Air Operations, Europe

The Battle of the Ruhr continues. More than 2,000 tons of bombs are dropped on Dortmund on the night of May 23, the heaviest raid yet, and other major targets include Essen, Duisburg and Wuppertal. The USAAF concentrates on the U-boat war dropping 2,800 tons of bombs on a range of objectives including St Nazaire, Antwerp and Kiel. A specially trained RAF squadron attacks the Möhne and Eder Dams (see May 16-17).

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Allied aircraft based in the Mediterranean fly about 25,000 missions in support of operations in Tunisia, until the German surrender, and against targets in Sicily, Sardinia and southern Italy.

Battle of the Atlantic

Allied shipping losses decline again to 58 ships of 299,400 tons, of which submarines sink 50 ships of 264,900 tons. (Allied Ships Lost to U-boats this month) The Germans lose 41 U-boats and May 22 Dönitz decides to withdraw his forces from the north Atlantic routes (see May 22). Typical convoy battles might be those of HX-237 which loses 3 ships but sinks 3 U-boats helped by the escort carrier Biter, or SC-129 which loses 2 and sinks 2, again with Biter's help. From the German side the month has looked hopeful at the start, with 4 groups, 13-17 strong, on patrol in the Atlantic and another 18 in the Mediterranean. Dönitz is being forced, because of increasing British air operations, to order his boats to reverse their previous procedure while crossing the Bay of Biscay and to surface by day and try to fight the air attacks.

Air Operations, Aleutians

16 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 15 B-25s, 35 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, 38 P-40s, and 5 F-5s mount 16 separate missions against Attu and Kiska.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons are sent to attack a railway target at Caen and 6 Mosquitos are sent to bomb the Phillips factory at Eindhoven. Both raids are forced to abandon their mission because of clouds.

• 18 Wellingtons and 12 Stirlings lay mines off the Brittany and Biscay coasts.
• 1 Stirling is lost.

• Poor weather prevents all but 29 of 78 VIII Bomber Command B-17s sent to attack the day's primary target, the St.-Nazaire U-boat base. Only 59 tons of bombs are released. Most of the day's losses are due to a navigational error during the withdrawal. This error carries the main bomber formation over the heavily defended Brest Peninsula, that results in the dispersion of the bomber formations that work to the advantage of the pursuing Luftwaffe fighters.
• 7 B-17s are lost to enemy fire, 22 are damaged, 2 beyond repair; 3 crewmen killed, 17 wounded, 73 missing

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the harbor at Reggio di Calabria, directly opposite the Sicilian port of Messina.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF B-26s and P-38s on anti-shipping sweeps between Sicily and Tunisia are unable to locate any Axis shipping in their zone.
• NATAF A-20s and fighters attack Axis ships at sea in the Gulf of Tunis as well as harbor facilities at several small Tunisian ports.
• In the day's only fighter engagement, 2 33rd Fighter Group P-40s team up to down a FW-190 over the Gulf of Tunis, near Cape Carthage.

Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a ship at Manokwari and the airfield at Nabire.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATAF A-20s and fighters attack Axis forces on the ground.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s strafe port facilities and Axis shipping at seal along the northeastern coast.

Britain, Home Front

Dover is shelled for 75 minutes from France.

Eastern Front

At the beginning of May the German forces are still not prepared for Operation CITADEL, Hitler continually delaying the start date as he awaits the arrival of new Panther and Tiger tanks. However, the Soviets begin counter-operations against the Germans, May being dominated by fierce air battles over the salient. The Soviets attack many German airbases in an effort to disrupt the build up of German air forces. Losses to both sides are severe, the Soviets not being strong enough to gain superiority.

Air Operations, Aleutians

6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s, 8 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 8 P-40s attack Kiska.

Air Operations, Australia

18 G4M 'Betty' bombers and 27 A6M Zeros attack Darwin. RAAF Spitfires down 1 'Betty' and 5 Zeros, but 8 Spitfires are also lost.

Air Operations, CBI

7 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters strafing the airfield at Changsha are assailed by 8 P-40s of the 23rd Fighter Group’s 75th Fighter Squadron at 0900 hours, and 6 of the 'Oscars' are brought down. In related fighter engagements at the same time near the airfields at Hengyang and Lingling, 75th Fighter Squadron P-40s down 5 of approximately 30 other 'Oscars'. 1 P-40 is lost with its pilot.

Air Operations, East Indies

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

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons and 12 Venturas are sent to attack a steelworks at Ijmuiden. The Venturas are successful, the Bostons are not. 7 Mosquitos bomb the railway workshops at Thionville.
• There are no losses.
• 68 Dorniers lay mines off the estuaries of the Thames and Humber in 3 night missions during May.
• 5 planes are lost.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Bad weather grounds most air operations, but IX Fighter Command P-40s manage to attack Axis ships at sea off the northeastern coast of Tunisia.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Toeal.
• 1 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17 attacks Finschhafen.

Air Operations, Pacific

Japanese aircraft from Salamaua, New Guinea, bomb Darwin, Australia.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia and Rekata Bay. USAAF and USN fighters also attack the Munda Point aifield.

Air Operations, Tunisia

NATAF fighters attack Axis tanks and troops around Massicault and Teboura.

Baltic Sea

The German liner/transport Gneisenau is sunk by an RAF mine.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-465 is sunk by Sunderland 'M' of No 461 Squadron RAAF. The aircraft drops 8 depth charges, after which the U-boat is seen sinking stern first.

Air Operations, Aleutians

7 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 11 B-25s, 20 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, 27 P-40s, and 2 F-5s mount 9 separate attacks against Kiska and one reconnaissance mission to Attu.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command B-25s strafe the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.
• 1 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17 strafes launches near Lolobau Island.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Venturas of 487 (New Zealand) Squadron are sent to attack a power station on the northern outskirts of Amsterdam. 1 of the planes returns early. The rest of the planes proceed with an escort of 3 squadrons of Spitfires. Unfortunately, an earlier Spitfire sweep has alerted the German defences while the Ventura force is still flying at low level over the North Sea. It is also unfortunate that an exceptional number of experienced German fighter pilots are present at Schiphol airfield for a conference. As a result, 69 German fighters are up in the air near Amsterdam when the Ventura force crosses the Dutch coast. Some of the German fighters go after the Spitfires while the remainder attacks the bombers. 9 Venturas are shot down before reaching the target and a tenth is badly damaged but it manages to turn back and reach England. The only remaining Ventura from the formation is that of Squadron Leader L. H. Trent, a New Zealander. His Ventura, completely alone, presses on to the target and bombs it. The bombs just miss but some blast damage is caused. This last Ventura is then immediately shot down. Squadron Leader Trent and his navigator are the only survivors and become prisoners of war. The story of this action, in which 10 out of 11 Venturas were shot down, was reconstructed after the war and Squadron Leader Trent was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1946.
• 6 Bostons successfully bomb the steelworks at Ijmuiden.
• 1 Boston is lost crashing into the sea.

• 4 OTU Whitleys make leaflet flights over France without a loss.

Air Operations, Solomons

• USAAF and USN fighters and dive-bombers attack buildings and anti-aircraft emplacements at Rekata Bay.
• ;During the night, XIII Bomber Command B-24s mount single-plane attacks against the Vila airfield at Kolombangara and at Rekata Bay.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack Axis shipping at Bizerte.
• NASAF B-25s attack the Axis landing ground at Protville.
• NATAF fighter-bombers attack ground targets around Massicault.
• IX Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack targets in northeastern Tunisia.

Eastern Front

Red Army troops halt a German counteroffensive in the Kuban area.

Iceland

Lt-Gen Frank M. Andrews, Commanding General of US forces in the ETO, is killed in an air crash over Iceland. He was 59.

Plane Crash Site of Gen Andrews

Air Operations, Aleutians

• All aircraft sent to attack Kiska abort in the face of bad weather, but several 11th Air Force aircraft attack various targets at Attu.
• The 28th Composite Group’s 36th Bomb Squadron mounts its first operational missions from the airfield at Amchitka.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against barges off New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• In their unit’s combat debut, 18 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack an airfield, an oil refinery, a coal yard, and docks at Hainan Island’s Samah Bay. 1 damaged B-24 is abandoned during the return flight across French Indochina at the cost of 1 crewman killed.

• 12 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s (crewed with Chinese Air Force co-pilots) attack the port area at Haiphong. Following the bombing attack, 19 23Rd Fighter Group P-40 escorts strafe the port area.

Air Operations, Europe

P-47s escort B-17s during a raid on an automobile factory in Antwerp.

• 12 Venturas attack the railway yards at Abbeville. 3 Mosquitos out of 6 sent bomb the power stations at Haarlem ant The Hague.
• There are no losses.

• 596 aircraft are sent on the first major raid on Dortmund. Included in this total are 255 Lancasters, 141 Halifaxes, 110 Wellingtons, 80 Stirlings and 10 Mosquitos.
• The initial Pathfinder marking is accurate, but some of the backing-up marking falls short. A decoy fire site also attracts many bombs. Regardless, half the bomb force do bomb within 3 miles of the aiming point. Severe damage is caused in the central and northern parts of Dortmund.
• 12 Halifaxes, 7 Stirlings, 6 Lancasters and 6 Wellingtons are lost. 7 more planes crash in bad weather upon their return to the bomber bases.

