corvette. 12 'Vals' and 15 Zeros are shot down by VMF-213, VMF-214, and VMF-221 F4Fs. 7 F4Fs and P-38s are also shot down with the loss of only 1 pilot.

Air Operations, Tunisia

Although NASAF bombers are grounded by bad weather, IX Bomber Command, IX Fighter Command, XII Air Support Command, and the WDAF mount an all-out effort to harrt German Army forces retreating before massive Allied ground attacks throughout Tunisia. USAAF fighter pilots, involved in numerous escort and ground-support missions, down 3 Bf-109s during at least three fighter actions.

Arctic

At 2105 U-644 is sighted by the British submarine Tuna at a range of about 5,000 yards. From 1,200 yards the British submarine fired 5 torpedoes. A hit is observed as the Tuna surfaced to survey the scene and rescue any survivors. There were none.

U-644

Britain, Home Front

The Keynes' Plan for an international banking agreement is published.

Axis Planning

Hitler and Mussolini meet at Klessheim Castle near Salzburg. Dönitz is also in attendance. They discuss the military situation in the light of the severe defeat of Axis troops on every front. Hitler does most of the talking mostly about a new German offensive in Russia. Among the subjects for their discussion is, of course, the situation in North Africa. Mussolini wants Hitler to sue for a separate peace with Russia so as to be able to reinforce the south European front. But the Führer will have none of it. He enchants Mussolini with fantastic stories of future victories, even in Africa. 'Duce,' he tells him, 'I guarantee you that Africa will be defended. Verdun stood out against the attack of the best German regiments. I do not see why we should not stand out as well in Africa. With your help, Duce, my troops will make Tunis the Verdun of the Mediterranean.' Mussolini allows himself to be persuaded. Hitler is concerned about Mussolini's physical condition and tells Dönitz he wonders whether the Duce has the will 'to carry on to the end.' The conference lasts 4 days.

Diplomatic Relations

• Bolivia declares war on Germany, Italy and Japan.
• Maxim Litvinov arrives in Havana to become the first Soviet Minister to Cuba.

Eastern Front

The whole front has come to a halt with the thaw. But Hitler demands that preparations should be hastened for a big offensive to start the moment conditions permit. He plans to break through the great Russian salient at Kursk at its base and wipe out the huge forces concentrated there. The Russians, foreseeing this obvious move by the Germans, are fortifying the salient with at least 8 concentric defensive lines and hundreds of thousands of mines, preparing methodically for what may well be the biggest battle of the whole war.

Mediterranean

The submarine Rorqual and the minelayer Abdiel lay minefields off Tunisia to hamper Axis troop convoys.

New Guinea

In a similar raid to the one being carried out against shipping off Guadalcanal, 2 transports are sunk off New Guinea.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Ulamoa and the Kavieng airfield on New Ireland.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Heho.
• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Meiktila.
• 1 B-25 and 4 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack a dump at Ningam.

• 10 P-40s from the 23rd Fighter Group’s 16th Fighter Squadron based at Kweilin strafe the airfield at Fort Bayard.

• 1 51st Fighter Group P-40 downs a Japanese Army reconnaissance plane around noon.

Air Operations, Europe

• 392 aircraft are sent to Duisburg with little success. Included in the total are 156 Lancasters, 97 Wellingtons, 73 Halifaxes, 56 Stirlings and 10 Mosquitoes.
• 7 Wellingtons, 6 Lancasters, 3 Halifaxes and 3 Stirlings are lost.

• 27 aircraft lay mines off the Biscay coast.
• 1 Wellington is lost.

The 56th and 78th Fighter Groups carry out an unchallenged fighter sweep between Dunkirk and Sangatte. It is the first all-P-47 operation of the war for the purpose of giving the pilots operational experience.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Finschhafen.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATAF and WDAF fighters attack retreating German Army units.
• IX Bomber Command and IX Fighter Command aircraft mount an all-out effort to harass the retreating Axis forces.
• 1 Bf-109 is downed by a 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire pilot near Kairouan at 1650 hours.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler and Mussolini meet in Salzburg to discuss the progress of the war. Mussolini initially suggests peace talks.

Burma

Gen Masakazu Kawabe replaces Gen Shojiro Iida in command of the Japanese forces, now to be organized as the Burma Area Army. With the Allied offensive in the Arakan stalled, and the Chindit incursion into northern Burma reversed, Kawabe takes over the command at a favorable juncture. The Japanese are planning to extend their hold on northern Burma and among the logistic preparations that accompany this is the construction of new rail lines. About 60,000 Allied PoWs are employed on this work - about 15,000 of them die through ill treatment.

North Africa

Axis forces continue their withdrawal towards the Enfidaville line.

The IX Corps opens its attack on Fondouk before dawn. The US 34th Division and elements of the 46th Division lead off in an effort to clear a gap through which the 6th Armored can pass through for the drive on Kairouan.

Air Operations, Europe

• 4 Mosquitos attack various targets just over the German border. In another raid, 4 Mosquitos are sent to hit the railway yard at Orleans, but this mission is aborted. There are no losses.

• 5 Mosquitos and 104 Lancasters are again sent to Duisburg.
• There is a thick cloud cover and the bomb loads are scattered.
• 8 Lancasters are lost.

• 5 OTU Wellingtons make leaflet flights over France.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against Wewak, vehicles at Lorengau on Manus Island, and barges at or off Alexishafen, Bogia, and Finschafen.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfield at Madang, and the Madang port and town areas.
• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack ground targets around Kitchen Creek and Mubo.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NAAF and IX Fighter Command attack Axis troops and facilities throughout northern Tunisia.
• 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 9 Ju-88s around Kairouan about 1740 hours.

North Africa

British troops from 8th Army take Mahares, 50 miles north of Gabes, as the Axis forces continue to retreat. The British 26th Arm Brigade drives through Fondouk Pass to Kairouan.

In the IX Corps area, while infantry of the 46th and the US 34th Divisions continue efforts to clear the height dominating Fondouk Pass, the 6th Armored Division is committed at 1500 to speed the operation and succeeds in forcing the pass, but losing a lot of tanks in the process. Meanwhile, the 128th Brigade, 46th Division, clears Djebel Rhorab. The US 34th Division is unable to clear Djebel el Haouareb during the day but gains its crest in a night attack by the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry. The 1st Armored Division, US II Corps, moves northward to positions north of Sidi Bou Zid, leaving the 60th Regimental Combat Team to hold the Maknassy sector.

The British 8th Army continues its pursuit of the enemy northward along Gabès Gulf. The XXX Corps, in the coastal sector, reaches positions a few miles short of Sfax.

In the British 1st Army's V Corps area, the 78th Division takes Chaouach, a mountain village 4 miles northwest of Medjez el Bab.

Pacific

• The Japanese army cargo ship Penang Maru (5214t) is sunk by the US submarine Tautog (SS-199) in the Buton Passage off southeastern Celebes. The Japanese destroyer Isonami is then sunk by the Tautog as she is attempting to rescue survivors of the Penang Maru.
• The US submarine Drum (SS-228) attacks a Japanese convoy sinking the army cargo ship Oyama Maru (3809t) about 180 miles north-northwest of Kavieng, New Ireland.
• The US submarine Grayling (SS-209) in an attack on a Japanese convoy off Mindoro sinks the army cargo ship Shanghai Maru (4103t) about 10 miles east of Dumali Point.

