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  Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > April 1942



Wednesday, 1 April, 1942

During Apr, HQ 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), are established at Charters Towers, Australia; ground echelon remains on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Friday, 3 April, 1042

21st and 22d Transport Squadrons, Air Transport Command, US Army Forces in Australia, are activated at Archerfield and Essendon Airdrome, Australia respectively with various transport aircraft. 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Mount Gambier to Williamstown, Australia with P-39's; first mission is 2 June.

Saturday, 4 April, 1942

36th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Lowood to Townsville, Australia with P-39's and P-400's; first mission is 30 April.

Monday, 6 April, 1942

11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), begin a transfer without personnel and equipment to the US. They will be established at Columbia, AAB, South Carolina on 26 April, be re-equipped with B-25's and transfer to India in July 1942.

Tuesday, 7 April, 1942

During the night of 6/7 April, the Japanese break the Philippine II Corps front on Bataan, thus necessitating immediate removal or an remaining fighters to Mindanao, where for the next 3 days they will fly reconnaissance, cover heavy bombers (sent to Mindanao from Australia) operating against concentrations at Legaspi, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, and carry out a strafing attack aircraft at Davao. After the heavy bombers return to Australia on 12 Apr, the fighters will continue to fly reconnaissance until Japanese forces envelop the troops on Mindanao on 1 May. HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 2d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) transfer from Ipswich to Townsville, Australia with B-26's; first mission is 8 April. 8th Photographic Squadron, Fifth Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces) arrives at Melbourne, Australia from the US with F-4's; 2 flights remain at March Field, Riverside, California until 16 June. 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Brisbane to Townsville, Australia with B-26's; first mission is 21 April. 33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Ipswich to Antil Plains, Australia with B-26's; first mission was 6 April.

Wednesday, 8 April, 1942

The air echelons of the 3d, 17th and 20th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), and 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) [attached to 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor)] based on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands begin operating from Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands with whatever aircraft are left.

Thursday, 9 April, 1942

Japanese capture Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands after 3 months. The US-Philippine forces surrender unconditionally. Japanese artillery emplaced on Bataan opens fire on Corregidor Island in conjunction with air attacks. 2nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Townsville to Reid River, Australia with B-26's; first mission was yesterday. 7th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Bankstown to Batchelor Field, Australia with P-40's; they have been in combat since 14 March.

Sunday, 12 April, 1942

Australia-based B-25's, staging through Mindanao Island, hit the harbor and shipping at Cebu, Cebu Island while B-17's carry out single-bomber strikes from Mindanao against Cebu harbor and Nichols Field on Luzon. 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Townsville to Reid River, Australia with B-26's; first mission is 21 April; 18th is redesignated 408th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 April.

Sunday, 13 April, 1942

Australia-based B-25's hit targets in the Philippine Islands for the second consecutive day. Staging through Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao, the B-25's take off just after midnight during 12/13 Apr and bomb shipping at Cebu on Cebu Island and installations at Davao on Mindinao. Later in the day the B-25's again attack Davao, bombing the dock area.

Thursday, 16 April, 1942

HQ 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) transfers from Bankstown to Darwin, Australia.

Friday, 17 April, 1942

8th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Canberra to Darwin, Australia with P-40's; first mission is 20 April.

Saturday, 18 April, 1942

5th Air Force units come under control of the Allied Air Forces (SWPA) which is created in Australia to control AAF, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Dutch elements. HQ 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Melbourne to Garbutt Field, Australia. General Douglas MacArthur assumes command of the Southwest Pacific Area.

Monday, 20 April, 1942

Major General George H. Brett assumes command of the Allied Air Forces under MacArthur, which has units based in North and East Australia, with advanced facilities in the Port Moresby, New Guinea area. He retains command until August, 1942 when General George Kenney takes over. 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Williamstown to Woodstock, Australia with P-39's; first mission is 2 June. Ground echelon of 70th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Ballarat to Amberley Field, Australia; air echelon is still in the US with B-26's.

Friday, 24 April, 1942

8th Photographic Squadron, 5th Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces), transfers from Melbourne to Brisbane, Australia with F-4's; first mission was 16 April.

Sunday, 26 April, 1942

35th and 36th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfer from Brisbane and Townsville, Australia respectively to Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-39's and P-400's; first mission is 30 April.

Monday, 27 April, 1942

In Australia, US Army Air Services under Major General Rush B. Lincoln takes over responsibility as an administrative, supply, maintenance and engineering command under Allied Air Forces.

Thursday, 30 April, 19442

In New Guinea, P-39's flying out of Port Moresby strafe airplanes and fuel dumps at Lae and Salamaua. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and ground echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) transfer from Ballarat to Amberley Field, Australia; air echelon of the 69th is still in the US with B-26's. 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Ballarat to Batchelor Field, Australia with B-26's; first mission is 15 September.