May 17, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 17 MAY 1942

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): P-39 Airacobras intercept A6M2 Zeros. Lost is P-39F 41-7122 pilot 2nd Lt. Jessie M. Bland (survived).

IJN: Eighteen A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai took off from Lae Airfield on a fighter sweep against Port Moresby. Inbound, one Zero aborts the mission. Over the target intercepted by P-39 Airacobras and hit by machine gun fire. Returning, lost is A6M2 Zero pilot Yamaguchi (MIA) and A6M2 Zero 645 pilot PO2c Tsutomou Ito (captured).

In the evening, damaged Shōkaku anchors in Kure Harbor and is inspected by Admiral Yamamoto and Vice Admiral Ugaki that praise the crew.