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05/01/42
Tenth AF
X ASC is activated under cmd of Gen Adler, who arrived in India on 26 Apr.
05/01/42
Eighth AF
Gen Spaatz is designated Eighth AF cmdr.
05/04/42
Fifth AF
B-26's bomb Vunakanau A/F at Rabaul. P-39's and B-17's hit A/F at
Lae.
05/04/42
SOPAC
Battle of the Coral Sea begins with US carrier-based air attack on
Tulagi.
05/05/42
Eighth AF
Gen Spaatz assumes cmd at Bolling Field.
05/05/42
Tenth AF
On a raid against Mingaladon A/F during 4/5 May, 4 B-17's bomb a
hangar and parked aircraft. The crews claim 40 airplanes destroyed
but searchlights make accurate observation impossible.
05/06/42
Phil Is
Corregidor surrenders. All US organized resistance to Japanese in
Phil Is ends.
05/06/42
Tenth AF
Mingaladon A/F is hit for second consecutive night. 3 B-17's score
direct hits on fuel dump at the field.
05/06/42
Fifth AF
B-17's unsuccessfully attack shipping in Bougainville area.
05/07/42
Fifth AF
Battle of the Coral Sea, which began on 4 May, approaches its climax
as Allied naval forces intercept Japanese naval forces near Misima I.
Navy divebmrs sink the carrier Shoho. Allied forces lose an oiler and
a destroyer. Allied AF bmrs join the battle but their effect is
limited. Several bmrs attack Allied vessels by mistake.
05/08/42
Fifth AF
Main action of Battle of the Coral Sea occurs as Allied and Japanese
carrier forces clash. Allied bmrs join Navy airplanes in attacking
enemy's main spt force which has swept around S of San Cristobal. The
carrier Shokaku is severely damaged by aircraft from carriers
Lexington and Yorktown. The Lexington is damaged so severely that it
later is sunk by US naval fire. The Yorktown also suffers damage from
aircraft. Both sides lose heavily in aircraft, US losses totalling 66
and the Japanese considerably more. The Allies turn back the sea
assault against Port Moresby, a key base in New Guinea and of great
importance to the security of Australia. The battle is the first
major naval engagement in history in which the opposing warships do
not exchange a shot. The Coral Sea battle marks the end of the period
in which the Allied forces in SWPA are only on the defensive and
paves the way for offensive operations. The rcn work of the AAF
proves of greater importance than its bombardment operations, which
have no real effects on the battle. Lack of Navy-AAF coordination is
apparent from the Coral Sea action, and this eventually leads to
better interservice communication.
05/09/42
Tenth AF
During 8/9 May, 6 B-docks at Rangoon.
05/09/42
Fifth AF
8 B-26's and a single B-17 attack shipping and seaplanes at Deboyne
I.
05/10/42
Fifth AF
B-25's bomb seaplane base at Deboyne I.
05/11/42
Eighth AF
The transport Andes 17's bomb Mingaladon and attack the docks in UK,
carrying about 1,800 personnel for various Eighth AF units. This is
first large shipment of AAF troops to UK.
05/11/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack shipping at Kessa in N Solomons while B-26's hit
seaplane base at Deboyne I.
05/12/42
Eighth AF
39 officers and 348 enlisted men of HQ and the bmr, ftr, and serv
cmds arrive at High Wycombe, UK, where VIII IC sets up HQ.
05/12/42
Tenth AF
HBs fly their first mission in direct def of air cargo line to China
when 4 B-17's from Dum Dum A/F heavily damage runways and set fire to
several parked aircraft at Myitkyina. Myitkyina, which fell to the
Japanese on 8 May, poses serious ftr threat to Allied base at Dinjan.
05/13/42
Eighth AF
Flying personnel of 15th Bomb Sq, the first US bomb unit sent to UK,
arrive at Newport, UK, without aircraft.
05/13/42
Fifth AF
B-17's and B-26's hit shipping and A/F at Rabaul.
05/14/42
Eighth AF
Gen Eaker designated cmdr of Det HQ Eighth AF in addition to his
duties as CG VIII BC. Gen Hunter assumes cmd of VIII IC.
05/14/42
Tenth AF
HBs pound Myitkyina for second time, scoring direct hits on runways
and several buildings.
05/14/42
Fifth AF
B-17's, B-26's, and B-25's attack Rabaul and Lae.
05/15/42
AAF
Interceptor and pur organizations of AAF are redesignated 'fighter'.
05/16/42
Tenth AF
HQ completes its move from US to New Delhi. HBs again strike A/F at
Myitkyina, pounding runways and buildings. Subsequent rcn indicates
that the runways are unusable."