• 61 of 79 VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack Antwerp industrial areas with 161 tons of bombs.
• No bombers are lost, 16 are damaged; 3 cremen are sounded
US 9th AIR FORCE
ITALY:


IX Bomber Command B-24s attack shipping at Reggio di Calabria and Taranto.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Babo and Wewak.

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Air Operations, Solomons

USN fighters and dive-bombers, and USAAF fighters attack Vangavanga.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NATBF A-20s and B-25s attack ground targets around Zaghoun in support of a ground attack by Free French ground units.
• NATAF fighters attack gun positions and motor vehicles near Massicault and Zaghoun, the Zaghoun landing ground and road traffic between Zaghoun and Bou Ficha.
• IX Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack ground targets around Zaghoun.

Aleutians

After a day's delay due to bad weather, the convoy sails for the landing on Attu. Strong unfavorable winds on the voyage make it necessary to put back Day X by three more days, i.e. to May 11.

Battle of the Atlantic

• East-bound Convoy ONS-5, protected by 18 escorts, is threatened by 60 U-boats in 4 groups. During a battle which extends over 3 nights, 13 merchantmen are lost and 1 is damaged, but the escorts sink 6 U-boats and badly damage 4 more. Another 2 collide and are lost. This result is achieved without the normal level of air support. The US freighter West Maximus (5561t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-264 with the loss of 6. Survivors are rescued by the British trawler Northern Spray.
• U-439 and U-659 are both pursuing two southbound convoys headed for the Mediterranean. One convoy is composed to 15 MTBs and is being shadowed by U-439. U-659 is following a convoy consisting of landing craft. The two submarines did not know the position of each other. U-439 is traveling at 7kts when she is struck by U-659 traveling at 15kts. Water flooded in through the gash of U-659 and moments later, she went to the bottom. At the same time U-439 began sinking by the bow because of the damage sustained in the collision.

U-659 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Hans Stock Location Atlantic, NW of Cape Finisterre Cause Collision Casualties 44 Survivors 3

U-439 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Helmut von Tippelskirch Location Atlantic, NW of Cape Finisterre Cause Collision Casualties 40 Survivors 9

• U-630 is sunk in an attack by a Canso of No 5 Squadron RCAF.

U-630

Air Operations, Aleutians

14 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 17 B-25s, 16 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, 32 P-40s (including a number of RCAF P-40s), and 5 F-5s mount 4 separate missions against Attu and 6 separate missions against Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

1 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24 attacks the Cape Gloucester and Gasmata airfields on New Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

The Germans accuse the RAF Bomber Command of dropping explosive pencils and fountain pens, 'with the intention of killing German children'.

• 5 Mosquitos attack a railway works south of Brussels. Only 1 plane is believed to have hit the target.
• There are no losses.

• 21 Stirlings lay mines in the Frisians.
• 1 Stirling is lost.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF B-17s attack Axis ships at sea off Capo San Vito, Sicily.
• NASAF B-25s and B-26s attack Axis ships at sea east of Cape Zebib and off Marettimo Island.
• NAAF fighters attack Axis ships at sea in the Gulf of Tunis.
• In a single action at 0745 hours, 7 P-38s of the 82nd fighter group's 95th Fighter Squadron down 6 Italian SM-82 transports, 2 Bf-109s, and 1 Mc-200 near Marettimo Island.
• During the early afternoon, a 79th Fighter Group P-40 downs 1 Bf-109 over the Gulf of Tunis.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Toeal.

Air Operations, Solomons

USAAF P-38s and USN F4Fs strafe Nyanga.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack port facilities and ships at Tunis and port facilities at La Goulette.
• NASAF B-25s, B-26s, and fighters attack two Axis landing grounds in northeastern Tunisia.
• NATAF bombers and fighters mount six separate missions against Axis defensive positions in support of a ground attack by a British Army infantry division.
• IX Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack shipping, warehouses, and port facilities at Nabeul.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British corvette Pink is escorting a group of five merchant ships which had straggled away from convoy ONS-5 when she came across U-192 and depth-charged her to destruction.

U-192 Class Type IXC/40 CO Kapitänleutnant Werner Happe Location N Atlantic, S of Greenland Cause Depth charge Casualties 55 Survivors None

U-638 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Oskar Staudinger Location N Atlantic, N of Cape Race Cause Depth charge Casualties 44 Survivors None

• U-638 is caught on the surface while attempting to penetrate the screen of convoy ONS-5 by the British corvette Loosestrife, which sinks her with depth charges.
• In Convoy ONS-5, the US freighter West Madaket (5565t) is torpedoed by U-707 and abandoned. The British frigate Pink rescues the 39-man crew and the 22-man Armed Guard before finishing the ship with depth charges.
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China

Japanese forces in central China begin a huge offensive into Hunan Province in an attempt to extend territorial gains and seize additional rice fields. Since 1941, the China conflict has been a mixture of savage localized campaigns by the Japanese, often involving the slaughter of whole village populations, and de facto truces between the Japanese, the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese Communists under Mao Tse Tung. US commanders wanting to station air bases in China have been particularly disappointed by the intermittent Chinese co-existence with the Japanese invaders.

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Air Operations, Aleutians

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

Air Operations, East Indies

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

Air Operations, Europe

In a series of tactical air strikes Russian bombers raid German troop concentrations and railways in Novgorod and the Bryansk-Orel areas and the Ukraine. Fierce air battles result.

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the harbor at Reggio di Calabria and claim hits on several ships.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Heavy Allied air attacks on Sicilian harbors continue. Reggio Calabria, the mainland terminal of the ferry system to Sicily, is devastated in the severe raids. NASAF B-25s and B-26s attack numerous Axis ships at sea between Sicily and Tunisia and claim the sinking of 6 ferries and 5 small boats laden with Axis military evacuees.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s also attack Axis ships at sea in the Gulf of Tunis.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Manokwari and Toeal.
• V Bomber Command A-20s attack Japanese Army ground troops around Green’s Hill.
• B-24s mount individual attacks against Finschhafen and Madang.

Air Operations, Sicily

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

Air Operations, Solomons

• USN SBDs and F4Fs, and USAAF P-40s attack the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia.
• During the evening, XIII Bomber Command B-24s mount harassment attacks against the Kahili airfield on Bougainville, and against Ballale and Fauro.
• On or about this date, AirSols SBDs begin carring 50-gallon auxiliary fuel tanks to extend their range.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• Operation VULCAN, the Allied final offensive in Tunisia, opens at dawn with massed artillery fire and the largest air offensive of the North African Campaign. Following attacks by NATAF aircraft during the night of May 5 against Tunis/El Aouina and Le Sebala Airdromes, the landing ground at Ariana, NATAF and IX Fighter Command mount more that 1,400 fighter, bomber, and fighter-bomber sorties atainst all types of targets throughout northeastern Tunisia.
• In several morning aerial engagements over land and sea near the coast, pilots of the 1st, 31st, 52nd, 82nd, and 325th Fighter Groups down 10 Luftwaffe fighters and 1 Ju-52 transport.
• During the afternoon, 31st Fighter Group Spitfires down 7 Bf-109s, 1 FW-190, and 1 Mc-202 near Tunis.

Battle of the Atlantic

• In the fog that descended on this evening the destroyer Oribi comes across U-125 and rams her. The U-boat was able to limp away, but maybe unable to dive because of damage from the collision. Some time later U-125 is caught by the British corvette Snowflake and is sunk by gunfire.

U-125 Class Type IXC CO Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Folkers Location N Atlantic, E of Newfoundland Cause Ramming,gunfire Casualties 54 Survivors None

U-531 Class Type IXC/40 CO Kapitänleutnant Herbert Neckel Location N Atlantic, NE of Newfoundland Cause Depth charge Casualties 54 Survivors None

• U-531 endures a severe depth-charge attack from the British corvette Snowflake and is forced to surface and is able to make off in the poor visibility. The destroyer Vidette sweeps back to her reported position. After assessing the U-boat's approximate location, the destroyer engages with the Hedgehog. Nothing further is heard from the U-boat.
• U-438 is detected by another of convoy ONS-5's escorts, the British sloop Pelican. The sloop sinks the U-boat with depth charges.

U-438

Class	Type VIIC
CO	Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Heinsohn
Location	N Atlantic
Cause	Depth charge
Casualties	48
Survivors	None

• The US freighter Samuel Jordan Kirkwood (7191t), bound for Bahia, Brazil, is torpedoed and sunk by U-195 in the South Atlantic and abandoned.

New Guinea

The Australians capture Mubo.

Air Operations, East Indies

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

Air Operations, Europe

• In a repeat of the previous day's operations, Russian bombers again raid German troop concentrations and railways in Novgorod and the Bryansk-Orel areas and the Ukraine.
• There is a fighter-bomber raid on Great Yarmouth.

• 6 Mitchells are sent to bomb a railway target at Boulogne, but they are recalled.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

IX Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attacking Axis shipping at sea in the Gulf of Tunis sink a destroyer loaded with evacuees and claim severe damage on 3 other destroyers.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Madang.
• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Japanese Army ground forces around Green’s Hill.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NAAF P-40s attack small ships and port facilities at Tunis.
• NATBF A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers attack Axis road traffic around Tunis and the Tunis/El Aouina Airdrome.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack Keliba.

Baltic Sea

Russian submarines supported by aircraft and minesweepers, make unsuccessful attempts to break through the German-Finnish blockade in the Baltic.