Air Operations, Aleutians

• 3 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s, 6 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 17 343rd Fighter Group P-40s mount 5 separate attacks against Kiska.
• 2 Patrol Wing 4 PBYs attack a small Japanese Navy convoy at sea and force it to withdraw to the Kurile Islands.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17 attacks the Arawe airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

• 502 aircraft are sent to bomb Frankfurt. Included in the total are 144 Wellingtons, 136 Lancasters, 124 Halifaxes and 98 Stirlings.
• Complete cloud cover over the target failure again leads to a failed raid. Reports from the ground indicate a few bombs in suburbs south of the Main River.
• 8 Wellingtons, 5 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings and 3 Halifaxes are lost.

• 7 Stirlings lay mines in the Frisians and there are 4 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

ITALY/u>:

IX Bmmber Command B-24s attack Naples.

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Air Operations, Mediterranean

• As part of Operation FLAX, 1st Fighter Group P-38 pilots down 8 Axis fighters and 20 Luftwaffe Ju-52 transports in an attack on the Axis air line of supply linking Sicily with German bases in Tunisia. The attack takes place between 0747 and 0757 hours over the sea about 20 miles east-northeast of Cap Bon.
• In an unrelated action that begins at 1240 hours, 82nd Fighter Group P-38s attack another Axis air-supply convoy just a mile north of Cap Bon. 13 Luftwaffe transports and fighters are downed.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Wewak.
• B-24s attack shipping off Alexishafen and Wewak.
• B-17s attack Cape Boram and Kairiru Island.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack port facilities at Bobia and Uligan.

Air Operations, Sardinia

NASAF B-17s attack La Maddalena.

Air Operations, Solomons

3 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-26s and NATAF fighter-bombers attack German Army troops and motor vehicles around Enfidaville.
• 33rd Fighter Group P-40 pilots down 5 Bf-109s in a midafternoon engagement north of Enfidaville.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-376 is picked up on radar at 2240 by Wellington 'C' of No 172 Squadron at a range of about six miles. The aircraft closes range to about a quarter of a mile when the U-boat is spotted on the surface. The aircraft attacked with depth charges with three exploding near the submarine sinking her.

U-376

North Africa

The leading elements of 8th Army enter Sfax as the Axis retreat continues apace. The British IX Corps only now succeeds in breaking out from Fondouk Pass too late to cut the retreat. Gen Montgomery tells his troops, 'Forward to Tunis and drive the enemy into the sea.'

Air Operations, Aleutians

4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s, 8 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 22 P-40s mount 5 separate attacks against Kiska.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack several targets on Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• 8 Mosquitos bomb and engineering factory at Hengelo and railway workshops at Malines. 2 Mosquitos are lost.

• 46 aircraft lay mines off Texel, Britanny and the Biscay ports.
• 1 Stirling and 1 Wellington are lost.

• IX Bomber Command B-24s attacking Naples are assailed by intense flak and fighter attacks from all quarters.
• 1 B-24 is lost

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• P-38 pilots of the 82nd Fighter Group's 95th Fighter Squadron intercept an Axis air convoy over the Straits of Sicily and down 20 Ju-52s, 2 Ju-88s, and 5 Luftwaffe fighters between Marsala, Sicily and Cap Bon, Tunisia about 0800 hours.
• At 1030 hours, P-38 pilots of the 82 Fighter Group's 96th Fighter Squadron down 5 Ju-52s near Marettimo Island.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bombt Group B-17s attack Finschhafen and Lae.
• 3 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Finschhafen.
• 22 D3A 'Val' dive bombers, escorted by 72 A6M Zeros, attack the Allied base at Oro Bay, where they sink two Allied merchant ships and damage an Australian corvette. P-38s and P-40s from the 8th, 35th, and 49th Fighter groups down 7 'Vals' and 11 Zeros near Oro Bay between 1215 and 1230 hours.

Air Operations, Sicily

NASAF B-17s attack Marsala and Trapani.

Air Operations, Solomons

• XIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Ballale and the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.
• AirSols F4Fs, F4Us, and P-38s strafe gun emplacements around Rekata Bay.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack Tunis.
• NAAF B-26s attack Oudna Airdrome.
• Naaf B-25s attack Ste.-Marie du Zit Airdrome.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack Axis motor vehicles and troops concentrations near Sfax.
• NATBF A-20s and NATAF fighter-bombers attack German Army motor columns around Enfidaville.

Axis Planning

The Salzburg conference between Hitler and Mussolini ends. Göring notes in his diary: 'The Führer told me that in these four days the Duce has got back to his best form ... The Duce fully understands that he has no alternative but to conquer or die with us.'

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British destroyer Beverley, damaged 2 days previous in a collison with the British steamer Cairnvalona, is sunk by U-188 southwest of Iceland with the loss of 151 members of her crew. 5 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Clover.
• The US freighter Edward B. Dudley (7177t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-615 in the North Atlantic. Those survivors of the 42-man crew and the 25-man Armed Guard who managed to lower boats are never recovered.
• The US freighter James W. Denver (7200t), straggling from Convoy UGS-7, is torpedoed ans sunk by U-195 in the North Atlantic. All hands, 42 crewmen, 1 passenger and 25 Armed Guard sailors, survive the loss of the ship and set sail for the coast of Africa.
• The US freighter Matt W. Ransom (7177t), steaming in Casablanca-bound Convoy UGS-6A, is mined. 42 crewmen, 2 passengers and 28 Armed Guards abandon ship and are rescued by submarine chasers PC-471 and PC-481.

Air Operations, Aleutians

3 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s, 13 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 24 P-40s mount 7 separate attacks against Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain and the Rabaul-area airfields, shipping off Rabaul, and targets of opportunity at Talasea and Ubili.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Magwe.
• 51st Fighter Group P-40 fighter-bombers attack dumps at Walawbum.
• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s strafe motor vehicles near Loiwing.

Air Operations, Europe

• B-24s of the IX Bomber Command's 376th Heavy Bomb Group sent to attack Naples harbor turn back due to bad weather. Half the group returns with bombs aboard, but the remaining planes attack targets of opportunity at Cosenza and Crotone.
• A second mission is mounted lated in the day, also by the 376th. Naples is attacked, as is the briefed secondary, Pizzo.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

NASAF B-17s attack Axis ships in the Straits of Sicily.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfields at Lae and Nubia, port facilities at Bogia, Madang, Nubia, and Toel, and shipping in Hansa Bay.
• 43 G4M 'Betty' bombers and 131 fighters mount a heavy attack against Port Moresby. 3 B-25s, an RAAF Beaufighter, and several fuel dumps are destroyed on the ground, and runways at three airfields are cratered. V Fighter Command fighter pilots down 17 'Bettys' and 10 fighters between 1012 and 1120 hours. 2 P-39s are lost in the air and several small vessels are damaged.

Air Operations, Sicily

NASAF B-17s attack the harbor at Trapani.

Air Operations, Solomons

2 individual XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville during the evening.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack Bizerte harbor.
• NATBF A-20s and B-25s attack Oudna and Ste.-Marie du Zit Airdromes.
• NAAF fighters mount numerous attacks on Axis ground forces and installations throughout northern Tunisia.
• 1st Fighter Group P-38 pilots down 4 Luftwaffe fighters in a morning action just the west of Tunis about 0800 hours.

Eastern Front

The German radio announces the discovery of eight communal graves in the Katyn forest near Smolensk, containing the remains of 4,150 Polish officers deported by the Russians in 1940 and murdered. The story says they were all shot in the back of the neck with their hands tied. The USSR denies the accusation. The truth has never been established.

