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

WEDNESDAY, 27 MAY 1942

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): 11th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Karachi to Allahabad with B-17's.

India: USAFCBI SOS Base Section 1 is activated at Karachi; Base Section 2 (Calcutta) is authorized.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17s bomb Rabaul. P-39 Airacobras from the 8th Fighter Group (8th FG) intercept Japanese A6M2 Zeros over Port Moresby. Lost is P-39F 41-7153 pilot 2nd Lt. Alva G. Hawkins (MIA) and P-39F 41-7162 pilot Captain Thomas W. Hornsby (survived).

USN: The transfer of Patrol Wing 4 from Seattle to the North Pacific began with the arrival of the Commander at Kodiak. The Naval force based around USS Yorktown under the command of Admiral Fletcher arrives Pearl Harbor from the South Pacific.

Cook Third Class Doris Miller is bestowed the Navy Cross by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz on a ceremony aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Pearl Harbor.

IJN: The carrier strike force under the command of Vice Adm Chuichi Nagumo departs Saipan and Guam bound for Midway. Enemy transports depart Saipan and covering cruisers and destroyers depart from Guam.

U.S. Army: 23rd Infantry Division (23rd ID) "Americal Division" is activated on New Caledonia under the command of Major General Alexander Patch as the only U.S. Army Division formed outside the United States or a U.S. territory and became known as the "Americal Division" meaning American, New Caledonian Division.