Burma

The 26th Indian Division is forced to retire to the northwest from Buthiduang, which is taken by the Japanese.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Liberator 'P' of No 86 Squadron RAF is flying support of convoy HX-236 when she sights a U-boat. Four depth charges are expertly placed, two on either side of the conning tower sinking U-109.

  U-109 Class Type IXB CO Oberleutnant zur See Joachim Schramm Location Atlantic, S of Ireland Cause Air attack Casualties 52 Survivors None

  U-447 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-Wilhelm Bothe Location Atlantic, SW of Cape St Vincent Cause Air attack Casualties 48 Survivors None

• Hudson 'X' of No 233 Squadron sights U-447 on the surface and attacks with four depth charges. The U-boat appears to be blown clear of the water, but is then attacked by Hudson 'I' of the same squadron. Both aircraft carry out a series of maching-gun passes over the submarine which is seen sinking by the stern.

North Africa

The Allied forces burst forward all along the line. Tunis and Bizerta are both captured at about the same time in the afternoon by the British at 3:40pm and the Americans at 4:15pm respectively. French forces with the 1st Army enter Pont du Fahs.

In the US II Corps area, the 9th Division finishes clearing Djebel Cheniti and the adjacent hills to the north, then reconnoiters toward Bizerte as enemy resistance on the northern front collapses. Reconnaissance elements of the 894th Tank Destroyer Battalion, followed closely by elements of the 751st Tank Battalion, enter Bizerte, where they find few enemy but many mines and booby traps. Ferryville falls to the 1st Armored Division. Elements of the 1st Armored Division driving eastward to cut the Tunis-Bizerte road reach Oued ben Hassine and take the bridge intact. The 34th Division drives toward the Chouïgui defile but is stopped a little short of it by enemy forces on Hill 242. The enemy abandons the pass during the night.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack airfields in the Rabaul area.
• B-17s mount individual attacks against small boats and barges off northern New Britain

Air Operations, CBI

• 16 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 10 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, escorted by 24 23rd Fighter Group P-40s, attack the Tienho and White Cloud airfields at Canton and an industrial area of Canton. An estimated 20 Japanese aircraft are destroyed on the ground, but 1 B-25 is lost, apparently from the premature detonation of its payload of fragmentation bombs.
• 23rd Fighter Group P-40 pilots escorting the bombers to Canton strafe ground targets and down 13 Japanese fighters over the target area about 1330 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

P-38 fighter-bombers attack the Italian Army garrison on Pantelleria Island, and NATBF B-25s and NATAF A-20s and fighters attack the landing ground.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• NASAF B-26s and P-40s attack small Axis ships at sea off northeastern Tunisian coast.
• NATAF A-20s and fighters attack Axis shipping at sea between Sicily and Tunisia.
• IX Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack Axis ships at in the Gulf of Tunis.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s claim the destruction of two cargo ships off Madang.
• A 35th Fighter Group P-38 downs an A6M Zero near Saidor at 1455 hours.

Air Operations, Pacific

US Dauntless and Liberator aircraft bomb Japanese shipping and installations throughout the Solomon Islands. 3 Japanese destroyers are damaged, 1 severely. The next stage of Operation CARTWHEEL, the invasion of New Georgia, is planned for the following month, and the US commanders are eager to soften up the Japanese naval resources throughout the Solomon Islands.

Air Operations, Solomons

• AirSols light bombers and fighters attack Japanese destroyers in Blackett Strait.
• P-38s and P-40s attack anti-aircraft batteries at the Vila airfield on Kolombangara.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NAAF B-25s attack the road junction and rail line at Korba and the highway north of Beni Khaled.
• NAAF P-40s attack port facilities near Thona.
• NATAF aircraft attack numerous ground targets in support of Allied advances throughout northeastern Tunisia.
• In what turn out to be the last fighter engagements of the North African Campaign, USAAF fighters down a total of 11 Bf-109s and 1 Fi-156 observation plane over Tunisia or near the coast in at least two separate actions between 1140 and 1850 hours.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-663 is sunk in a depth-charge attack by Sunderland 'W' of No 10 Squadron RAAF.

U-663

Hungary

The Hungarian parliament is dissolved.

Mediterranean

The US freighter Pat Harrison (7191t) hits a mine in Gibraltar Bay and is written off as a total loss. 1 crewman is lost in the incident.

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.

North Africa

Fighting ends in northeast Tunisia at 11:00am 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 Division drives to the coast on the left and makes contact with the British 7th Armored Division 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 Division is still held up at the Hamman Lif defile. The French XIX Corps battles the enemy in the Zaghouan area.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain.
• B-24s mount individual attacks on various targets across New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 51st Fighter Group P-40 fighter-bombers attack Kwitu.

• 8 23Rd Fighter Group P-40 fighter-bombers based at the airfield at Kunming, China) attack rail, road, and river transporation targets of opportunity across northern French Indochina.

Air Operations, Europe

• NATAF B-20s, B-25s, and fighters attack the harbor.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s attack the landing ground.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Labu.
• V Bomber Command B-24s attack various targets in northeastern New Guinea.
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Air Operations, Sicily

• 45 NAAF B-17s attack Trapani/Milo Airdrome.
• 46 NAAF B-17s attack Bo Rizzo Airdrome.
• 1 B-17 is lost
• Fighters of the 1st, 14th, and 82nd Fighter Groups down 4 Luftwaffe fighters in three separate engagements over Sicily between 1040 and 1705 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

AirSols light bombers and fighters attack the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia.

Air Operations, Tunisia

NATAF B-20s, B-25s, and fighters and IX Fighter Command P-40s continue to attack Axis trops and vehicles on the Cap Bon Peninsula and in other areas in which Axis units are still putting up resistance.

Aleutians

• Japanese troops on Attu Island, alerted a week before against the danger of an American landing by reports from the Japanese intelligence service, are stood down, convinced the Americans have cancelled the operation in view of adverse weather conditions.
• A collision between ships damages the destroyer MacDonough (DD-351) and the light minelayer Sicard (DM-21) in the Aleutian Islands area.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Rabaul and airfields in the area.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Syriam.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Dili and Penfoei, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

FW-190 fighter-bombers attack Greater Yarmouth. 26 people are killed in an ATS hostel.

• 6 Mitchell are sent to bomb a railway works, but are recalled.

XII Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack the harbor at San Michele.

Air Operations, Mediterranaan

There are more raids on Catania, Marsala and Trapani in Sicily.

Air Operations, Sicily

• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack port facilities and ships at Catania harbor and sink a tanker and damage 2 freighters.
• 180 NASAF B-17s, B-26s, and B-25s attack rail and port facilities at Marsala with 450 tons of bombs.
• 3 Axis fighters are downed over Marsala between 1130 and 1150 hours by 14th and 82nd Fighter Group P-38s.

Air Operations, Solomons

During the night, XIII Bomber Command B-17s mount harrassment raids against the Kahilie airfield on Bougainville.

Air Operations, Tunisia

NATAF A-20s, B-25s, and fighters, IX Bomber Command B-25s, and IX Fighter Command P-40s continue to attack Axis forces that are still resisting in northeastern Tunisia.

Aleutians

In Operation LANDCRAB the American 7th Division under Gen Albert E. Brown begins to land at several points on Attu supported by Adm Thomas C. Kinkaid's Task Force 16. All units get ashore safely in the afternoon in Massacre Bay, at Alexai Point, west of Holtz Bay in the northern part of the island. However, they are held up by the Japanese and the difficult terrain when they try to advance inland. More landings are carried out during the night. The landing forces advance towards the Jarmin Pass, but about 7:00pm they are held up by intense fire from defending troops on the heights on either side of the pass. Mud paralyzes trucks and tractors. Gen Brown plans an assault on the pass the following day. There are strong naval forces in support including 3 battleships, 1 escort carrier and numerous cruisers and destroyers.

The ships provide effective fire support throughout the operation.

Atlantic

The first of 5 Italian submarines leave Bordeaux on transport missions to Sumatra and Singapore. 2 will be lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Over the next 3 days 3 U-boats are sunk during attacks on Convoy HX-237. The destroyer Hesperus and U-223 fight a dramatic but inconclusive battle with guns, torpedoes and depth charges. U-223 escapes despite a ramming.
• Returning from patrol after being damaged by a US Navy Catalina, U-528 is sighted by air patrols convering convoy OS-47. Halifax 'D' of No 58 Squadron attacks the U-boat from the port bow with depth charges and notices the submarine lift out of the water and roll over as the depth charges exploded. The sloop HMS Fleetwood blows the U-boat to the surface with more depth charges. The damaged submarine is then abandoned.

U-528

Air Operations, Aleutians

11th Air Force aircraft support US 7th Infantry Division troops battling Japanese Army defenders on Attu Island. 11th Air Force aircraft drop supplies (1 B-24), provide air-ground liaision (1 B-24), and mount 7 direct-support attack missions using 10 B-24s, 12 B-25s, and 24 P-38s.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual missions against Gasmata.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Saumlakki in the Molucca Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

• 572 aircraft are sent to bomb Duisburg. In this total are 238 Lancasters, 142 Halifaxes, 112 Wellingtons, 70 Stirlings and 10 Mosquitos.
• This is the 4th raid on this city in the Battle of the Ruhr. The first 3 were only partially successful. The Pathfinder marking is near perfect and the Main Force's effort is concentrated. The center of Duisburg and the port area just off the Rhine River suffer severe damage, about 20 hectares worth in the center of the city. 4 Thyssen plants suffer damage from this raid.
• 10 Lancasters, 10 Wellingtons, 9 Halifaxes and 5 Stirlings are lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Finschhafen.
• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Salamaua.

