1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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13 May
FIJI Is.—Americans relieve NZ forces of responsibility
for Fiji Is. and prepare to reinforce
positions there.
AUSTRALIA—Rear echelon of U.S. 41st Div
arrives.
14 May
U.S.—Legislation establishing Women’s Army
Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is enacted.
AUSTRALIA—U.S. 32d Div arrives.
BURMA—Br Imperial forces withdrawing from
Burma reach Tamu, Assam.
15 May
NEW GUINEA—Aus 14th Brig Gp and 700 attached
Aus AA troops start to Port Moresby to
bolster positions there.
INDIA—Gen Alexander moves hq from Burma
to Imphal area of India. Gen Stilwell arrives in
India.
LIBYA—Br Eighth Army has completed most of
its preparations for offensive, but Rommel’s forces
are showing signs of forestalling it.
USSR—Germans announce capture of town and
harbor of Kerch, in the Crimea. Red Army continues
offensive toward Kharkov.
16 May
INDIA—First detachment of SOS troops—393d
QM Bn (Port) and 159th Station Hospital—arrives
at Karachi.
17 May
USSR—Battle of Kharkov opens as Germans
counterattack from Izyum area and in region E of
Kharkov, bringing Soviet offensive to a halt.
18 May
POA—U.S. Seventh Air Force is alerted for possible
enemy attack on Midway or Hawaii.
BURMA—Chiang Kai-shek orders Ch 5th Army,
which now consists largely of Ch 22d and 96th Divs,
to take up positions between Myitkyina and Fort
Hertz. Ch 22d Div survivors reach Ledo area in July
and August. Ch 96th eventually makes its way to
China via Fort Hertz.
19 May
MIDDLE EAST—Gen Auchinleck issues instructions
to Commander, Br Tenth Army, on action to
be taken should the enemy attack through Iran from
the Caucasus.
U.K.—U.S. Eighth Air Force detachment hq under
Gen Eaker takes control of all U.S. Army air
organizations in British Isles.
20 May
POA—Reinforcements are being hastily moved
to Midway and the Aleutians, since Japanese plan
to invade the islands is by now known. In the Aleutians,
work on secret air base on Umnak I. is being
rushed to a conclusion. Rear Adm John S. McCain
takes command as COMAIRSOPAC.
BURMA—With conquest of Burma completed,
Japanese (56th, 18th, 33d, and 55th Divs of 15th
Army) take up defensive positions.
INDIA—Burma I Corps is placed under command
of 4 Corps as rear guard reaches India.
21 May
POA—Rear Adm Robert A. Theobald, as commander
of TF 8, becomes responsible for all forces,
U.S. Army and naval and Canadian, in Alaska area.
GERMANY—Adolf Hitler decides to postpone projected
conquest of Malta, Operation HERCULES,
until Egypt is conquered.
22 May
NEW GUINEA—21st Troop Carrier Sq begins
movement of some 300 troops and supplies to Wau
to reinforce weak Aus group, called Kanga Force,
defending Bulolo Valley. Kanga Force consists
largely of troops of New Guinea Volunteer Reserve
(NGVR).
23 May
ALEUTIANS—U.S. fighter aircraft land safely on
runway at new air base on Umnak I.
USSR—Continuing counteroffensive in
Kharkov area, Germans isolate Red Army forces in
Izyum salient W of the Donets.
25 May
[ 13–26 MAY 1942 ]
INDIA—Ch 38th Div ( — 113th Regt, which acts
as rear guard) reaches India.
26 May
HAWAII—Naval TF under Rear Adm Raymond
A. Spruance, built around carriers Enterprise and
Hornet, arrives at Pearl Harbor from S Pacific.
MIDWAY—USS Kittyhawk brings in additional air
and ground reinforcements.