05/16/42
Fifth AF
B-25's, B-26's and B-17's hit A/F and storehouses at Lae and seaplane
base at Deboyne I.
05/17/42
Eighth AF
Det, Eighth AF, with help of III BC staff, issues a directive
defining its mission, which is the organization, trg and supplying of
units of ADVONs of Eighth AF to prepare for immediate operations upon
arrival of tac elements of the Eighth. 50 US intelligence officers
arrive in UK for trg by RAF BC."
05/18/42
International
US and Panama sign agreement concerning use of Panama def areas by US
forces.
05/18/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb shipping in Koepang Bay."
05/18/42
Seventh AF
Seventh AF is placed on alert in anticipation of a possible attack on
Midway. For next 10 days the old B-18's on hand For are used on
search to supplement the B-17's. VII BC receives influx of B-17's
during this period, and the 72d Bomb Sq is converted from B-18's to
B-17's.
05/19/42
Eighth AF
Det, HQ Eighth AF, under Gen Eaker, assumes control of all AAF
organizations in British Isles.
05/20/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack A/F and AA guns at Koepang on Timor I.
05/20/42
SOPAC
Adm McCain, aboard USS Tangier at Noumea, assumes cmd as COMAIRSOPAC.
05/21/42
Fifth AF
B-26's bomb aircraft at Lae.
05/22/42
Fifth AF
B-17's pound A/F and shipping at Rabaul while B-26's hit A/F at Lae
and attack shipping in the harbor.
05/23/42
Eighth AF
Agreement is reached on plan to transfer repair depot at Burtonwood
to US forces following period of joint control to begin at end of
Jun. Burtonwood later becomes greatest AAF depot overseas.
05/23/42
Fifth AF
B-25's strike A/F and buildings at Lae.
05/24/42
Eighth AF
VIII AFBC, under overall logistical control of SOS, is given primary
responsibility for all supply and maintenance peculiar to AAF, thus
leaving much logistical autonomy to AAFIB.
05/24/42
Fifth AF
B-26's attack Lae A/F but heavy AA and at least 15 intercepting Zeros
prevent accurate bombing. Several of the MBs are shot down or badly
damaged and forced to crashland."
05/24/42
ZI
Deployment of air units from eastern US is begun as a result of
threat of a naval attack on the W coast. 12th Bomb Gp begins movement
from La to Calif.
05/25/42
Tenth AF
4 B-17's bomb Rangoon during 24/25 May.
05/25/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb Vunakanau A/F at Rabaul."
05/26/42
International
Gen Arnold, Adm Towers, and ACM Portal attend Anglo-American air
conference in London. Topics of discussion include allocation of
aircraft and establishment of US air forces in UK. Meeting begins at
10 Downing Street with Churchill."
05/26/42
ZI
Gulf TF, I BC is established and placed under operational control of
Cmdr, Gulf Sea Frontier, for antisub operations in Gulf of Mexico.
05/27/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb base at Rabaul.
05/27/42
ZI
54th Ftr Gp begins deployment from La to strengthen def of W coast.
05/28/42
Fifth AF
B-26's attack A/F at Lae.
05/28/42
Eleventh AF
A B-17 flies the first armed rcn mission from the secretly
constructed A/F at Umnak over the Aleutian Chain, but finds no sign
of the enemy. XI FC elements are now deployed at Umnak (P-40's,
P-38's), Cold Bay (P-40's), Kodiak (P-39's), and Ft Richardson
(P-38's, RCAF Kittyhawks).
05/28/42
ZI
2 ftr sqs (58th and 59th) of 33d Ftr Gp begin deployment from E coast
for def of W coast. Some HB units in W are redeployed for better def
against Japanese Navy.
05/29/42
International
Molotov, who has been in London since 20 May for talks with
Churchill, flies to Washington for conference with Roosevelt and US
JCS. These talks, which end 2 Jun, deal mainly with the signing of a
20-yr Anglo-Soviet treaty for collaboration, shipments of material to
USSR, and a second front in 1942.
05/29/42
Tenth AF
4 HBs hit Myitkyina A/F in high-altitude strike. No activity is seen.
05/30/42
International
During conferences with ACM Portal, Gen Arnold presents 'Programme of
Arrival of US Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom' providing for 66
combat gps, exclusive of obs sqs, by Mar 43.
05/30/42
Tenth AF
Myitkyina is again hit by HBs. Again no activity is observed and the
attacks are discontinued.
05/30/42
Seventh AF
Seventh AF begins flying B-17's from Oahu to Midway in face of
expected attack on that island.
05/31/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack Lae and Salamaua.
05/31/42
Seventh AF
B-17's on DS at Midway begin search operations.
05/31/42
Eleventh AF
54th Ftr Sq (P-38's) arrives at Elmendorf.
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