Air Operations, Solomons

• AirSols light bombers and fighters attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.
• During the night, Allied naval surface forces bombard the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia and the Vila airfield on Kolombangara. 2 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 6 B-17s attack Ballale and the Kahili airfield on Bougainville in 2 separate waves.

Air Operations, Tunisia

NATAF A-20s, B-25s, and fighters and IX Bomber Command B-25s continue to attack Axis forces that are still resisting in northeastern Tunisia.

Aleutians

On the island of Attu, supported by aircraft and naval guns, the 7th Division converges on Jarmin Pass from two directions. A frontal attack carried out from Massacre Bay has no result.

Allied Planning

Roosevelt and Churchill meet in Washington for the 'Trident' Conference which lasts until May 25. The Americans come to this better prepared for detailed argument than they have been in the past and are determined to get a firm commitment by the British to a cross-Channel invasion. The British feel that their commitment to this has never been in doubt and that the American insistence in planning so formally so far ahead will deprive the Allies of any strategic flexibility, especially in the Mediterranean. The invasion of Sicily has already been agreed but the British wish to be able to exploit this on the Italian mainland and perhaps also to act in the Balkans. The Americans feel that this is motivated by dubious postwar political aims and their Chiefs of Staff are opposed on strategic grounds as well. Adm King has always wanted and striven for priority to be given to the Pacific, and Marshall is worried about doing anything which might detract from the cross-Channel operation which he believes is essential.

From the British point of view a major complaint is that despite the agreed Germany-first policy, the Americans have committed a larger share of their army and air force to the Pacific as well as the bulk of their navy. The British feel that the shortage of shipping which is the major limiting factor for European operations can be put down to this. (In fact an important contributory element of this shortage is the decision taken at Casablanca in January to give priority to the building of escorts for the Battle of the Atlantic and not to landing craft.)

Compromises are reached on all headings. The Americans do not have to accept any real limitations on their Pacific operations and the British get a provisional agreement to exploit any Italian successes. Perhaps the most significant decision taken by the conference is to set a target date for D-Day - May 1, 1944. The British Gen Frederick E. Morgan, is appointed to prepare plans for the invasion. He is given the designation COSSAC (Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander).

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Allies successfully deploy the first air-launched torpedo fitted with an acoustic homing head which follows a submerged U-boat, drawn to it by the sound of its propellers. This first use sees U-456 damaged. The first sinking by this means is 24 hours away.
• During operations against convoy SC-129, U-186 is depth-charged and sunk by the destroyer HMS Hesperus.
• during operations against convoy HX-237, U-89 is sighted by Swordfish 'B' of 811 NAS from the escort carrier Biter. The destroyer Broadway and the frigate Lagan are sent to the area where depth charges and a Hedgehog sink the U-boat.

Burma

The first Arakan campaign ends in a stalemate. The 26th Indian Division evacuates Maungdaw and withdraws to defensive positions further north. It has been a useless sacrifice of men and materials. Most important of the reasons for its failure is the absence of any intervention by Chinese units from Yunnan province.

Air Operations, Aleutians

Bad weather prevents all but 2 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s from supporting US 7th Infantry Division troops battling Japanese Army defenders on Attu Island. 4 B-24s diverted from Attu attack Kiska, and 8 343rd Fighter Group P-40s sent to attack Kiska are diverted by bad weather to Little Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack Rabaul-area airfields.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain and other targets in the area.
• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack the Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain.
• B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against numerous targets on New Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Bostons attack the docks at Cherbourg and 6 Mitchells attack the railway targets at Boulogne.
• 1 Mitchell is lost.

• 442 aircraft are sent to bomb Bochum. Included in this total are 135 Halifaxes, 104 Wellingtons, 98 Lancasters, 95 Stirlings and 10 Mosquitos.
• The raid starts well, but after about 15 minutes, what is believed to be decoy markers draw much of the bombing away from the target.
• 13 Halifaxes, 6 Wellingtons, 4 Stirlings and 1 Lancaster are lost.
• 156 Lancasters and 12 Halifaxes are sent on another attempt to bomb the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen.
• 120 of these aircraft are from No. 5 Group, the rest being Pathfinders. The target again proves to be a difficult one to find and mark accurately. Almost all the bombs fall in open country north of the Skoda factory.
• 9 planes are lost.

• 12 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 8 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and there are 12 OTU sorties.
• 1 Mosquito on the Berlin raid is lost.

• 88 1st Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s attack the Albert/Meaulte Airdrome with more than 218 tons of bombs.
• 3 B-17s are lost, 11 damaged; 1 crewman wounded, 31 missing
• The 4th Heavy Bomb Wing comprising the 94th, 95th, and 96th Heavy Bomb Groups in 72 B-17s makes its combat debut with an independent attack against the St.-Omer/Longuenesse Airdrome. It does not go well. 1 B-17 crashes shortly after takeoff, the lead 96th Bomb Group B-17 aborts due to an oxygen leak, all 14 B-17s of the 351st Heavy Bomb Group fail to join the main group and abandon the mission over the English Channel. Once over the target, only 31 of the 72 originally sent manage to drop their bombs.
• 1 B-17 is lost, 1 is damaged; 1 crewman is lost, 2 are wounded

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the harbor at Augusta and damage the oil storage tanks and a number of anchored vessels and seaplanes.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the airfields at Boram and Wewak.
• B-17s mount individual attacks against numerous targets in the Admiralty Islands and northeastern New Guinea.
• During the night, Japanese bombers mount several inneffective attacks against Allied bases.

Air Operations, Sardinia

96 USAAF B-25s, 107 USAAF B-17s, and 22 RAF Wellingtons, escorted by 4 fighter groups, attack port facilities, marshalling yards, an oil dump, and a chemical plant at Cagliari with 438 tons of bombs. 3 Axis fighters are downed near Cagliari by 1st and 82nd Fighter Group P-38s between 1240 and 1330 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• About 1300 hours, 62 USN and USMC fighters, 34 USAAF fighters, and 6 RNZAF fighters encounter a Japanese Navy reconnaissance plane escorted by an estimated 25 A6M Zeros. VMF-112 and VMF-124 F4Us down 16 of the Zeros, and an 18th Fighter Group P-38 downs 1. 1 P-38 and 3 F4Us are lost as well as the 3 F4U pilots.
• During the evening, 5 XIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the airfield at Ballale and the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.
• An 18th Fighter Group P-38 downs 1 A6M Zero over Guadalcanal at 1947 hours.

Aleutians

The American forces are still being contained virtually in their landing areas although they now outnumber the Japanese by about 4 to 1. Bad weather has been hindering the US air support and the terrain is very difficult. The Japanese have recovered from their surprise and are putting up a vigorous, well co-ordinated defense. In the northern part of the island they have gone over to the attack, trying, but without success, to dislodge the invaders from a hilltop called Hill X.

Allied Planning

The Trident Conference approves the final version of the plans for the landing in Sicily, called Operation HUSKY, including the date, July 10, and the areas chosen for the landings.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Liberator 'B' of No 86 Squadron attacks a surfaced U-boat (U-456) in poor visibility near convoy HX-237. U-456 dives on seeing the aircraft, but the aircraft drops a Fido which functions perfectly hitting the U-boat and sinking it.

Air Operations, Aleutians

Due to bad weather, 11th Air Force aircraft are unable to conduct scheduled bombing attacks against Attu. However, 6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 5 B-25s are able to provide direct support for US Army troops. 1 re-supply B-24 crashes into a mountain. 2 P-40 fighter-bombers mount a dusk attack against Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Rabaul-area airfields.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain. B-17s and B-24s mount inividual attacks against various targets on New Britain.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Penfoei, Timor.
• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against various targets in the East Indies.

Air Operations, Europe

125 US bombers attack Kiel. 3 U-boats are sunk.

• 6 Mitchells are sent to bomb the steelworks at Ijmuiden but are recalled.

• 5 OTU Wellingtons drop leaflets over France without a loss.
• RAF bombers continue to pound strategic bases in southern Italy.

• 38 94th and 95th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack industrial targets around Antwerp with nearly 87 tons of bombs.
• 1 bomber is missing, 15 damaged; 3 crewmen wounded, 10 missing
• 118 P-47s of the 4th, 56th, and 78th Fighter Groups escort the bombers and down 5 Luftwaffe fighters.
• 4 fighters are lost, 1 damaged; 4 pilots missing
• 21 B-17s of the 96th Heavy Bomb Group and 13 B-17s of the 351st Heavy Bomb Group attack Courtrai Airdrome with more than 75 tons of bombs.
• 2 B-17s are missing, 10 damaged; 20 crewmen missing

• 109 1st Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s and 17 2nd Heavy Bomb Wing B-24s attack the kiel shipyard at high noon with more than 291 tons of bombs.
• 3 B-17s and 8 B-24s are lost, 27 B-17s and 9 B-24s damages; 3 crewmen are killed, 17 wounded, 81 missing

• In its first combat mission of the war, the specially trained 322nd Medium Bomb Group sends 12 B-26s to attack the power plant at Ijmuiden at very low level dropping 43 500-puund bombs.
• 10 planes are damage; 7 crewmen wounded

NASAF B-17s attack Civitavecchia.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against various targets. In the last of a series of Japanese Navy air attack missions going back to March 11, a total of 40 G4M 'Betty' bombers and A6M Zeros attack the Oro Bay-Dobodura area. P-38s of the 49th Fighter Group’s 8th Fighter Squadron bring down a reconnaissance plane near Buna at 0935 hours, and 11 'Bettys', and 10 Zeros near Oro Bay between 1030 and 1045 hours. 1 P-38 and its pilot are lost.

