WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL 1942
US goverment begins the relocation of Japanese-Americans to interment camps
in the United States.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): During Apr, HQ 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons, 27th Bombardment Group, are established at Charters
Towers; ground echelon remains on Bataan.
Japanese forces occupy Buka.
THURSDAY, 2 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Major General Lewis H. Brereton, Commanding General 10th
Air Force, leads three B-17's on a raid on shipping in the Andaman Islands off
the south
coast of Burma during the night of 2/3 Apr; they claim hits on 1 cruiser and
a transport; two B-17's are damaged by AA and fighters, but all return to base.
Earlier in the evening, a mission scheduled against the Rangoon area is aborted when B-17E piloted by Parsel crashed on takeoff and the other has mechanical
trouble.
USN: Lost in a collision are SBD 2136 and SBD 2165.
FRIDAY, 3 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Six B-17's from Asansol bomb warehouses and docks at
Rangoon starting three large fires; one B-17E fails to return.
(SWPA, 5th Air
Force): 21st and 22d Transport Squadrons, Air Transport Command, US Army Forces
in Australia, are activated at Archerfield and Essendon Airdrome, Australia
respectively with various transport aircraft. 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor),
35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Mount Gambier to Williamstown,
Australia with P-39's; first mission is 2 June.
SATURDAY, 4 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 36th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit Group
(Interceptor), transfers from Lowood to Townsville with P-39's and P-400's; first mission is 30 Apr. Over Darwin, shot down by friendly anti-aircraft fire is P-40E "Arizona" 41-5551. Shot down are P-40E 41-23873
(IJN) Japanese aircraft bomb Darwin. Lost are G4M1 Betty T-361 plus two other G4M1 Bettys.
SUNDAY, 5 APRIL 1942
Manus is occupied by Japanese
CEYLON - At dawn 125 aircraft under the command of Commander Mitsuo Fuchida of the Akagi attacks Colombo on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) with a force comprised 36 Val dive bombers, 53 Kate attack bombers, and an escort of 36 Zeros, attacking the harbor as their principal target. Admiral Nagumo kept the rest of his force, approximately another 180 aircraft, in reserve as a second wave, to be launched once Fuchida had confirmed the location of the Eastern Fleet, his principle target. RAF launched two squadrons of RAF Hurricanes and two Navy Fulmars to intercept. The Eastern Fleet was not in port, but the Japanese sank 2 cruisers (HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall), 1 carrier, and several merchant vessels and destroyer HMS Tenedos, Nagumo's forces returns to the Singapore Straits.
IJN - Lost is A6M2 Zero piloted by Yoshi.
USAAF - Lost is B-17E 41-2443
MONDAY, 6 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Ten Pan American Airways DC-3 begin hauling 30,000 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of lubricants from Calcutta to Asansol, completing the mission on the following day.
This fuel, subsequently transferred via Dinjan to China. The fuel is intended to refuel
Lieutenant Colonel James H Doolittle's B-25 Mitchell bombers after their planned raid on Tokyo planned for April 18, 1942. The B-25s are already at sea aboard
USS Hornet (CV-8).
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), begin a transfer without personnel and equipment to the US. They
will be established at Columbia, AAB, South Carolina on 26 Apr, be re-equipped
with B-25's and transfer to India in Jul 42.
RAAF: Damaged in combat and ditched is P-40E A29-9 (Les Jackson, survived)
TUESDAY, 7 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): During the night of 6/7 the Japanese break the Philippine
II Corps front on Bataan, necessitating immediate removal of all remaining
fighters to Mindanao, where for the next 3 days they will fly reconnaissance,
cover heavy bombers (sent to Mindanao from Australia) operating against concentrations
at Legaspi, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, and carry out a strafing attack aircraft
at Davao. After the heavy bombers return to Australia on 12 Apr, the fighters
will continue to fly reconnaissance until Japanese forces envelop the troops
on Mindanao on 1 May. In New Guinea, nine 3rd BG A-24s escorted by six P-40E of RAAF 75 Squadron bomb Lae. Lost is A-24 41-15798
HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 2nd Bombardment Squadron transfers
from Ipswich to Townsville with B-26's; first combat mission is April 8. The 8th Photographic Squadron, Fifth
Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces) arrives at Melbourne from
the US with F-4's; two flights remain at March Field until
16 June. 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium),
transfers from Brisbane to Townsville
with B-26's; first mission is 21 Apr. 33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d
Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Ipswich to Antil Plains with B-26's; first mission was April 6.
WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): The air echelons of the 3d, 17th and 20th Pursuit Squadrons
(Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), and 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons
(Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) [attached to 24th Pursuit Group
(Interceptor)] based on Bataan, begin operating from Mindanao, Philippine Islands with whatever aircraft are left.
THURSDAY, 9 APRIL 1942
Philippines - Japanese capture Bataan after 3 months.
The US-Philippine forces surrender unconditionally. The voice of Freedom radio
station makes its last broadcast in the Philippines, saying, "Bataan has
fallen, but the spirt that made it stand... cannot fail." Japanese artillery
emplaced on Bataan opens fire on Corregidor in conjunction with air attacks.