The Soviets begin the large-scale mobilization of civilian labor to dig hundreds of miles of trenches and defense works in teh Kursk salient. The Stavka has already identified this area as the most likely location of a renewed German offensive in the summer. By the end of the month more than 150,000 men and women are at work digging trenches and tank traps, while the Voronezh and Central Fronts lay minefields and construct elaborate anti-tank positions. The Stavka has, after considerable deliberation, decided to fight a defensive battle before unleashing its own counteroffensive.

Germany, Strategy

Hitler issues Operational Order No 6 for the destruction of the enemy forces in the Kursk salient. Codenamed Operation CITADEL, it will begin on May 3. Hitler realizes that 1943 is his last chance to avoid defeat in the East, a position made more urgent by the impending defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, U-boat losses in the Atlantic and the threat of an Allied invasion of Western Europe. Thus, Germany's ultimate fate depends on a favorable outcome on the Eastern Front in 1943. The Führer believes that if the Soviets can be exhausted, they will be more receptive to a negotiated separate peace.

Air Operations, Aleutians

15 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 15 B-25s, 28 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 20 P-40s mount 11 seperate attacks against Kiska. A B-25 and 2 P-38s are damaged by anti-aircraft fire, and 1 of the battle-damaged P-38s crashes at sea during the return flight.

Air Operations, CBI

9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge at Myitgne, 9 B-25s attack the airfield at Monywa, and 6 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack a bridge at Shadazup.

Air Operations, Europe

• 24 Venturas bomb railway targets at Abbeville and Caen, but most of the bombs miss their targets. There are no losses.

• 208 Lancasters and 3 Halifaxes bomb the dock area at La Spezia and cause heavy damage. 4 Lancasters are lost and 3 more, either because of damage or technical difficulties, fly on to recently captured North African airfields. It is believed that this is the first time this has occurred. The 3 Lancasters later fly back to England.

• 6 Mosquitos of No. 105 Squadron carry out nuisance raids to Bremen, Hamburg and Wlhelmshaven, 2 planes to each target. These are the first non-Oboe Mosquito night raids and are the forerunners of Light Night Striking Force operations. The Germans hate the nuisance and harassing effect of the Mosquito raids and rarely shoot down any of these fast, high-flying aircraft.

• 10 Lancasters lay mines off Germany and there are 18 OTU sorties.
• 1 OTU Wellington is lost in the sea.

The 56th Fighter Group clocks is first official mission of the war when 12 of its P-47s join 12 from the 78th Fighter Group and 16 from the 4th Fighter Group for an unchallenged fighter sweep to St.-Omer.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Allied air raids continue without pause on the Italian mainland and the larger islands.

Air Operations, Pacific

US bombers begin raiding Kiska around the clock assaulting the airfield and military barracks.

Air Operations, Sardinia

XII Fighter Command P-38s mount bombing attacks against an Italian navy cruiser at La Madallena and other Axis ships at Porto Torres.

Air Operations, Sicily

NASAF B-17s attack Castelvetrano and Trapani/Milo Airdromes.

Air Operations, Solomons

AirSols light bombers and P-38s attack the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia and strafe barges.

Air Operations, Aleutians

9 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 6 B-25s, 17 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 30 P-40s mount 10 seperate attacks against Kiska.

Air Operations, CBI

• 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack the airfields at Manywet and Myitkyina with 1,000-pound bombs.

• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s strafe barracks and warehouses at Lungling, motor vehicles and cattle near Lungling, and pack horses near Tengchung.

Air Operations, Europe

• 146 Wellingtons, 135 Halifaxes, 98 Lancasters and 83 Stirlings are sent to bomb Stuttgart.
• The Pathfinders claim to have marked the center of this difficult target accurately, but the main bombing area is to the northeast along the line of approach of the bombing force. This is an example of 'creepback', a feature of large raids which occurs when Main Force crews fail to press through to the center of the marking area but bomb the earliest markers visible. Bomber Command is never to overcome the 'creepback' tendency and as a result, much of the bombing fall away from the center of marked target areas.
• 8 Stirlings, 8 Wellingtons, 4 Halifaxes and 3 Lancasters are lost.
• There is a night raid on Chelmsford hitting a ball-bearing factory. The prison there is set on fire.
• The Russians bomb Königsberg and Danzig.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s, 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, and V Bomber Command B-25s attack many individual Japanese vessels off New Guinea with negligible results.
• An estimated 144 Japanese bombers and fighters based at Rabaul attack the Allied base at Milne Bay. Of 40 P-38s and P-40s intercepting the attack, 49th Fighter Group P-38s down a G4M 'Betty' bomber and an A6M Zero at 1230 hours, and 5 other Japanese aircraft are downed by anti-aircraft fire.
• 3 US fighters are lost and an ammunition ship is sunk.

Air Operations, Sardinia

NASAF B-17s attack Elmas and Monserrato Airdromes.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack Tunis/El Aouina Airdrome, and escorting P-38s atrafe an Axis ship beached near Cape Zebib.
• NATBF A-20s attack Bordj Toum.
• NATAF fighter-bombers attack an Axis truck convoy and an artillery battery.

Bay of Biscay

U-526 is crossing the Bay of Biscay almost to Lorient when she encounters mines and is sunk.

U-526

Air Operations, Aleutians

23 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 20 B-25s, 25 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 44 P-40s attack Kiska in 2 seperate missions. 1 B-24 is brought down by anti-aircraft fire.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain and Rabaul-area airfields.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the oil refinery at Thilawa.
• 7 B-24s attack Prome.
• 10 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the marshalling yard at Mandalay.
• 9 B-25s attack the marshalling yard at Ywataung.

Air Operations, Europe

• 13 Venturas bomb a whaling factory ship in dry dock at Cherbourg. Bomb bursts are seen straddling the target.
• There are no losses.

• 23 aircraft lay mines from Brest to Lorient and there are 5 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• During a series of fighter sweeps between Furnes and St.-Omer, France, by 57 P-47s of the 4th, 56th, and 78th Fighter Groups, 3 4th Fighter Group P-47 pilots down 3 FW-190s between Knocke and Ostend, the first ever brought down by P-47s.
• 3 4th Fighter Group P-47s are lost; 2 pilots are lost, 1 rescued from the North Sea
[ | ]


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Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur William Tedder's new 'Mediterranean Air Command' includes the following formations: Middle East Command, Northwest African Air Forces, including the Free French, RAF Malta, Strategic AF, Tactical AF, Coastal AF, (Western) Desert AF, and the 12th US Air Support Command.
• NACAF B-26s on an anti-shipping sweep in the Naples area attack an Axis ship at sea south of Ustica Island.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack Lae.

Air Operations, Sicily

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the harbors and Catania and Palermo.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATAF fighter attack ground targets of opportunity throughout northern Tunisia.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack the airdrome and a large fuel dump at Ste.-Marie du Zit.

Aleutians

America begins preparations for an attack on Attu Island. It is to be carried out by 7th Division which has in fact been training for North Africa. Units of the 7th Infantry Division are to be taken to Adak and Dutch Harbor, then embarked in a destroyer and two submarines for the final phase of the operation.

Axis Planning

Hitler signs the operational order for Operation ZITADELLE (CITADEL) - a 'decisive' spring offensive against the Kursk Salient to begin May 3. It will be postponed to May 9 on April 29.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine P-615 is sunk by U-123 about 100 miles southwest of Freetown. All 40 of the crew are lost.