Air Operations, Sardinia

• NAAF P-38s escorting an attack on Cagliari by RAF Wellington bombers attack a tunnel, a barracks, an airdrome, a power station, and several factories. 3 Axis aircraft are downed about 1300 hours by 82nd Fighter Group P-38s.
• NASAF B-26s attack Porto Ponte Romano.
• NASAF B-25s and escorting P-38s attack Olbia and claim the destruction of 3 Axis vessels.

Air Operations, Sicily

1 Luftwaffe medium bomber is downed over Gela at 1300 hours by a 14th Fighter Group P-38.

Air Operations, Aleutians

• Despite bad weather, a small number of 11 Air Force aircraft are able to support US 7th Infantry Division troops battling Japanese Army defenders on Attu Island. 1 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24 drops supplies to ground forces, and 6 B-24s and 6 343rd Fighter Group P-38s attack ground targets. Several aircraft, however, mistakenly attack US troops, thus allowing retreating Japanese Army troops to escape.
• 1 USS Nassau-based VMO-155 F4F photographic-reconnaissance F4F and its pilot are lost in an operational accident.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack airfields in the Rabaul area.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.
• B-24s and 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against Cape Gloucester and Gasmata, and barges near Ubili.

Air Operations, CBI

• In their strongest attack against a USAAF target in the theater to date, 27 Ki-21 'Nate' fighters, escorted by 40 other fighters, attack the airfield at Kunming. Although only 4 23rd Fighter Group P-40s are in position to deter the attack, most of the Japanese bombs fall short. 1 B-24 and 1 B-25, however, are destroyed. As the Japanese withdraw, they are intercepted by nearly 30 23rd Fighter Group P-40s from nearby bases, with the result that 2 Ki-21 'Nates' and 14 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters are shot down.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

11 307th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s under VII Bomber Command control are dispatched from Midway to attack Wake, but only 7 B-24s are able to locate the target and deliver an attack. 22 Japanese Navy fighters attack the bombers, and 1 B-24 is forced to ditch at sea. 1 crewman is lost in the crash, but all the others are rescued by a US Navy ship. This is the first VII Bomber Command loss to enemy action.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a night raid on Sunderland.

• 24 Bostons and 12 Mitchells are sent to bomb various targets but half of each plane type is recalled. 12 Bostons bomb the Poix airfield and 6 Mitchells attack an industrial target at Caen.
• There are no losses.

• 3 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin and there are 16 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• Of 80 1st and 4th Heavy Bomb Wind B-17s sent to Emden, 59 drop 139 tons of bombs on the target.
• 1 B-17 is missing, 9 damaged; 10 crewmen missing

• Although briefed to bomb Wilhelmshaven, 76 of 113 1st Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s attack targets of opportunity along the Dutch coast with 186 tons of bombs.
• 5 B-17s are lost, 28 damaged; 1 crewman killed, 7 wounded, 51 missing
• 116 VIII Fighter Comman sorties are mounted over the Continent or the English Channel, and several Luftwaffe fighters are engaged by the 56th Fighter Group planes over Rotterdam, but only 2 Luftwaffe fighters are damaged.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Nabire.
• V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s attack the airfield at Lae.
• The crew of a 6th Night Fighter Squadron P-70 on loan to the 5 Air Force bring down a Japanese twin-engine bomber over Port Moresby at 2005 hours.

Aleutians

One American attack at Massacre Bay is renewed, but even with the help of naval guns, they make no progress. A second in the north of Attu, in Holtz Bay, does better although there are casualties from badly aimed American bombing as well as Japanese fire.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Cuban sub-chaser CS-13 and a US naval land-based aircraft (VS-62) sink U-176 off Havana.

U-176 Class Type IXC CO Korvettenkapitän Reiner Dierkson Location Caribbean, NW of Havana Cause Air attack, depth charge Casualties 53 Survivors None

U-266 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Ralf von Jessen Location Atlantic, N of the Azores Cause Air attack Casualties 47 Survivors None

• U-266 is spotted by Halifax 'M' of No 58 Squadron which maneuvers in order to attack from out of the sun. Depth charges are dropped from the port quarter and seem to explode right underneath the submarine.
• U-463 is spotted on the surface by Halifax 'R' of No 58 Squadron. The submarine dives on seeing the aircraft, but the attack is carried out with depth charges falling all around the swirl made by the U-boat. Wreckage and oil soon appeared on the surface.

U-463

Air Operations, Aleutians

8 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 12 B-25s, and 343rd Fighter Group P-38s are sent to attack targets on Attu, but all the bombers are redirected against Kiska because of bad weather over Attu. Nevertheless, the P-38s are able to strafe ground targets on Attu, and a B-24 drops supplies to US Army ground troops.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against various coastal targets on New Britain and New Ireland.

Air Operations, East Indies

In their unit’s combat debut, 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at the airfield in Fenton, Australia attack the Kendari airfield on Celebes.

Air Operations, Europe

Thousands of leaflets containing the names of 412 British ships claimed as sunk since June 1941 are dropped over northeast England.

• 12 Venturas bomb Morlaix airfield and 5 Mitchells bomb the Caen airfield. 7 additional Mitchells can not locate their airfield target. There are no losses.

• One of the most daring raids of the war, Operation CHASTISE or the Dambusters Raid, is undertaken by the newly-formed No. 617 Squadron under the leadership of Wing Commander Guy Gibson. The mission is to breach several dams in Germany in order to slow down industrial production. Of the 4 that are targeted, 2 are breaches, the Möhne and the Eder. 19 aircraft are sent on the raid, but only 12 make it. 4 more of the planes are lost on the return journey. 53 crew members are killed and 3 are taken prisoner.

• 9 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Münster. 54 aircraft lay mines off the Biscay ports and in the Frisians and there are 4 OTU sorties.
• 1 mine-laying Wellington is lost.

A total of 227 P-47 sorties are mounted over France, Belgium, and the Dutch coast by the 4th, 56th, and 78th Fighter Groups. During the afternoon sweeps, the 4th and 78th Fighter Groups are engaged by several FW-190 squadrons. 3 Luftwaffe fighters are downed, but 1 P-47 is lost. Also, an F-5 of the 13th Photographic Squadron fails to return from a sortie to Paris.

Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against various coastal targets.

Aleutians

The Americans continue their attacks near Holtz Bay on Attu. The Japanese, having only 2,380 men opposed by 11,000 Americans, are in danger of being taken in the rear if the Americans succeed in breaking through from Massacre Bay. The Japanese pull back during the night to Chicagof Harbor to put up their final resistance.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Over the next week 4 U-boat wolf packs attack 5 convoys but sink only 1 ship. 9 U-boats are sunk and 4 are damaged.
• The German submarine U-182 is sunk by the US destroyer MacKenzie (DD-614) west of the Madeira Islands.

U-182

The Dambusters Raid

During the night a specially trained RAF squadron, No 617, led by Wing Cmdr Guy Gibson, undertakes a precision attack on the dams on the Möhne and Eder Rivers in the Ruhr. They use specially designed bombs and unique techniques to attack targets which are reckoned to supply the majority of the electricity used in the Ruhr and a great deal of the water. A third target, the Sorpe dam, is not attacked. The operation, which is called Operation CHASTISE, has only been possible by training an elite squadron for this one mission and the losses, 8 of 19 planes, are too high to bear repetition. Both dams are damaged, causing many deaths and widespread flooding. The damage, however, is far slighter than has been hoped and both dams are fairly quickly repaired. The operation certainly does not prove that such precision attacks are either possible on a large scale, or likely to have the greatest effects.

Eastern Front

Over the next 10 days the Germans mount a series of counterattacks in the Kuban area but these are fairly comfortably held by the Soviet forces.

Operation GYPSY BARON begins which is intended to capture Soviet partisans.

The German 17th Army begins a series of counterattacks in the Kuban.

Air Operations, Europe

• A formation of 10 Marauders is annihilated by flak and Me-109s in a low-level raid on the Ijmuiden power station. The 8th Air Force transfers this type of aircraft to medium-altitude missions with strong fighter escorts.
• There is a night raid on Cardiff by 89 aircraft. 6 are lost.

• 13 Venturas bomb the Caen airfield without a loss.

• 3 Mosquitos are sent to Munich and 6 aircraft lay mines off La Pallice.
• 1 Stirling minelayer is lost.

Salvage After London Raid

• 90 1st Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s attack the Lorient U-boat base, and 38 4th Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s attack power facilities at Lorient in the face of heavy Luftwaffe fighter opposition and flak.
• 5 B-17s are lost, 29 are damaged; 1 crewman killed, 8 wounded, 57 missing
• Approaching their target at low level from the sea, 34 2nd Heavy Bomb Wing B-24s attack the Bordeaux U-boat base with more than 85 tons of bombs against only light opposition.
• 1 B-24 is damaged; 2 crewmen are wounded

• 322nd Medium Bomb Group send 11 B-26s to undertak a minimum-level attack on power stations at Ijmuiden and Haarlem. 1 plane aborts and heads home early, and all of the remaining B-26s are lost.
• 10 B-26s are lost; 60 crewmen are lost

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Gasmata. 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Barique, Dili, and Penfoei, Timor.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43d Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Finschhafen and Lae.
• At least 25 G4M 'Betty' bombers destroy an Australian Army brigade headquarters at Wau.