Australia - 2nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium),
transfers from Townsville to Reid River with B-26's; first mission was yesterday. 7th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor),
49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Bankstown to Batchelor Field, Australia with P-40's; they
have been in combat since 14 Mar.
CEYLON - IJN aircraft attack Trincomalee HMAS Vampire sunk by Japanese planes off the coast of Ceylon.
FRIDAY, 10 APRIL 1942
USN - A reorganization of the Pacific Fleet abolished the Battle and Scouting
Forces and set up new type commands for ships and aviation. With the change,
titles of the aviation type commands became Carriers, Pacific, and Patrol Wings,
Pacific.
SATURDAY, 11 APRIL 1942
RAAF - After a sweep over Lae, Lost is P-40E A29-38 that force lands on the beach near Salamaua.
5th AF - 22nd BG B-26 attack Lakunai Drome near Rabaul. Lost is B-26 40-1418 that force lands on the return flight. Its crew return to their unit on May 28th. 3rd BG A-24s bomb Lae, lost is A-24 Dive Bomber 41-15773.
IJN - Taijun Maru is sunk due to fire into Truk Lagoon.
SUNDAY, 12 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Royce
Mission Australia-based B-25's, staging through Mindanao,
hit the harbor and shipping at Cebu while B-17's carry out single-bomber
strikes from Mindanao against Cebu Harbor and Nichols
Field. 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium),
22d Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Townsville to Reid River with B-26's; first mission is 21 Apr; 18th is redesignated
408th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 April.
USN: PT-35 was scuttled and burned to prevent capture off Cebu.
MONDAY, 13 APRIL 1942
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPOA, 7th Air Force): Vice Admiral Robert L Ghormley
is assigned as Commander-in-Chief South Pacific (COMSOPAC). He is to command
all
Allied base and local defense forces (land, sea, and air) in the South Pacific
Islands, with the exception of New Zealand land defenses.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Royce
Mission Australia-based B-25's hit targets in the Philippines for the second consecutive day. Staging through Del Monte Airfield, the B-25's
take off just after midnight during 12/13 Apr and bomb shipping at Cebu and installations at Davao. Later
in the day the B-25's again attack Davao, bombing the dock area. Lost is B-17E 41-2447.
5th AF - Seven A-24s of the 3rd BG escorted by 8 P-40Es of 75 Squadron attack Lae. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-15
TUESDAY, 14 APRIL 1942
RAAF: Lost is Anson AX420.
WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 1942
THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): B-17's take off from Dum Dum Airfield near Calcutta
to bomb Rangoon. Six B-17's, guided by flares, bomb the target; numerous
searchlights make it impossible to estimate the bombing results.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): HQ 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) transfers from Bankstown to Batchelor.
FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 49th Pursuit Group
(Interceptor), transfers from Canberra to Batchelor with P-40's; first mission is 20 Apr.
IJN: A6M2 Zero piloted Sakai is lost on a mission to Port Moresby.
RAAF: Shot down is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-7.
BURMA - British engineers blow up Chinese and Allied oil fields in Burma, destroying
nearly 6,000 wells to keep them out of Japanese hands.
SATURDAY, 18 APRIL 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 18th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 28th Composite
Goup, transfers from Elmendorf Field to Ft Greely, Kodiak
with P-40's.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA): "Doolittle Raid" against Japan is led by Lieutenant Colonel
J. H. Doolittle, the first attack against the Japanese homeland. is made
at sea 668 miles from Tokyo. Sixteen B-25's take off from USS
Hornet (CV-8) while at sea 668 miles off Tokyo. The Hornet
departed from Alameda on April 2, and rendezvoused with USS Enterprise and ships
of Task Force 16 (TF 16) under the command of Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey north of Hawaii before proceeded across the Pacific.
Fifteen of the B-25's hit targets in Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama,
and Nagoya. Since the bombers launched earlier than scheduled, they
were unable to reach their intended airfields in China. Fifteen ditch or crash and one lands in Soviet Union. Participating are:
No 1 - 40-2344 (17th BG, 34th BS) piloted by Doolittle
No 2 - 40-2292 (17th BG, 37th BS)
No 3 - B-25B "Whiskey Pete" 40-2270 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 4 - 40-2282 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 5 - 40-2283 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 6 - B-25B "Green Hornet" 40-2298 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No 7 - B-25B "Ruptured Duck" 40-2261
No 8 - 40-2242 (17th BG, 95th BS) *
No 9 - 40-2303 (17th BG, 34th BS) ***
No 10 - 40-2250 (17th BG, 89th RS) ***
No 11 - B-25B "Hari Carrier" 40-2249 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No 12 - 40-2278 (17th BG, 37th BS)
No 13 - 40-2247 (17th BG, 37th BS)
No 14 - 40-2297 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No 15 - B-25B "TNT" 40-2267 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No 16 - B-25B "The Bat " 40-2268 (17th BG, 34th BS)
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 5th Air Force units come under control of the Allied
Air Forces (SWPA) which is created in Australia to control AAF, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Dutch elements. HQ 19th
Bombardment Group transfers from Melbourne to Garbutt Field.