• The Italian submarine Archimede is sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VP-83) off the coast of Brazil.

Air Operations, Aleutians

13 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 12 B-25s, 39 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, 32 P-40s, and 2 F-5s mount 13 attacks against Kiska.

Air Operations, Europe

• 25 Venturas bomb a chemical works at Ostend and the railway yards at Haarlem without a loss.

• 327 aircraft including 197 Lancasters and 130 Halifaxes are sent to bomb the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia.
• This raid takes place in the light of a full moon, but is not a success. The Main Force is ordered to locate the Skoda factory visually using the Pathfinder markings as guides only. The Skoda factory is not hit and photographs indicate the nearest bomb loads to the factory may have been 3 miles away. It is believed that some of the bomb loads are dropped near a lunatic asylum at Dobrany, Czechoslovakia.
• 18 Halifaxes and 18 Lancasters are lost.
• In another major effort, Mannheim is the target of 271 aircraft including 159 Wellingtons, 95 Stirlings and 17 Halifaxes.
• The Pathfinders accurately mark the target and an effecive raid follows.
• 9 Wellingtons, 7 Stirlins and 2 Halifaxes are lost.

• 11 OTU planes make leaflet flights over France.

30 FW-190s are sent to London in the first night raid by German fighter-bombers. Only 2 bombs are on target. 4 confused pilots mistake West Malling airfield in Kent for their home base. 1 crashes and 3 are captured on landing.

• 59 of 83 VIII Bomber Command B-17s sent attack the Lorient U-boat base against moderate opposition with 147 tons of bombs.
• 1 B-17 is lost, 8 damaged; 10 crewmen are missing, 7 wounded
• 2nd Bomb Wing B-24s drop 52 tons of bombs on the Brest U-boat base.
• 3 B-24s are lost, 9 damaged; 31 crewmen are missing, 3 wounded

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the marshalling yards at Rangoon.
• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the rail junction at Thazi.

• 9 B-25s unable to reach Maymyo because of bad weather divert against rail yards at Mandalay.
• 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack a rail bridge near Mogaung and a bridge at Pinbaw.

• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s strafe buildings near Tengchung.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Vila Salazar, Timor.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NAAF P-38s mount bombing attacks against Axis ships at sea near Cape Zebib and Cape el-Ahmr.
• While on fighter sweeps over the Mediterranean associated with Operation FLAX, 82nd Fighter Group P-38 pilots down a flying boat south of Sicily at 0745 hours and a Bf-109 near Marettimo Island at 1550 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Kaimana, Lae, Madang, and Wewak.
• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack shipping at Wewak.

Air Operations, Sicily

• NASAF B-17s attack Palermo harbor.
• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack a tanker in Catania harbor and claim several hits.

Air Operations, Solomons

• During the night 15 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 8 VT-26 and VC-28 TBFs attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainvill.
• In the first attack of its kind in the region, 2 VC-27 TBFs accompanying the larger force conduct a mast-high bombing attack against Japanese ships in nearby New Georgia Sound.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATAF bombers, fighter-bombers, and fighters mount an all-out effort against Axis ground forces.
• NASAF B-26s attack the Oudna Airdrome>

Air Operations, Aleutians

• 7 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfield on Attu.
• 4 B-25s, 31 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 14 P-40s mount 13 separate attacks on Kiska.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a rail bridge at Pazundaung.
• 7 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge at Myitnge.
• 10 B-25s attack rail facilities at Myitnge.
• 16 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack two bridges and a town.

Air Operations, East Indies

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Amboina.

Air Operations, Europe

In one of the 8th Air Force's largest operations yet 115 B-17 bombers are sent to attack Bremen aircraft factories. 16 aircraft fail to return while 10 German fighters are shot down.

• 37 Venturas bomb railway targets at Abbeville and Caen and a power station at Zeebrugge. All targets are hit and there are no losses.

• 24 aircraft lay mines off the Biscay ports without a loss.

• 107 VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack aircraft industry targets at Bremen with more than 265 tons of bombs against the heaviest oppostion to date. Bomber gunners claim 63 Luftwaffe fighters downed along with 15 more probables. It is noted that FW-190 fighters unveil a new tactic, that of attacking the heavy bombers in waves so as to bring maximum amount of firepower to bear at one time.
• 16 planes are lost, 39 damaged; 2 crewmen are killed, 4 wounded, 159 crewmen missing

Air Operations, Mediterranean

NACAF (Northwest African Coastal Air Force) bombers and fighters attack Axis ships at sea in the Straits of Sicily. At 1540 hours 82nd Fighter Group P-38 pilots down 1 Ju-88 and 4 Italian Fiat Br-20 medium bombers near Zembra Island.

Air Operations, Sicily

• NASAF B-17s attack shipping and port facilities at Palermo, and escorting P-38 pilots of the 1st Fighter Group's 94th Fighter Squadron down 3 Ju-88s and damage at least 10 other Luftwaffe aircraft in an engagement over the target at 1300 hours.
• IX Bomber Command B-17s and a squadron of RAF Liberators attack Catania.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack shipping and port facilities at Ferryville.
• NATBF A-20s attack a variety of targets in support of Allied ground units.
• In their unit's combat debut, 36 P-40s of the 325th Fighter Group's 318th and 319th Fighter Squadrons escort B-25s of NASAF 319th Medium Bomb Group on a mission against the Luftwaffe airdrome at Mateur. 1 P-40 and its pilot are lost, but a pilot of the 318th Figther Squadron scores the group's first confirmed victory of the war.

Air Operations, North Africa

The Germans bomb Algiers killing 16 nuns in a convent.

Axis Diplomacy

In an attempt to curry favor with the Pope and Spain, Hitler appoints 2 'old school' diplomats, Ernse Freiherr von Weizsäcker and Hans Heinrich Dieckhoff, as Ambassadors in the Vatican and Madrid, respectively.

Air Operations, Aleutians

22 343rd Fighter Group P-38s and 37 P-40s mount 9 separate attacks against Kiska. Several of the P-38s are flown by visiting RCAF pilots.

Air Operations, CBI

• 23d Fighter Group P-40s attack a supply dump near Tengchung.

Air Operations, Pacific

An aircraft carrying the Commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Adm Yamamoto, is shot down by P-38 Lightning fighters over Bougainville. Yamamoto is killed. The operation is only possible because of the interception of a coded message announcing a visit by Yamamoto.

The decision to try to intercept his plane goes to the highest level. It is surprising the Japanese do not consider the possibility that the code was compromised, for this is another instance of clear intelligence data being used by the Allied forces. No effort is made to change the code. In fact the Japanese do not deduce that their codes are insecure so the risk is worthwhile. As well as suffering the loss of their leading strategist, the Japanese national morale suffers when the death is announced in May. The Americans, of course, make no announcement, since this would obviously suggest to the Japanese how they got the information that Yamamoto was aboard that particular plane. Technically it has been a very difficult well performed mission.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Venturas attack shipping and dock installations at Dieppe without a loss.

• 173 Lancasters and 5 Halifaxes are sent to bomb the dockyard at La Spezia. The center of the bombing is northwest of the aiming point. The main railway station and many public buildings are hit, however. 8 other Lancasters lay mines off La Spezia harbor.
• 1 Lancaster is lost.

