April 27, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 27 APRIL 1942

10th AF: Ground echelon of 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Karachi to Allahabad; the air echelon is at Baumrauli with B-17's.

IJN: A single C5M2 Babs from 3rd Kokutai took off from Koepang Airfield at 7:30am for a reconnaissance mission at 9:50 over Darwin for ten minutes then returns safely. Meanwhile seventeen G4M1 Bettys led by Lt. Tanemasa Hirata took off from Koepang Airfield at 8:37am armed with 60kg bombs on a bombing mission against Darwin. At 9:00am, twenty one A6M2 Zeros from the 3rd Kokutai led by Lt. Takeo Kurusawa departed to escort the bombers. Over the target at an altitude of 20,000' the Bettys dropped their bombs at 11:35am while Australian 3.7" heavy anti-aircraft guns opened fire and P-40s intercepted the formation. Returning, the Bettys landed between 1:30pm to 2:00pm and the Zeros land at 1:50pm. References: Darwin’s Defenders (forthcoming) by Bob Alford.

RAAF: On the ground at Darwin Airfield Japanese bombs damage No. 1 Officers accommodation block, the Airmen’s Mess kitchen, recreation hall, main North-South Road and water pipeline from Manton Dam. Killed on the ground by Japanese bombs are Sgt Vincent A. Doran, Sgt John B. Rohr, Sgt Douglas C. E. Upjohn and Cpl Frank K. Lewis. References: Darwin’s Defenders (forthcoming) by Bob Alford.

5th AF: At Darwin, P-40 Warhawks from the 49th Fighter Group took off to intercept Japanese aircraft attacking Darwin. Lost is P-40E Warhawk pilot Strauss (KIA) and P-40E Warhawk pilot Fish (KIA).

RAAF: Crashed is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-69 (KIA).

USN: USS Yorktown (CV-5) departs Tongatabu Harbor off Tonga on bound for the Coral Sea as part of Task Force 11 (TF 11) under the command of Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch.