1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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Corps, Gen Stilwell is forced to abandon plans for
stand at Pyinmana. Japanese continue pressure
against Ch T-55th Div in Bawlake-Mawchi area.
18 April
PACIFIC—Gen MacArthur assumes supreme
command of SWPA, USAFFE becoming inactive.
Gen Sir Thomas Blarney, CinC Australian Military
Forces, is to command Allied Land Forces; Gen
Brett is to head Allied Air Forces; Adm Leary, previously
in command of ANZAC Force, is to command
Allied Naval Forces. USAFIA, under Gen
Barnes, has about the same supply and administrative
functions. USAFIP, under Gen Wainwright,
remains in the new command structure until its
dissolution on 6 May.
VISAYAN Is.—Japanese make another unopposed
landing on Panay, at San Jose.
JAPAN—Tokyo undergoes its first air attack of the
war. 16 B–25’s of 17th Bombardment Gp, U.S. Eighth
Air Force, led by Lt Col James H. Doolittle, take off
from USS Hornet, standing with naval TF under Adm
Halsey some 800 miles from Tokyo, in morning and
at 1215 begin strikes on Japanese homeland, hitting
Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, and Nagoya with good effect.
Search and fighter support are provided by planes
of USS Enterprise. After the attack, all bombers head
for China where they were to have come under control
of Gen Stilwell, but because of poor weather conditions
and the late hour, all crash-land or are abandoned
by crews. One lands near Vladivostok and its
crew is interned; 2 land in enemy territory and their
crews are imprisoned, some of the flyers being executed
on 15 October 1942. Adm Halsey’s naval TF
(the 2 carriers plus 4 cruisers, 8 DD’s, and 2 oilers)
withdraw safely. This is the first occasion on which
medium land bombers are moved by carriers and
launched off enemy shores.
BURMA—In Yenangyaung area, Burma 1st Div
drives to outskirts of Twingon; Ch 38th Div clears
portion of Pin Chaung. On Sittang front, Ch 22d
Div is relieved by Ch 96th and withdraws N of
Pyinmana. Ch 200th Div is ordered to Meiktila but
does not move. Ch T-55th Div collapses under enemy
attacks S of Loikaw, and communications between
it and Ch 6th Army cease. Road to Lashio is
thus uncovered. Elements of 93d Div, which were
to have assisted T-55th, do not reach the T-55th in
time to be of help.
19 April
SWPA—Gen MacArthur appoints staff of
GHQ SWPA. Among members are Maj Gen Richard
K. Sutherland, Chief of Staff; Gen Richard
Marshall, Deputy Chief of Staff; Col Charles P.
[ 18–23 APRIL 1942 ]
Stivers, G–1; Col Charles A. Willoghby, G–2; Brig
Gen Stephen J. Chamberlain, G–3; and Col Lester
G–4.
VISAYAN Is.—Japanese claim all of Cebu I.
BURMA—113th Regt, Ch 38th Div, drives into
Yenangyaung and finds Japanese firmly established
there; clears 3 of 5 enemy strongpoints. Burma 1st
Div continues efforts to advance in Twingon area
until ordered to withdraw northward, then escapes
with heavy losses in men and equipment. Threat to
Burma Road is increased as Japanese columns converge
a few miles S of Loikaw.
20 April
VISAYAN Is.—Japanese conquest of Visayan Is. is
virtually completed. Cebu and Panay are in enemy
hands, although guerrillas continue to hold out in
mountain areas. Small garrisons in hills of Negros,
Samar, Leyte, and Bohol are too weak to interfere
with enemy plans.
BURMA—Ch 38th Div troops withdraw northward
from Yenangyaung toward Gwegyo and cover
retreat of Burma 1st Div toward Mt Popa area. In
Sittang Valley, Ch 5th Army troops fall back northward
from Pyinmana. Japanese continue active in
vicinity of Loikaw. Taunggyi-Meiktila road is left
undefended as Chinese withdraw toward Hopong,
closely followed by Japanese. 2 bns of Ch 93d Div
reach Loikaw area but return at once to Kengtung.
Ch 49th Div is ordered to move W.
21 April
Burma—Japanese overtake Ch 6th Army at
Hopong. Ch 49th Div is moving quickly W as
ordered, and elements are committed in Mong
Pawn-Loilem region.
22 April
BURMA—Gen Stilwell orders Ch 200th Div to
move from Meiktila to Taunggyi to counter enemy
moves in Loikaw-Loilem area. Ch 28th Div, 66th
Army, concentrated in Mandalay area, is directed to
move to Loilem via Hsipaw but does not do so. Ch
96th Div continues delaying action in Sittang Valley,
while Ind 17th Div, 7th Armd Brig, and Ch 22d
Div take up positions around Meiktila and Thazi.
23 April
BURMA—Ch 200th Div, reinf, of 5th Army engages
enemy W of Taunggyi. Japanese seize Loilem.
Ch 6th Army retires into China.
U.K.—Germans begin series of retaliation air
attacks on cathedral cities, the first occurring night
23–24 against Exeter.