Air Operations, Solomons

AirSols light bombers and fighters attack Rekata Bay.

Aleutians

On Attu, the units from Holtz Bay advance and occupy the positions evacuated by the enemy during the night. The units at Massacre Bay also discover that the Japanese have gone and occupy Jarmin Pass.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German submarine U-128 is sunk by a combination of effort from naval land-base aircraft (VP-74) and the US destroyers Moffett (DD-362) and Jouett (DD-396) off Brazil.

U-128 Class Type IXC CO Kapitänleutnant Hermann Steinart Location Atlantic, S of Pernambuco Cause Gunfire Casualties 7 Survivors 47

U-640 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Nagel Location Atlantic, S of Cape Farewell Cause Depth charge Casualties 49 Survivors None

• U-640 is engaged in operations against convoy ONS-7. After sinking the steamer Aymeric, the U-boat is attacked and by the frigate HMS Swale.
• U-646 is beginning her first patrol when she is sighted by Hudson 'J' of No 269 Squadron. The aircraft approaches at low level and drops four depth charges from 50 feet perfectly stralling the U-boat. The submarine is seen sinking leaving wreckage and debris on the surface.

U-646

Class	Type VIIC
CO	Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Wulff
Location	Atlantic, W of Faroe Islands
Cause	Air attack
Casualties	46
Survivors	None

[ | ]


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Air Operations, Aleutians

6 28th Comp Bombardment Group B-24s attack Kiska after being diverted from Attu by bad weather. 4 343rd Fighter Group P-40s strafe barges at Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Gasmata, airfields in the Rabaul area, Arawe, and Cape Gloucester.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10 Air Force bombers and fighter-bombers open a three-day all-out pre-monsoon effort against Japanese lines of communication in western Burma.

Air Operations, Europe

• 13 Bostons bomb the Abbeville airfield without a loss.

• 13 Lancasters and 4 Wellingtons lay mines off Brest and in the southern part of Biscay.
• There are no losses.

• 100 VIII Fighter Command P-47s make sweeps over France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. 2 4th Fighter Group P-47s down 2 Bf-109s over Belgium.
• 1 4th Fighter Group P-47 is shot down at sea; pilot listed missing

Allied warplanes open an all-out offensive against Axis forces on the island, with special emphasis on the port and Marghana Airdrome. At least 80 B-25s, B-26s, and their P-38 escorts attack these targets.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Allied attacks on Pantelleria are intensified, and the island is virtually cut off by a naval blockade. Heavy raids will continue until June 5.

Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Tanks

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 1 V Bomber Command heavy bomber attacks Lorengau, Manus Island.
• Japanese bombers attack Wau.

Air Operations, Aleutians

6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 11 B-25s mount 3 ground-support missions to Attu.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain while 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against Gasmata.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force bombers and fighter-bombers continue their three-day all-out pre-monsoon effort against Japanese lines of communication in western Burma.

Air Operations, East Indies

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

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Venturas are sent to bomb the airfield at Morlaix but are recalled.

• 6 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, but only 2 bomb there, and there are 5 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• The Kiel U-boat yard is attacked about 1330 hours by 103 1st Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s which drop 237 tons of bombs despite heavy fighter opposition.
• 6 B-17s are lost, 28 damaged; 1 crewman killed, 7 wounded, 60 missing
• In a separate but coordinated attack, 55 4th Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s attack the Flensburg U-boat yard with 134 tons of bombs.
• 9 B-17s are damaged; 2 crewmen are killed, 4 wounded
• A diversionary mission by 24 379th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 117 VIII Fighter Command P-47s fails to attact any Luftwaffe fighters.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Me-109s intercept US formations bombing airfields on Sicily and Sardinia, but are driven off with loss.
• Pantelleria is again subjected to a heavy bombing raid.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Salamaua area and targets of opportunity on the Huon Peninsula.

Air Operations, Sardinia

• While escorting a force of NASAF B-26s against Cagiliari, 325th Fighter Group P-40s are engaged over land and sea with many Bf-109s. During a series of dogfights, the P-40s succeed in downing 6 Bf-109s.
• In a second action about the same time, 82nd Fighter Group P-38s are challenged by Axis fighter as they escort a force of NASAF B-25s against Villacidro Airdrome. In this action, 6 Bf-109s and 1 Mc-200 are downed.
• NASAF medium bombers also attack Elmas, Milis, and Monserrato Airdromes.

Air Operations, Sicily

14th Fighter Group P-38 are engaged by Bf-109s while escorting NASAF B-17s on a midday attack against Trapani/Milo Airdrome, but no confirmed victories are credited.

Air Operations, Solomons

• An estimated 9 G4M 'Betty' bombers attack Guadalcanal during the evening. An 18th Fighter Group P-38 brings down 2 'Bettys' off Guadalcanal at 2102 and 2316 hours, respectively.
• During the night, 4 XIII Bomber Command B-17s and 2 B-24s mount light harrassing attacks against the airfield at Ballale and the Kahili area to mask a mine-sowing operation off Buin by 30 AirSols TBFs.
• 2 TBFs are lost to unknown causes.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-boats attack Convoy SC-130, but on this occasion come up against supporting B-24 Liberators deploying homing torpedoes. Since early April, 14 of 22 convoys have crossed the North Atlantic without loss. No longer can the ageing U-boats cope with the advanced tactics employed by the Allies on sea and in the air. More than 30 U-boats have been sunk in the first 3 weeks of May.
• Flying support of convoy SC-130, Hudson 'M' of No 269 Squadron sights 273, but the U-boat dives before an attack can be made. The aircraft then carries out baiting tactic and the U-boat is again sighted. Four depth charges are dropped and perfectly straddle the conning tower. Several men in the conning tower begin to shoot at the aircraft which in turn makes a strafing run after which the U-boat is seen sinking.<
• The corvette HMS Snowflake, escorting convoy SC-130, detects a U-boat, U-381, on her asdic coming in to attack the convoy from the starboard side of the convoy. Snowflake drops a depth charge pattern, but is soon relieved by the destroyer Duncan whose first pattern went down as the convoy's ships passed by. The next attack is with a Hedgehog which produces a hit and a large oil slick.

Air Operations, Aleutians

11th Air Force operations against Attu are canceled because of bad weather, but 20 343rd Fighter Group P-40s attack Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul.
• During the night, 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain and nearby targets.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force bombers and fighter-bombers complete their three-day pre-monsoon effort against Japanese lines of communication in western Burma. During the effort, a total of 130 effective combat sorties delivered 340 tons of bombs against rail yards at Prome, oil installations at four locations, and various other targets.

Air Operations, Europe

• 2 Mosquitos bomb a locomotive shed at Tergnier without a loss.

• 3 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 23 aircraft lay mines in the southern Biscay, and there are 5 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

NASAF B-17s attack Grosseto Airdrome.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Warhawks destroy 7 giant Me-323s near Decimomannu airfield, Sardinia.
• NASAF P-38s and P-40s bomb and strafe targets of opportunity.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack barges between Madang and Cape Cretin.

Air Operations, Sardinia

• 325th Fighter Group P40s down 6 Axis fighters, plus 7 Me-323 six-engine heavy transports that are caught fleeing Decimomannu Airdrome ahead of an attack by NASAF B-25s.
• While escorting other NASAF B-25s against Villacidro Airdrome, 82nd Fighter Group P-38s down 7 Axis fighters and 1 Ju-88.
• NASAF B-25s also attack Alghero Airdrome.
• P-38s attack Milis Airdrome, various port facilities, and targets of opportunity aroung the island.

Air Operations, Sicily

A 1st Fighter Group P-38 downs an Fi-156 observation plane near Trapani/Milo Airdrome.

Air Operations, Solomons

During the night, XIII Bomber Command B-17s and B-24s mount light harrassing attacks against the airfield at Ballale Airdrome and the Kahili area to mask a mine-sowing operation off Buin by AirSols TBFs.

Aleutians

Fighting continues on Attu in the Clevesy Pass area where the Japanese hold the high ground and have to be prised out of every position. Men trained in desert warfare have to turn themselves into mountaineers to get behind the enemy. After hard fighting the attackers succeed in advancing into the Sarana Valley. Some progress is also made in the northern part of the island.

Air Operations, Aleutians

Due to bad weather, only 1 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24 and 6 343rd Fighter Group P-38s are able to attack Attu, and other aircraft are diverted to Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 43rd Heavy Bombardment Group B-17s attack airfield in the Rabaul area.
• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Saumlakki in the Molucca Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

• 4 Mosquitos bomb a railway target at Orleans.
• 1 Mosquito is lost.
• 12 Mitchells are sent to bomb the airfield at Abbeville but are recalled.

• 104 aircraft including 64 Wellingtons, 36 Stirlings and 4 Lancasters are involved in an extensive minelaying operation. Area covered are the Frisisand, the Gironde River and off La Pallice.
• 3 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling are lost.
• 4 Mosquitos attack Berlin without a loss.

