May 28, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 28 MAY 1942

ALASKA (11th Air Force): A B-17 flies the first armed reconnaissance from the secretly constructed airfield at Unmak, but finds no sign of the enemy. XI Fighter Command elements are not deployed at Unmak (P-40's and P-38's), Cold Bay (P-40's), Kodiak (P-39's), and Elmendorf Field [P-38's and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Kittyhawks].

USA: Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson warns Americans along the west coast to expect a Japanese attack as retaliation for the April 18, 1942 "Dollittle Raid" against Japan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-26's attack Lae Airfield. Intercepted by four A6M2 Zeros, shot down is B-26 40-1467 pilot 1st Lt. Spears R. Lanford (MIA). Meanwhile, at 7:50am fourteen Airacobras from the 36th FS and 35th FS took off from 7 Mile Drome to intercept twenty A6M2 Zeros over Port Moresby. Four aircraft were lost, but all pilots survived and later returned to duty: P-39D 41-6970 pilot Lt. J. F. Ward, Jr. (survived), P-39F 41-7190 pilot Captain Wyatte P. Exum (survived), P-39F Airacobra pilot 2nd Lt. Arthur "Art" Andres (survived) and P-39F 41-7126 (survived). During the air combat, the 36th FS pilots Connell, Egan, Erickson claimed 3 Zeros shot down. In fact, no Japanese planes were lost.

New Hebridies: U.S. forces arrive on Espiritu Santo and begin development of the island into a major base area with airfields and Naval anchorage in the South Pacific.