April 8, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL 1942

U. S. Army: Late in the evening, Major General Edward P. King decides to surrender the Bataan Peninsula and notice of the surrender is communicated to defenders to destroy equipment while key personnel including Army nurses were evacuated on a motor launch to Corregidor. At 9:30pm a natural earthquake of large proportions shook the entire Bataan Peninsula adding to the confusion and urgency.

(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 with whatever aircraft are left.

IJA: Japanese forces occupy Lorengau on Manus.