• 10 Stirlings lay mines in southern Biscay and there are 5 OTU sorties.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Beginning about 1750 hours, at least 61 Ju-52s and 15 Bf-109s are downed over the Gulf of Tunis by 12 RAF Spitfires and 46 P-40s from the IX Fighter Command's 57th Fighter Group and an attached squadron of the 324th Fighter Group.
• 6 P-40s and 1 Spitfire are lost

Air Operations, Sardinia

NASAF B-25s attack the Alghero/Fertilla Airdrome and shipping at Porto Torres.

Air Operations, Sicily

• 75 NASAF B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Palermo and the Bocca di Falco Airdrome.
• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack Catania.

Air Operations, Solomons

In a perfectly executed ambush requiring split-second timing, 16 P-38 pilots from the 347th Fighter Group’s 339th Fighter Squadron down 2 G4M 'Betty' bombers and 3 A6M Zeros over southern Bougainville Island. On the flight deck of one of the 'Bettys' is Adm Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet, who is killed. 1 P-38 is lost with its pilot.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• 9th Air Force fighters attack a variety of tactical ground targets throughout Axis-held Tunisia.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack several Axis landing grounds.

Axis Diplomacy

A trade agreement between Turkey and Germany is signed.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-123 sinks the British submarine P-615 100 miles southwest of Freetown with the loss of all 44 of her crew. The British submarine was en route to the South Atlantic Command to provide anti-submarine escort training.

Diplomatic Relations

The Soviet Government alleges that German allegations of Soviet responsibility for the Katyn massacre is a Gestapo 'frame-up'.

Air Operations, Aleutians

14 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 12 B-25s, 23 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 32 P-40s mount 9 separate attacks against Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s, 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, and V Bomber Command B-25s mount numerous individual attacks against the Gasmata and Cape Gloucester airfields on New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the main rail station in Rangoon.
• 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack several bridges throughout Burma.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Mosquitos are sent to bomb the raiway shops at Namur but cannot locate the target due to poor visibility.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s, 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, and V Bomber Command B-25s mount numerous individual attacks against the Hollandia airfield and the Malahang airfield at Lae.

Air Operations, Solomons

In the first victory of its kind in the Pacific, a P-70 night fighter piloted by Capt Earl C. Bennett, of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, downs a G4M 'Betty' bomber near Tulagi at 0425 hours.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack shipping at Tunis.
• NATBF (Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force) A-20s attack La Sebala Airdrome.
• NATAF fighter-bombers attack German Army tanks along the active battlefront.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack Axis landing grounds and German Army defensive positions.
• In the course of three separate aerial engagements between 1040 and 1730 hours, pilots of the 31st and 52nd Fighter Groups down 5 Luftwaffw fighters.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler meets with Quisling.

Eastern Front

Heavy fighting is taking place in the Kuban region. Elsewhere activity is light.

The Bf 109 of Rudolf Müller

North Africa

Another German effort to fly in supplies suffers disastrous losses.

The 8th Army attacks the Enfidaville Line in moonlight, protected by a creeping barrage.

The plan for the main assault on Tunis and Bizerte is outlined. It is scheduled to begin on the 22nd. The US II Corps assumes command of a new zone on the northern flank of the Allied line at 1800, with the front extending from the coast east fo Cap Serrat to Hill 667, 5 miles west of Heïdous. The Corps Franc D'Afrique is attached to the 9th Division and given the zone on the extreme north.

Air Operations, Aleutians

15 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 16 B-25s, 10 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 32 P-40s mount 10 attacks against Kiska.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail facilities at Thazi.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

22 307th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s staging through Funafuti Airfield attack 3 phosphate plants and photograph Nauru Island at noon. 5 B-24s are damaged by Japanese Navy fighters and 1 airman is killed.

Air Operations, Europe

• 36 Venturas bomb the railway yards at Boulogne, shipping at Cherbourg and the power stations at Zeebrugge without a loss.

• 339 aircraft are sent to attack Stettin. Included in the total are 194 Lancasters, 134 Halifaxes and 11 Stirlings.
• This raid on a target more than 600 miles from England proves to be the most successful attack beyond the range of Oboe during the Battle of the Ruhr. Visibility is good and the Pathfinder marking is excellent. 24 fires are still burning when a photographic reconnaissance aircraft flies over Stettin almost 36 hours later.
• 13 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling are lost.
• 86 Stirlings raid the Heinkel factory near Rostock but a smoke screen conceals the target and the bombs are scattered.
• 8 Stirlings are lost.

• 11 Mosquitos carry out a 'nuisance' raid on Berlin as a diversion for the forces attacking Stettin and Rostock. 18 Wellingtons lay mines off the Brittany ports and there are 3 OTU sorties.
• 1 Mosquito is lost on the Berlin raid.

The Russians bomb Tilsit in East Prussia.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

During a dawn sweep over the sea northwest of Cap Bon, 79th Fighter Group P-40 pilots down 3 Bf-109s and 2 Ju-88s.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the airfields at Borman, Nubia, and Wewak, and shipping off Wewak.
• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Kaimana and Kendari Island.

Air Operations, Pacific

US aircraft attack the Japanese base on Nauru.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s and B-24s attack the Axis landing grounds and airdromes at Creteville, La Marsa, La Sebala, Mabtouha, Protville, and Bizerte/Sid Ahmed.
• 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 5 Bf-109s and 2 FW-190s north and west of Tunis between 0915 and 0920 hours.

Aleutian Islands

Rear-Adm Thomas C. Kinkaid, commanding Task Force 16, issues operation orders for the landing on Attu Island.

Diplomatic Relations

Roosevelt meets with Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho in Monterrey, Mexico, as the 2 'good neighbors' discuss cooperative wartime efforts and make plans for postwar reconstruction.

Japan, Politics

The Japanese Cabinet is reorganized, with Mamora Shigemitsu becoming Foreign Minister replacing Masayuki Tani.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against Gasmata and Ubili.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the rail yards at Maymyo and 9 B-25s attack a bridge at Myitnge.

• 4 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Bangkok, but 12 others abort in the face of bad weather. The assigned target is an arsenal but the crews are unable to locate it.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Laga, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a night raid on Aberdeen. There is a direct hit on an air raid shelter causing heavy casualties.

• 127 Bombs dropped (mixture of Incendiary, High Explosive and Cluster Bombs)
• 98 Civilians killed
• 27 Servicemen killed at Gordon Barracks
• 93 Serious injuries
• 139 Slight injuries
• 9,668 houses damaged

• 11 Venturas bomb the railway yards at Abbeville.
• 3 Venturas are lost.

In VIII Fighter Command's deepest penetratiions to date, a total of 82 P-47s conduct high-altitude fighter sweeps over three distinct areas of the Netherlands. Luftwaffe fighters fail to rise to the baid, and the sweeps are unchallenged.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• 79th Fighter Group P-40 pilots down 3 Bf-109s near Cap Bon during a dawn sweep.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s strafe and bomb barges along the coast.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Kaimana.
• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against villages in northeastern New Guinea.

Air Operations, South Pacific

In retaliation for the previous day's attack on Nauru by US planes, the Japanese make a pre-dawn attack on the Funafuti airfield in the Ellice Islands. 1 VII Bomber Command B-24 is struck by a bomb, and its bombs damage 5 other B-24s when they are detonated.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF medium and heavy bombers are grounded by bad weather, but NATBF A-20s, fighters, and fighter-bombers mount a variety of missions in support of Allied ground forces.
• 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 3 BF-109s, 2 FW-190s, and 2 FW-190s, respectively, in three separate missions.

Britain, Policy

Churchill warns the Germans of reprisals if they use poison gas against the Russians.