• 105 VIII Fighter Command are sent on a sweep between Ostend and Ghent.
• 3 P-47s are lost; 3 pilots missing

• 77 1st Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s attack the Wilhelmshaven U-boat yards at 1245 hours with 193 tons of bombs. The entire crew is saved from a B-17 that goes down at sea.
• 7 B-17s are lost, 24 damaged; 1 crewman killed, 9 wounded, 60 missing
• Also at 1245 hours, 46 4th Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s attack the Emden U-boat yards with 110 tons of bombs, but all miss the target.
• 5 B-17s are lost, 11 damaged; 2 crewmen killed, 5 wounded, 50 missing

IX Bomber Comman B-24s attack Reggio di Calabria and Villa San Giovanni.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Malta is raided by FW-190 fighter-bombers.
• NAAF P-40 fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements and various targets of opportunity on Pantelleria.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfield at Nabire.
• Japanese aircraft attack Wau for the fourth time in a week. The 3 earlier attacks were uncontested, but now 12 P-38s of the 8th Fighter Group’s 80th Fighter Squadron are vectored in, and they down 6 Japanese fighters near Salamaua between 0910 and 0920 hours.
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Air Operations, Sardinia

• NASAF B-25s and B-26s attack Decimomannu and Villacidro Airdrmes and various targets of opportunity.
• 325th Fight Group P-40s down 4 Bf-109s over land and sean between 1620 and 1655 hours.
• 82nd Fighter Group P-38s down 7 Axis fighters over Villacidro Airdrome about 1700 hours.
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Air Operations, Sicily

NASAF B-17s, escorted by 14th Fighter Group P-38s, attack Castelveltrano Airdrome at 0945 hours. The P-38s are engaged by the Luftwaffe, but there are no confirmed victories.

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Aleutians

On Attu, on the southern front, the Americans succeed in eliminating the only remaining Japanese strongpoint on one of the peaks overlooking Clevesy Pass and advance towards a crest near another pass leading from the Saran Valley to Chicagof Harbor. The troops landed at Holtz Bay advance more slowly on account of the greater difficulty of the mountainous terrain.

Over the next 7 days the Americans make some progress on Attu each day. The fighting is especially fierce from May 24-27 when the Japanese are gradually driven off a feature known as Fish Hook Ridge. On May 27 work is begun on an airfield at Alexai Point.

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Britain, Home Front

The first American-built airfield in Britain is officially taken over by the 8th US Army Air Force.

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Air Operations, Aleutians

The 11th Air Force is grounded by bad weather, but 19 G4M 'Betty' bombers armed with torpedoes attack a US cruiser and destroyer off Attu. No torpedo hits are scored and 2 'Bettys' are downed by anti-aircraft fire.

Air Operations, Europe

• 7 Mosquitos are sent to attack railway shops at Nantes, but turn back because of fighter opposition.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Allied bombers pound Sicily and Sardinia.
• A 14th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Bf-109 near Favignana Island, in the Egadi group.

Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Kaimana and motor launches off Koer Island.

Air Operations, Solomons

2 XIII Fighter Command fighter pilots share in the downing of a G4M 'Betty' bomber near Rendova Island during an early-morning engagement.

Battle of the Atlantic

Dönitz orders all U-boats on patrol in the north Atlantic to break off operations against the convoys. The losses have grown too high and although the Germans continue to hope for a revival of their fortunes by technical developments, the battle has effectively been won. Some boats are moved south to the Caribbean and to waters off the Azores. It is only by diverting his operations to less vital areas that Dönitz is able to continue his campaign, even at a reduced level.

The causes of the Allied victory are several: radar, aircraft and code-breaking information figure prominently. The U-boats can perform their operations best on the surface and when they are able to signal to each other. Air cover prevents them reaching their patrol positions quickly and they cannot shadow a convoy on the surface and signal its position without being detected and attacked. Messages from the U-boat Command can be decoded and U-boat patrols avoided and the favored tactics for night attacks are made difficult when radar ends the U-boat concealment. Altogether the Allies performance has been impressively coordinated, with scientists designing and airmen and sailors operating the weapons so quickly produced by industry. The only question over the Allied performance has been the way the maritime air services have had to compete with the strategic bomber forces for long-range aircraft. The Germans have been slow to realize the potential of their submarine force as the rate of building even as late as 1941 shows. Equally, they have been slower in fitting scientific developments into their operations.

• Aircraft (VC-9) from the US escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) sink the German submarine U-569 in the North Atlantic area.

U-569

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Venturas of No. 487 Squadron bomb a power station at Zeebrugge, its first operation since suffering heavy losses on the Amsterdam raid 3 weeks earlier. The bombs fall on the railway yards near the power stations.
• There are no losses.

• 826 aircraft are sent to bomb Dortmund. Included in the total are 343 Lancasters, 199 Halifaxes, 151 Wellingtons, 120 Stirlings and 13 Mosquitos.
• Pathfinders mark the target accurately in clear weather and the ensuing attack goes according to plan. It is a very successful raid. Many industrial sites are hit including the Hoesch steelworks which stops production. Dortmund will not be attacked again for a year. Air Chief Marshal Harris sends a message to his crews advising them that 100,000 tons of bombs have now been dropped on a Germany which Göring had said in 1939 would not receive a single bomb.

There is an interesting story to tell about a Wellington of 431 Squadron which took part in this raid. Just after leaving the target, the Wellington was coned by searchlights and hit several times by fragments of flak. The rear gunner reported that he thought the aircraft was on fire. The pilot twice put the aircraft into a steep dive to evade the searchlights but was not able to do so. There was some confusion over whether an order to bale out was given by the pilot and the pilot actually did leave the aircraft. The bomb aimer, Sergeant SN Sloan, an Englishman, took over the controls and eventually was able to shake off the searchlights. The navigator and wireless operator were still aboard and Sergeant Sloan flew the aircraft back to England and made a perfect landing at Cranwell. He was immediately awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, commissioned and posted to a pilot training course.The wireless operator, Flying Officer JBG Bailey, and the navigator, Sergeant GCW Parslow, received immediate awards of the DFC and the DFM respectively.

• 15 OTU aircraft carry out leaflet flights over France.
• 1 Wellington is lost.

NAAF P-38s attack the zinc works at Iglesias and the port at Carloforte, San Pietro Island.

NASAF B-25s and B-26s attack the port and Marghana Airdrome, and NAAF P-40s attack gun emplacements throughout the island.

Air Operations, Aleutians

Due to poor weather, 6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 12 B-25s dispatched in three separate ground-support missions to Attu are diverted to Kiska, where only 1 B-25 is able to locate a target. Directed by a Patrol Wing 4 PBY, 343rd Fighter Group P-38s bring down 5 of 16 G4M 'Betty' bombers encountered over Attu between 1615 and 1640 hours. 2 P-38s are lost.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Ubili, the Gasmata airfield on New Britain, the Kavieng airfield on New Ireland, and the harbor at Kavieng.

Air Operations, Hawaii

VII Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers based on Kauai attack a Japanese Navy submarine. Hits and a possible sinking are claimed.

Air Operations, Solomons

During the night, 5 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the airfield at Ballale and the Kahili airfield on Bougainville, but 10 other B-24s abort in the face of bad weather while attempting to mount a follow-up attack on the same targets. Also, in a separate action, a mine-laying mission is completed in the Buin area while 19 XIII Bomber Command B-17 and B-24s mount a diversionary attack against Buin, Kahili, and Tonolei.

Aleutians

On Attu the units from the southern front attack the important Fish Hook Ridge but are held up by intense enemy fire. The mountains of Attu Island seem to present an insurmountable obstacle to the American fores, despite their large numbers and better equipment. After the day's unsuccessful efforts it is decided that Fish Hook Ridge must be the objective of a co-ordinated attack by units from both southern and northern fronts. This begins the final phase of the Attu Island battle.

Atlantic

21 German MTBs begin intensive minelaying operations along the English southern coast. The operation will continue until June 12.

Air Operations, Aleutians

6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 11 B-25s, and 1 F-5 attack Attu in 2 separate missions. A third mission is canceled, but 2 B-25s fail to receive the order and they also attack Attu.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Lukunai airfield at Rabaul.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, East Indies

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

Air Operations, Europe

• 3 Mosquitos attack trains east of the Ruhr without a loss.

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the ferry terminal and a tanker at Reggio di Calabria, and the ferry terminal and rail yards at Villa San Giovanni.

NASAF and NATAF fighers attack Marghana Aidrome throughout the day.

Air Operations, Sardinia

• NAAF medium bombers and fighters attack numerous targets throughout the island.
• During a mission against Alghero Airdrome and nearby satellite airfields, 82nd Fighter Group P-38s down 3 SM-79 tri-motor medium bombers, 3 Bf-109s, and 2 Mc-202s in running fights between 1410 and 1435 hours.

Aleutian Islands

On Attu renewed American attacks on Fish Hook Ridge are repulsed by the Japanese. The Japanese are resisting with fanatical determination.

The Chief of Staffs Conference approve a plan for the capture of Kiska Island.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Because of the high number of losses, 56 U-boats have been lost during April and May, Dönitz suspends U-boat operations against convoys. Dönitz lost his own son when U-954 is sunk on May 19. He has grown tired of receiving reports which indicate that his wolf packs are regularly sailing into virtual ambushes and calls off all U-boat attacks in the North Atlantic. The Allies' combination of constantly improving radar technology, increased code-breaking skill and the arrival of more and better aircraft has effectively put an end to the Battle of the Atlantic. The Germans are now losing more boats than are being built, and have failed to modernize their designs. The vessels are redeployed to safer areas of the Atlantic but this is an admission of faiure and acceptance that they will serve a lesser purpose. The Germans have lost the U-boat war.
• 'Flak-trap' U-boat U-441 shoots down a Sunderland in the Bay of Biscay. U-boats in this area frequently proceed in groups on the surface and fight off Allied aircraft with gunfire.

