1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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2 May
U.S.—Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, in
letter to Gen Greely, terminates U.S. Mission to
USSR since Soviet Government has refused it
diplomatic clearance as a whole.
MIDWAY—Adm Nimitz visits Midway to inspect
defenses.
MINDANAO—73d Inf (PA), reinf with stragglers
of defeated 61st, attempts to stall enemy advancing
N along Route I. Unable to hold at SW corner of
Lake Lanao, 73d withdraws N, establishes line from
lake Lanao across Route I, and delays enemy briefly.
Japanese detachment from Cotabato continues E
toward Kabacan. Brig Gen Joseph P. Vachon, CG of
Cotabato-Davao defense sector, places all available
forces at Kabacan. Digos defense force, ordered to
withdraw to Kabacan, starts movement during night
2–3. Cagayan defense sector is alerted as enemy convoy
heading toward Macajalar Bay is sighted.
SOLOMON Is.—After enemy invasion force is detected
approaching Tulagi I., off S coast of Florida
I., in S Solomons, small RAAF garrison destroys
installations and withdraws to New Hebrides.
BURMA—Elements of Burma I Corps (63d, 13th,
and 1st Brigs) attack into Monywa while transport
moves about the town toward Ye-U. Action is then
broken off and Burma 1st and 2d Brigs withdraw
independently while rest of Burma Army falls back
toward Shwegyin.
N ATLANTIC—HMS Edinburgh (cruiser) is sunk
during enemy attacks on homeward-bound convoy
from USSR.
3 May
P.I.—Japanese amphibious force from Panay
goes ashore on Mindanao about 0100 at Cagayan
and Tagoloan R mouth, in Macajalar Bay, and
presses S along Sayre Highway. Troops of Cagayan
defense sector (PA 102d Div, formed from 61st
and 81st FA and 103d Inf) oppose landing but
are unable to halt enemy. In a desperate effort
to hold Sayre Highway, reserves—2.95-inch gun
detachment and 62d and 93d Regts (PA)—are
committed, but these, too, fall back under pressure.
During night 3–4, Gen Sharp orders general
withdrawal. Meanwhile, other Japanese
forces gain control of road to N shore, routing
73d Inf, which withdraws into hills N of Lake
Lanao. Still other enemy forces arrive at Kabacan
after Digos force has made good its escape, but
are halted there. Preinvasion air and arty bombardment
of Corregidor continues without let
up. U.S. submarine succeeds in withdrawing 25
persons from the island.
SOLOMON Is.—Small Japanese force invades
Tulagi, which is soon converted into a seaplane base.
Learning of this, Rear Adm Frank J. Fletcher, commanding
naval force cruising the Coral Sea, heads
for Tulagi in carrier Yorktown.
4 May
P.I.—Filipinos complete withdrawal to new defense
line on Mindanao and begin organizing it.
102d Div, reorganized to include the 2.95-inch gun
detachment, 62d Inf, 81st FA, and 2 PS cos of 43d
Inf, is stationed in Dalirig sector and 61st FA and
93d Inf in Puntian sector. 103d Inf, isolated from
rest of force, is to defend Cagayan R Valley. Japanese
planes are active, but front is otherwise quiet.
Japanese air and arty bombardment of Corregidor
reaches peak of intensity.
SOLOMON Is.—Carrier planes from the Yorktown
attack Tulagi harbor early in modeling, opening series
of Coral Sea actions. A number of enemy vessels
are sunk or damaged before the Yorktown withdraws
toward rest of Coral Sea naval force.
NEW BRITAIN—Japanese transports leave Rabaul
for Port Moresby, New Guinea.
BURMA—Br Imperial forces evacuate Akyab, on
Bay of Bengal. AVG abandons Loiwing for Kunming,
China. Japanese occupy Bhamo and defeat Ch 29th
Div at Wanting. Chiang Kai-shek orders Ch 5th
Army to Myitkyina.
MADAGASCAR—Br naval and military forces under
Rear Adm Syffret and Maj Gen Sturges land on
N Madagascar at Courier Bay against little opposition
from Vichy French.
5 May
[ 2–5 MAY 1942 ]
U.S.—Lt Gen Carl Spaatz is appointed commander
of Eighth Air Force, replacing Gen Duncan.
CORAL SEA—Yorktown rejoins Lexington and the
combined naval force (the 2 carriers plus 7 CA’s, 1
CL, 13 DD’s, a oilers, and a seaplane tender) moves
NW searching for enemy.
P.I.—After final day of intense bombardment,
Japanese invade Corregidor, landing at North Pt
during night 5–6. On Mindanao, Filipinos continue
to organize defense line.
JAPAN—Imperial General Headquarters directs
Combined Fleet to assist Army invasion of Midway
and the Aleutians.
BURMA—Gen Stilwell, withdrawing toward
Myitkyina, learns at Indaw that railway is blocked
and enemy are in Bhamo, so decides to take his party
W instead to India.