May 5, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 5 MAY 1942

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): During the night of May 4-5, 1942 four B-17s bomb Mingaladon Airfield hitting a hangar and parked aircraft; the crews claim 40 aircraft destroyed but searchlights make accurate observation impossible.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Cloncurry to Longreach with B-17's; a detachment is operating from Perth.

USN: Battle of the Coral Sea: The American carrier force is stationed in the probable track of the enemy transports, they moved northward in search of the enemy covering force.

IJA: At 11:30pm 2,0000 Japanese Army soldiers from the 4th Division, 61st Infantry under the command of Col. Gempachi Sato embarked aboard barge from the 1st Sea Operation Unit at Lamao and after dark bound for the north coast of Corregidor Island and planned to land between Infantry Point and Cavalry Point. Due to the tide running eastward off the island and caused the landing craft to drift 1,000 yards to the east before they landed to the west of North Point with boat landing at different times spread over a distance. As a result, the 61st Infantry 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion landing at the wrong beaches.

U.S. Army: Ashore on Corregidor Island the defenders targeted the landing craft with a pair of 75mm guns and 37mm guns east of North Point with a few remaining search lights spotting. As the moon rose, defensive fire was added by the last 12" mortar at Battery Way plus 12" gunfire from Batttery Craighill at Fort Hughes on Caballo Island. Although the Japanese suffered heavy casualties with only 800 men reaching the shore, they established a beachhead after combat with Company A, 4th Marines near North Point. Meanwhile, Fort Drum gun batteries fired over 100 rounds at the the landing barges and assembly area. When the garrison was informed of the the upcoming surrender, they were willing to continue fighting, but lack enough food and supplies.

British Army: "Operation Ironclad" The British Army 29th Infantry Brigade and No. 5 Commandos at Courrier Bay and Ambararata Bay on Madagascar with reinforcements landed from the 5th Infantry Division and Royal Marines. Until the next day, the Vichy France managed to defended against the landing.