Indian Ocean

The US freigher John Drayton is torpedoed by the Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci off the coast of South Africa and abandoned. The submarine then finishes off the freigher with gunfire. 21 crewmen and 6 Armed Guard sailors are lost in the attack.

Japan, Command

Adm Mineichi Koga is appointed to succeed Adm Isoroku Yamamoto in command of the Japanese Combined Fleet.

Air Operations, Europe

• 32 aircraft lay mines off the Biscay ports and there are 5 OTU sorties.
• 1 Lancaster and 1 Wellington are lost in the mine-laying operation.

NASAF B-26s attack the harbor at Carloforte, San Pietro Island.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

6 giant Me-323 transports are shot down over the Gulf of Tunis by RAF and SAAF Spitfires and Kittyhawks.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s attack targets around Nassau Bay.
• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks at Dobo and Nubia.

Air Operations, South Pacific

At 0330 hours Japanese aircraft bomb the airfield on Funafuti in the Ellice Islands. 2 307th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 1 VMF-441 F4F are destroyed, and 5 B-24s and 8 F4Fs are damaged.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-25s attack two Axis landing grounds near Protville.
• NATAF A-20s and fighters and IX Fighter Command P-40s attack numerous targets in support of Allied ground units.
• In the course of three separate aerial engagements between 1135 and 1645 hours, 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 3 Luftwaffe fighters.

Occupied Poland

In the Warsaw Ghetto, the SS destroy fortified factory buildings with point-blank artillery fire and explosives.

Pacific

• After being damaged by an enemy air attack, the US submarine Grenadier (SS-210) is scuttled in the Straits of Malacca.
• The Dutch submarine O-21, despite the presence of an escort vessel, sinks the Japanese cargo ship Yamazato Maru (6925t) in the Malacca Straits.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

1 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24 successfully attacks a ship off Kavieng.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack warehouses in Mandalay.
• 5 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack a bridge at Shaduzup.

• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s strafe a motor-vehicle convoy near Lungling.

Air Operations, Europe

NASAF B-25s and B-26s attack Arbatax harbor.

Air Operations, Gilberts

At 0400 hours, 12 307th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s temporarily based at the airfield at Funafuti attack barracks and gasoline storage on Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF B-17s attack Axis ships at sea north of Sicily.
• In the course of four separate engagements while patrolling along the coast or out to sea, pilots of the 1st, 31st, and 52nd Fighter Groups down 3 Axis flying boats and damage 1 Bf-109.

Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the town and airfield at Finschhafen.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-25s and B-28s attack motor vehicles and the rail line at Mateur, and various targets found along the Mateur-Bedja road.
• 320th Medium Bomb Group B-26s undertake that unit's first combat mission of the war against Pont-du-Fahs.

• NATAF A-20s, B-25s, fighter-bombers, and fighters, and IX Fighter Command P-40s mount an all-out effort against Axis ground forced throughout the battle area.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack Axis troop concentrations, artillery positions, and a landing ground north of Enfidaville.

Allied Planning

It is decided to set up a joint Anglo-American command to prepare the plans for a European landing. The British Lt-Gen Sir Frederick E. Morgan is appointed to head the new command with the designation COS-SAC, Chief of Staff Supreme Allied Commander.

Diplomatic Relations

The Union of South Africa severs relations with France.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-191 is sunk in a Hedgehog attack by the British destroyer Hesperus during the passage of convoy ONS-4.

U-191

Class	Type IXC/40
CO	Kapitänleutnant Herbert Fiehn
Location	Atlantic, SE of Cape Farewell
Cause	Hedgehog
Casualties	55
Survivors	None

• The US freighter Robert Gray (7176t), straggling from Convoy HX-234, is torpedoed and sunk by U-306 in the North Atlantic. The 39-man crew an the 19-man Armed Guard are lost.
• The US freighter Santa Catalina (6507t), bound for Basra, Iraq, is torpedoed and sunkby U-129 and abandoned.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler orders 'utmost severity' in coping with the uprising in the Jewish ghetto of Warsaw.

New Guinea

Troops of the Australian 3rd Division occupy positions around Mubo without opposition. No significant activity is reported from the area where the Australians man a broken line from Mubo to Komiatum and Bobdubi.

Air Operations, Aleutians

2 343rd Fighter Group P-38s attack Kiska before the 11th Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against the Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• In the 14th Air Force’s only medium-bomber mission of the month, 9 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack mines and rail facilities at Namtu and 7 of 11 P-40s escorting the B-25s strafe a mine and smelter.

• While defending Lingling Airfield against an attack by an estimated 25 Japanese bombers and fighters, P-40 pilots of the 23rd Fighter Group’s 75th Fighter Squadron down 4 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters and 1 Ki-45 'Nick' fighrter in an hour-long engagement.
• The CATF is formally assigned to the 14th Air Force, of which it becomes an independent combat command.

Air Operations, East Indies

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Kendari airfield on Celebes.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Dili airfield on Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• 5 Mosquitos attack railway targets at Tours, Paderborn and Trier without a loss.

A Ju-88, presumably on a recon mission, is downed by 2 P-38 pilots of the Iceland Air Command's 50th Fighter Squadron.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack targets around Mubo.
• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual missions against Biliau, Lae, and Singor.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATAF fighters mount attacks against ground targets in the Pont-du-Fahs area.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s attack German Army troops north of Enfidaville.

Battle of the Atlantic

Fortress 'D' of No 206 Squadron in support of convoy ONS-5 when U-710 is spotted on the surface. The aircraft attacks with depth charges despite taking fire from the 20mm gun on the U-boat's conning tower. Six depth charges are dropped straddling the boat seeming to lift the boat out the water. A second attack is made after which casualties are seen among the wreckage.

U-710

Britain, Home Front

IRA leaders, Hugh McAteer and Jimmy Steele, commandeer the Broadway Cinema in Belfast, and make propaganda speeches; then escape. Lord Haw-Haw later broadcasts this news.

Germany, Home Front

Lt-Gen Kurt von Hammerstein-Equart, former COGS and a leading anti-Nazi conspirator, dies at age 64.

Air Operations, Aleutians

15 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 12 B-25s, 23 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, 32 P-40s, and 1 F-5 attack Attu and Kiska in 12 separate missions.

Air Operations, CBI

11 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail and other targets at Ywataung.

Air Operations, Europe

US bombers raid the Bari airfield in southern Italy.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack Madang, Saidor and the airfield at Wewak.
• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against the airfields at Finschhafen and Madang.
• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack ground emplacements at Green Hill.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 4 VMF-213 F4Us returning from a bomber-escort mission encounter 16 Japanese Navy bombers escorted by as many as 30 A6M Zeros. Despite the odds, the F4Us down 5 Zeros near New Georgia at a cost of 2 F4Us with their pilots. As a result of the attack, the Japanese bombers and their escorts withdraw to their bases.
• During the night 3 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville. Later, 12 more B-24s also attack Kahili airfield.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• Bad weather grounds NASAF bombers, but NATAF fighters are able to mount direct-support missions in the battle area.
• NATBF A-20s and B-25s and IX Bomber Command B-25s and P-40s attack a landing ground near Enfidaville and other targets in Axis-held territory.
• USAAF fighter pilots down 2 Axis fighters in the course of at least three separage afternoon actions.