Air Operations, Aleutians

• 15 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 12 B-25s mount ground-support attacks on Attu while 20 343rd Fighter Group P-38s fly top cover.
• 18 P-40s reconnoiter and attack Kiska and Little Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb B-24s attack Cape Gloucester and barges along the coast.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Mitchells attempt to raid the airfield at Abbeville but cloud over the target and flak disrupts the attack and only 5 aircraft drop bombs which hit dispersal buildings near the airfield. 2 Mitchells are lost. 12 Bostons are sent to raid Cherbourg, but they abandon the operation.

• 759 aircraft are sent to Düsseldorf. Included in this total are 323 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, 142 Wellingtons, 113 Stirlings and 12 Mosquitos.
• This raid is a failure. There are two layers of cloud over the target and the Pathfinders have great difficulty in marking it. It is also believed the Germans are operating decoy markers and fire sites. As a result, the Main Force bombing is scattered over a wide area.
• 9 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons and 4 Halifaxes are lost.

NATAF B-25s and P-40s attack Marghana Airdrome, shipping, and troop concentrations.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Madang and several other coastal towns.

Air Operations, Sicily

• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the Messina ferry terminal and rail yards.
• NASAF B-17s, B-25s, B-26s, and fighters attack numerous targets throughout the island.
• 1st Fighter Group P-38s down 11 Bf-109s between 1110 and 1130 hours in an actions off Capo San Vito.
• At 1545 hours, a pair of 14th Fighter Group P-38s down a Do-217 medium bomber over Gela.

Aleutians

On Attu American troops coming up from the south manage to reach the top of Fish Hook Ridge after hand-to-hand fighting in a complex system of trenches and tunnels dug by the Japanese. The units from the northern sector also make some progress from the other side of the ridge.

Allied Planning

The Trident Conference, which began in Washington on May 12, comes to an end. It has been decided that the invasion of northwest Europe, Operation OVERLORD, will start early in May 1944. The invasion will be preceded by a gigantic air offensive. In Italy, after the landing in Sicily, Operation HUSKY, whatever actions are necessary will be taken to eliminate the country from the war. Systematic bombing of the Ploesti oilfields in Rumania, vital to the Germans, will be undertaken from bases in the Mediterranean. It was also agreed to increase aid to China and to step up the tempo of the war against Japan by island-hopping through the central Pacific. The strategy to be adopted in the Pacific was also approved in outline.

Battle of the Atlantic

US Naval land-based aircraft (VP-84) sink the German submarine U-467 in the Atlantic Ocean area.

U-467

Air Operations, Aleutians

• 8 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 11 B-25s mount ground-support missions at Attu, and 2 B-24s and 12 343rd Fighter Group P-38s cover the island.
• 9 B-25s and 16 P-40s attack Kiska in 3 separate missions.

Air Operations, Europe

• 14th Fighter Group P-38s attack the harbor at Golfo Aranci.
• In the day's only fighter engagement, a P-38 downs an Italian flying boat at 1215 hours.
• NAAF P-38s also attack the power dam at Tirso.

P-40 fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements, motor vehicles, and troop concentrations along the southeastern coast.

Air Operations, Gilberts

3 VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Canton Island attack a barracks in Abemama Atoll.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

The Allied air offensive continues on Sicily, Sardinia and Pantellaria.

Air Operations, New Guinea

3 V Bomber Command bombers hit both airfield and town of Madang.

Air Operations, Sardinia

NAAF P-38s attack Villacidro Airdrome and shipping at Porto Ponte Romano.

Air Operations, Sicily

NASAF B-17s, B-25s, and B-26s attack Biscari, Comiso, and Gela/Ponte Olivo Airdromes.

Aleutians

On Attu the Americans improve their positions both on the southern slope and on the north side of Fish Hook Ridge.

Japanese submarines begin the evacuation of the Kiska Island garrison.

Battle of the Atlantic

Returning to port from a patrol, U-436 runs into the escort for convoy KX-10 and is sunk in a depth-charge attack by the Indian corvette and British frigate HMS Test.

U-436

Canada, Home Front

Meat rationing is introduced throughout the country.

Eastern Front

The V Corps is involved in further heavy fighting.

Air Operations, Aleutians

• 1 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25 mounts a ground-support attack at Attu.
• 6 343rd Fighter Group P-40s attack Kiska.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and V Bomber Command B-25s attack both the town and airfield at Lae.
• B-25s attack Japanese Army ground troops.
• B-24s and B-25s mount individual attacks against Finschhafen, Langgoer, and Saidor.

Aleutians

On Attu forces of the US 7th Infantry Division finally seize Fish Hook Ridge. The construction of a fighter runway near Alexai Point is begun.

Air Operations, Europe

• 14 Mosquitos of 105 and 139 Squadrons are sent at low level to attack a glassworks and optical instruments factory at Jena. The round flight from the Dutch coast is more than 500 miles. 2 Mosquitos of 130 Squadron collide on the outward flight near Paderborn and crash. Another plane of 105 Squadron is also lost. Despite the balloon barrage and flak, 11 aircraft bomb the 2 targets with great accuracy.
• On the return to England, 2 more planes, 1 from each squadron, crash in Norfolk and the crews are killed.

• 518 aircraft including 274 Lancasters, 151 Halifaxes, 81 Wellingtons and 12 Mosquito are sent to Essen.
• The weather is cloudy and skymarking is uses. The main bombing is scattered with many of the bombs falling short. The limited damage in Essen is in the northern and central districts. Bombs fall in 10 surrounding Ruhr towns.
• 11 Halifaxes, 6 Lancasters, 5 Wellingtons and 1 Mosquito are lost.

• 23 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and there are 19 OTU sorties.
• 1 mine-laying Stirling is lost.

NAAF P-40s attack harbor defenses and various targets along the south coast.

Air Operations, Sardinia

NASAF B-25s and B-26s attack Decimomannu and Villacidro Airdromes.

Allied Planning

Churchill and Gen Marshall leave Washington for North Africa for talks with Gen Eisenhower on what is to be attempted in the coming Italian campaign. Marshall wishes to avoid any commitment that could interfere with a later cross-Channel operation, while Churchill is keen for opportunities in the Mediterranean to be explained and Italy knocked out of the war.

Britain, Home Front

Arthur Mee, author of children's books and editor of the 'Children's Newspaper', dies at age 67.

Diplomatic Relations

The Pope appoints Monsignor Godfrey the Papal Chargé d'Affaires to the Polish Government.

Eastern Front

In the Kuban another Soviet attack goes in but fails to penetrate the German defenses.

Air Operations, CBI

• 16 23rd Fighter Group P-40 fighter-bombers attack rail facilities at Yoyang in two waves.

Air Operations, Europe

Over 100 US Fortress bombers make a devastating daylight raid on Leghorn (Livorno). P-40s and Marauders hiit 4 Sicilian airfields despite 'terrific flak'.

• 12 Venturas bomb a power stations at Zeebrugge.
• 1 Ventura is lost.

• 34 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians, off the Brittany ports and in the Gironde River and there are 5 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• NASAF B-17s attack the harbor, oil facilities, and a marshalling yard at Leghorn.
• IX Bomber Command B-24s attack Augusta.
• Two separate IX Bomber Command B-24 formations attack the important Axis airbase complex at Foggia for the first time.

Air Operations, Gilberts

3 VII Bomber Command B-24s based at Canton Island attack Abemama Atoll.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

14th Fighter Group P-38s down 2 Bf-109s about 1800 hours near Favignana Island in the Egadi group.

Air Operations, New Guinea

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfields at Boram, Dagua, and Wewak and the Wewak-Dagua road.

Air Operations, Sardinia

NAAF P-40 and NATAF A-20s attack various targets.

Air Operations, Sicily

NASAF medium bombers attac, the Bo Rizzo, Castelveltrano, Trapani/Milo, and Sciacca Aiddromes. 3 325th Fighter Group P-40s down 3 Bf-109s over the Trapani/Milo Airdrome.

Air Operations, Solomons

An attack by AirSols light bombers against Kolombangara and the Munda area is hampered by bad weather, but a number of bombers are able to attack the aifield at Munda Point on New Georgia.

Aleutians

On Attu the Japanese, already squeezed into the Chicagof Harbor area, take refuge in the surrounding mountains. The Americans drop leaflets inviting them to surrender.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-304 is sunk by Liberator 'E' of No 120 Squadron RAF.

U-304

Class	Type VIIC
CO	Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Koch
Location	N Atlantic
Cause	Air attack
Casualties	46
Survivors	None

• U-154 attacks Brazil-to-Trinidad Convoy BT-14, torpedoing 3 US merchant ships: motor tanker Florida (8580t), freighter Cardinal Gibbons (7191t), and freighter John Worthington (8166t). Sumarine chaser PC-592 rescues all of the 52-man crew and the 27-man Armed Guard from the Florida.
• U-177 attacks Convoy CD-20 sinking the US freighter Agwimonte. There are no casualties among the 46-man crew or 23-man Armed Guard. The survivors are rescued by the South African whaler Vereeniging and an army crash boat.