(22nd BG) Six B-26s take off on a bombing mission against Rabaul, three abort due to bad weather before reaching the target. Over the target, B-26 40-1486 bombed Lakunai Airfield while the other two B-26s attacked shipping in Simpson Harbor. B-26 "Shittenengitten" 40-1404 scored a single 500lbs bomb hit on Komaki Maru. The other B-26 40-1400 arrived late over the target and was intercepted by a pair of Tainan Kokutai A6M2 Zeros, damaged in the left engine and crashed near shore. Two crew bailed out and were taken prisoner.
SUNDAY, 19 APRIL 1942
MONDAY, 20 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Major General George H Brett assumes command of the
Allied Air Forces, which has units based in N and E Australia, with advanced
facilities in the Port Moresby, New Guinea area. 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor),
35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Williamstown to Woodstock with P-39's; first mission is 2 Jun. Ground echelon of 70th Bombardment
Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Ballarat
to Amberley
Field; air echelon is still in the US with B-26's.
TUESDAY, 21 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): Lost after a search mission, crashing into Mount Bartle Frere is B-25C 41-12486.
WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Aircraft begin to evacuate military and civilian personnel
and supplies from Burma to India. By 15 Jun the 10th Air Force has evacuated
4,499 passengers and 1,733,026 pounds (786,095 kg) of freight.
(SOPOA, 7th Air Force): A joint US-New Zealand Naval Command is ordered established
under Vice Admiral Robert L Ghormley. It is to operate separately but in close
liaison with General Douglas MacArthur and Vice Admiral Herbert F Leary.
Fiji Lost is P-39F 41-7104. Ditched on a training flight is A-20A "Strawberry Roam" 40-173.
FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Photographic Squadron, 5th Air Force (attached to
Allied Air Forces), transfers from Melbourne to Brisbane with F-4's; first mission was 16 Apr. Lost on a ferry flight are: B-25C "Tojo's Nitemare" 41-129??, B-25C "Chattanooga Choo Choo" 41-129??, B-25C "Salvo Sadie" 41-129??.
In the morning, twelve A6M2 Zeros of the Tainan Kokutai attack Port Moresby, six dog fighting with RAAF 75 Squadron P-40 Kittyhawks and six attacking other aircraft and bombers. They claimed nine shot down (five P-40s, one P-39, two B-26s) and damaged a PBY. In fact, they destroyed two B-26s [one is B-26 "Hell's Angel" 40-1428]. Also, PBY A24-5 moored in Fairfax Harbor, and three P-40E Kittyhawks from 75 Squadron were shot down: P-40 A29-43 (Channon, KIA) and P-40E A29-76 (Crawford, survived).
USN - A new specification for color of naval aircraft went into effect. The
color of service aircraft remained non-specular light gray with non-specular
blue-gray on surfaces visible from above. Advanced trainers were to be finished
in glossy aircraft gray with glossy orange yellow on wing and aileron surfaces
visible from above while primary trainers were to be finished glossy orange-yellow
with gray landing gear.
SATURDAY, 25 APRIL 1942
(5th Air Force) Over Darwin, flying together for the first time, the 49th Pursuit Group claims ten
Japanese bombers and three Zeros without incurring
any combat losses.
5th AF: Lost is B-17E 41-2505.
SUNDAY, 26 APRIL 1942
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 35th and 36th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit
Group (Interceptor), transfer from Brisbane and Townsville
respectively to Port Moresby with P-39's and P-400's; first mission
is 30 Apr.
MONDAY, 27 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): Ground echelon of 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), transfers from Karachi to Lahabad; the air echelon is
at Baumrauli with B-17's.
TUESDAY, 28 APRIL 1942
(RAAF) Six Kittyhawks took off at 1036K to intercept eight Japanese bombers escorted by A6M2 Zeros over Port Moresby. During this combat, P-40E Kittyhawk A29-8 piloted by S/Ldr J F Jackson and and P-40E A29-47 piloted by F/Lt B M Cox failed to return. S/Ldr Jackson listed as killed, F/Lt Cox listed as missing. F/O Brereton was also wounded in this action, and his aircraft severley damaged, though returned to base. Lost is A6M2 Zero 1575, piloted by Yoshimitsu Maeda who is taken prisoner.
WEDNESDAY, 29 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): A flight of B-17's bomb the dock area at Rangoon.
THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 1942
(10th Air Force): The Japanese capture Lashio and begin a move to drive
the Chinese back along the Burma Road toward China and drive American and British
forces back toward India.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): P-39's flying out of Port Moresby strafe airplanes and fuel dumps at Lae and Salamaua.
Lost are P-39D 41-6930 (Andres, rescued) and P-39F 41-7128 (Durand, MIA), P-39D 41-6982 (Brown, rescued) and P-39F 41-7186 (Bevlock, rescued), P-39F 41-7128, P-39D 41-6930
HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and ground echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron
(Medium) transfer from Ballarat Airfield to Amberley
Field; air echelon of the 69th is still in the US with B-26's.
71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers
from Ballarat Airfield to Batchelor Field with B-26's; first mission is 15
Sep.