Battle of the Atlantic

This is the first occasion on which aircraft from an escort carrier played a part in the destruction of a U-boat. A Swordfish of 811 NAS from the escort carrier HMS Biter sights U-203 and calls up the destroyer Pathfinder. The destroyer blows the U-boat to the surface in a series of depth-charge attacks.

U-203

Air Operations, Aleutians

11 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 10 of 15 B-25s dispatched, 21 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, 12 P-40s, and 24 RCAF P-40s mount 15 separate missions against Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

1 B-17 of the 43rd Heavy Bomb Group attacks Arawe, Gasmata, and Ubili.

Air Operations, CBI

• 7 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack warehouses near Rangoon and 7 other B-24s attack the oil refinery at Thilawa.
• 10 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Heho.
• 10 B-25s attack the airfield at Kanaung.

• Following a week-long program of feints against the airfield at Yunnanyi that resulted in no bombs being dropped, 12 Japanese bombers and 15 fighters catch 20 P-40s of the 23rd Fighter Group’s 74th Fighter Squadron waiting on the ground. 5 P-40s and a C-47 are demolished in the attack, 15 P-40s are damaged, and 5 USAAF personnel are killed.

• 1 P-40 from the 23rd Fighter Group downs a Ki-21 'Sally' bomber over Shinshiku.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Mosquitos attack railway targets at Tours, Jülich and Trier without a loss.

• 561 aircraft attack Duisburg. Included in the total are 215 Lancasters, 135 Wellingtons, 119 Halifaxes, 78 Stirlings and 14 Mosquitos.
• This heavy raid is a partial failure. The Pathfinders claim to have marked the target correctly but later daytime reconnaissance photos show that most of the bombing falls to the northeast of Duisburg. The Main Force may have bombed to early or lured by early fires short of the target. However, more that 300 buildings are destroyed in Duisburg and the death toll from conflicting report is between 130 and 207. Bombs are reported to have hit 6 other towns in the Ruhr.
• 7 Halifaxes, 5 Wellingtons, 3 Lancasters and 2 Stirlings are lost.

• 8 OTU aircraft drop leaflets over France without a loss.

• NASAF B-17s attack Grosseto Airdrome.
• In IX Bomber Command's largest mission to date, 70 B-24s attack Bari Airdrome.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF B-26s and P-38 escorts attack Axis shipping at sea near Marettimo Island and Porto Ponte Romano, Sardinia.
• NATBF B-25s attack Axis ships at sea off Cap Bon.

Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Finschhafen and Lae.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-25s attack the rail line at Mateur and the town of Teboura.
• NATBF A-20s and B-25s attack numerous targets, including transportation targets throughout the battle area in northeast Tunisia.
• 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 5 Bf-109s in the course of several aerial engagements over the battle area between 1105 and 1400 hours.

Aleutians

The Japanese-held harbors on Attu, Chicagof Harbor and Holtz Bay, are bombarded by an American squadron led by Rear-Adm C. H. McMorris. The squadron consists of 3 cruisers and 6 destroyers.

Diplomatic Relations

The Russians break off relations with the Polish government-in-exile because of the allegations concerning the Katyn massacre. Relations have been poor for some time in any case as Stalin's attitude toward a post-war Poland has become more clear. On April 30 in an attempt to patch up the quarrel, the Poles drop the call for a Red Cross enquiry.

Moscow breaks off relations with the Polish government-in-exile in London and recognizes the Union of Polish Patriots as the official representatives of the Polish people. This organization comprises Polish communists resident in the USSR and under the control of Moscow.

India, Home Front

• Pres Roosevelt's personal representative complains that the Viceroy has refused him permission to see imprisoned Gandhi.
• The Moslem Conference demands the creation of 'Pakistan' as the only means of preventing bloodshed.

Air Operations, Aleutians

4 P-38s of the 343rd Fighter Group bomb Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount numerous individual anti-shipping strikes around New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• 19 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail facilities at Thazi.
• 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack Japanese Army troop positions near Sarenghkyet.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Venturas are sent to attack a railway target at St Brieuc but turn back because of cloud cover.

• 160 aircraft - 58 Halifaxes, 46 Lancasters, 31 Wellingtons and 25 Stirlings - are involved in a large mine-laying operation. 458 mines are dropped off the Biscay and Brittany ports and in the Frisians. 123 planes carry out their mission successfully.
• 1 Lancaster is lost.
• 4 OTU Wellingtons make leaflet flights over France without a loss.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

NASAF B-25s attack Axis shipping at sea west of Zembra Island.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount numerous individual anti-shipping strikes.
• V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s attack Japanese Army ground forces in the Mubo-Green Hill area.

Air Operations, Sardinia

NASAF B-17s attack Villacidro Airdrome.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville and B-24s attack the Vila airfield on Kolombangara and the airfield at Balalle.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATAF aircraft mount numerous ground-support attacks throughout the battle area.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s bomb and strafe Axis positions norht of Enfidaville.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler receives Ante Pavelić, head of the Croatian puppet government, at his headquarters. This is one of a long series of meetings Hitler has had with leaders of Germany's allies, commencing with Mussolini on April 7. As a result of these meetings, Axis propaganda increasingly stresses the importance of an anti-Bolshevik crusade to save European civilization, rather that the earlier emphasis on the 'New Order'. At the same time Hitler demands even more men and materials from his allies.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-174 is sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VB-125) in the North Atlantic area.

U-174

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the dock area at Monywa and 10 other B-25s attack river traffic near Katha.

• Following up on the successful ploy used against the airfield at Yunnanyi on April 26, 20 Japanese Army bombers feint toward the airfield at Kunming, withdraw when 23rd Fighter Group P-40s rise to meet them, and return after most of the P-40s have landed. Only 2 P-40s are in the air to defend the base, but the bombing is fortunately impeded by strong winds, and very little damage results. As the Japanese force is withdrawing to the south, 75th Fighter Squadron P-40s based at the airfield at Lingling arrive on the scene and give chase. 11 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighers are shot down about 100 miles from Kunming against no USAAF losses. However, there are no USAAF fighters left at Kunming when it is struck again by a second Japanese bomber force that fortunately causes very little damage.

Air Operations, Europe

• 207 aircraft carry out another large mine-laying operation. Included in the total are 68 Lancasters, 60 Halifaxes, 47 Wellingtons and 32 Stirlings.
• 167 aircraft lay 593 mines off Heligoland, in the Elbe River, and in the Great and Little Belts. There are low clouds over the German and Danish coasts forcing the planes to fly low in order to establish their positions before dropping their mines. There is a lot of German flak activity.
• 7 Lancasters, 7 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons and 2 Halifaxes are lost. This is the largest total for a mine-laying operation during the war, but the number of mines laid is also the largest.
• 6 Mosquitos carry out a raid to Wilhelmshaven dropping many flares to divert attention from part of the mine-laying operation occurring nearby.
• There are no losses.

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack Naples harbor.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF B-25s and P-38 escorts attack 2 Axis vessels at sea off northeastern Sicily.
• 82nd Fighter Group p-38 pilots down 6 Axis fighters near the Egadi Islands about 0830 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack 2 ships near Dobo.
• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against numerous targets.

Air Operations, Sardinia

In their unit's combat debut of the war, B-17s of the 2nd Heavy Bomb Group attack the port facilities at Terranova.

Air Operations, Sicily

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the ferry termianl at Messina.

