WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 1942
Philippines: General Jonathan M. Wainwright surrenders Corregidor and all U.S. forces in the Philippines and organized resistance against Japanese ends. This brings the total area of lands occupied by the
Japanese Empire to 20 million square miles of land and ocean.
CBI (10th Air Force): For the second consecutive night, B-17s bomb Mingaladon Airfield with three B-17's claiming direct hits on fuel dumps at the field.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's unsuccessfully attack shipping
in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands. The air and ground echelons of the following
AAF units are killed or captured; the units are carried as active units without
personnel until 2 Apr 46: 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) 2d Observation Squadron
(Medium) 3d Pursuit Squadron, 17th Pursuit Squadron, 20th Pursuit Squadron, 21st Pursuit Squadron and 34th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) 14th
Bombardment Squadron Most of the ground echelon of the following units
were killed or captured: V Bomber Command 5th Interceptor Command, 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 27th Bombardment Group (27th BG), 16th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Squadron and
91st Bombardment Squadron and 28th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Squadron and 93d Bombardment Squadron.
IJN: Battle of the Coral Sea: ten Japanese ships including the Kamikawa Maru, a destroyer, cruiser and transports enter Deboyne Lagoon and occupy Nivani Island in the Deboyne Island Group. They establish Deboyne Seaplane Base as a forward operating area.
RAAF: Lost is PBY-5 Catalina A24-20 (POW / MIA).