Air Operations, Solomons

3 XIII Bomber Command reconnaissance B-17s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville after flying over Bougainville.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-25s attack shipping in Tunis harbor.
• NASAF B-26s attack the landing grounds at Mabouban and Mabtouha.
• NATAF aircraft attack Axis shipping near Tunis and undertake numerous ground-support attacks throughout northeastern Tunisia.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s attack embattled German Army troops near Enfidaville.
• A 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilot downs a Bf-109 during a morning engagement over the desert.

Battle of the Atlantic

Over the next 8 days there is a series of engagements around the convoy ONS-5. The convoy has 42 merchant ships and is attacked by 11 U-boats; in running battles most of the way across the Atlantic it loses 13 vessels. Of the attacking U-boats 7 are sunk and 5 seriously and 12 slightly damaged. This is an important success for the escorts since the ratio of 1 U-boat for 2 merchantmen is very acceptable. There has been little air support for the convoy, which is unusual for such a successful operation.

Diplomatic Relations

Sweden protests the mining of its territorial waters by Germany.

Air Operations, CBI

• 18 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge and rail facilities at Myitnge.
• 9 B-25s attack shipping at Rangoon.
• 6 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack a military camp near Tahona.

Air Operations, East Indies

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Halong, Celebes.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Koepang, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• In the largest VIII Fighter Command offesive operation to date, 112 P-47s from the 4th, 56th, and 78th Fighter Groups conduct a series of high-altitude fighter sweeps from Pas-de-Calais to The Hague. No Luftwaffe are officially credited, but 3 are claimed.
• 2 56th Fighter Group P-47s are lost, 2 others damages
[ | ]


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Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF P-38s attack Axis ships at sea near Marettimo Island.
• NAAF P-40s attack Axis ships at sea along Tunisia's northeastern coast.
• NATAF bombers and fighters attack Axis ships at sea in the Gulf of Tunis.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s bomb and strafe Axis vessels encountered at sea between the Tunisian coast and Zembra Island.
• In the course of at least four separate engagements through the day over or near Marettimo Island, Cap Bon, and the Gulf of Tunis, USAAF fighter pilots down 11 Bf-109s and 3 Mc-202s.
[ | ]


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Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against numerous targets.

[ | ]


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Air Operations, Solomons

• 6 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Kieta.
• 2 B-24s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.
• Individual B-24s attack Vila (Kolombangara) and Numa Numa (Bougainville).
• AirSols fighters attack Gatere and Pelipelpi Bay.
• USAAF P-39s and US Navy aircraft attack a bivouac at the Vila airfield on Kolombangara.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• During the afternoon, NASAF B-26s attack a landing ground near Protville.
• NATAF and 9th Air Force bombers and fighters mount numerous attacks on a variety of targets in the ground-battle area.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler meets with Laval. This is the last of 5 meeting with satellite and quisling leaders that Hitler has had in April.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-332 is sunk by Liberator 'D' of No 224 Squadron in Operation DERANGE, an anti-U-boat sweep by RAF Coastal Command in the Bay of Biscay.

U-332

Class	Type VIIC
CO	Oberleutnant zur See Eberhard Huttemann
Location	Atlantic, NW of Cape Ortegal
Cause	Air attack
Casualties	45
Survivors	None

• The US freighter McKeesport (6198t), in Convoy ONS-5, is torpedoed by U-258 and abandoned. The British trawler Northern Gem rescues all hands: the 43-man crew and the 25-man Armed Guard. The trawler then finishes the freighter with gunfire.

Air Operations, Aleutians

Of 4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s, 17 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 7 P-40s dispatched against Kiska, only 1 P-40 is able to complete an attack through bad weather.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against the Cape Gloucester and Gasmata airfields on New Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

• 305 aircraft are sent to Essen, the 55th raid on Essen by the RAF. Included in the total are 190 Lancasters, 105 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos.
• Cloud is predicted over the target so Pathfinders use Oboe skymarking. Results are not expected to be good, but the plan worked well and 238 crews claim to have bombed Essen. Because of the cloud cover, no photographs are taken. The Krupp factory is again hit.
• 6 Halifaxes and 6 Lancasters are lost.

• 8 Stirlings and 8 Halifaxes carry out H₂S training attacks on Bocholt.
• 1 Stirling is lost.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF B-26s and P-38s attack Axis ships at sea off Tunis.
• NASAF B-25s attack Axis ships at sea near Cap Bon.
• NATAF fighters and bombers attack Axis ships at sea in the Gulf of Tunis.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s on anti-shipping sweeps claim 1 destroyer and 3 other ships sunk and 2 destroyers and 2 ships damaged.
• Although 3 IX Fighter Command P-40s are reported missing, 57th and 79th Fighter Group P-40 pilots down 5 Axis fighters over the Gulf of Tunis or near Cap Bon in several actions between 1115 and 1655 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Lae.

Air Operations, Sicily

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the ferry terminal at Messina, also hitting a nearby marshalling yard and sections of the city.

Air Operations, Solomons

5 XIII Bomber Command B-17s attack bivouacs and revetments at the Kahila airfield on Bougainville.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-25s attack Axis road convoys along the Tunis-Medjez el Bab highway.
• NATAF bombers and fighters attack Axis ground forces and installations throughout the shrinking battle area.

Aleutian Islands

The convoy transporting the main body of the US 7th Division for the Attu landing reaches Cold Harbor, Alaska.

Battle of the Atlantic

• RN and RCN form 'Support Groups' for anti-U-boat operations.
• Over the next 2 days U-515 sinks 7 ships from Convoy TS-37 along the west African coast off Freetown. Sinking on the 30th are the British merchant steamer Bandar Shahpour (5,236t), the British merchant steamer Corabella (5,682t), the Dutch motor merchant Kota Tiandi (7,295t) and the British merchant steamer Nagina (6,551t). Sinking on May 1st are the British merchant steamer City of Singapore (6,555t), the British merchant steamer Clan MacPherson (6,940) and the Belgian motor merchant Mokambo (4,996t).
• A Hampden of No 455 Squadron RAAF sights U-227 on the surface at 0955. The aircraft drops six depth charges as the submarine begins to dive, three explode on the starboard side and three astern. Another attack is made with two more depth charges sinking the U-boat.

U-227

Britain, Home Front

Beatrice Webb, Lady Passfield, a champion of Socialism, dies at age 85.

Britain, Policy

New anti-submarine strategies are formally adopted by the Royal Navy, centering on carrier-based aircraft cover and long-range patrol planes. They are immediately employed in the Bay of Biscay, where in the following month 38 U-boats will be sunk. The key to the program is catching the submarines while they are leaving or returning from their bases on the French coast. Ultra messages are invaluable in giving British ships and planes specific times and locations for intercepting the submarines.

Burma

The survivors of Gen Wingate's first ill-fated Chindit expedition cross into British India and safety. Emaciated and fatigued, the troops have covered more that 1,000 miles to reach safety, and the campaign has cost 1,000 British lives. A question mark now hangs over the future use of the Chindits.

Eastern Front

Marshal Alexander Novikov is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the VVS (Army Air Force). Novikov is an able commander and under his leadership the Soviets gradually regain control of the skies, greatly influencing the campaigns of the latter stages of the war.

During April the Germans withdraw the 328th Infantry Division from the line but introduce the 39th, 106th, 257th and 282nd Infantry Divisions, leaving the Ostheer with 16 panzer, 15 panzer grenadier and 146 infantry division.

Mediterranean

• 3 Italians destroyers are bombed off Tunis.
• During April Axis convoys transport 2,800 troops, 18,690 tons of supplies, 26 guns and 46 tanks to Tunisia despite incessant Allied naval and air countermeasures.