K  e  n  s  m  e  n   :   4  3  r  d    B  o  m  b    G  r  o  u  p    (H),    5  t  h    A  A  F
 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > May 1942



Saturday, 2 May, 1942

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

Monday, 4 May, 1942

B-26's bomb Vunakanau Airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island. P-39's and B-17's hit the airfield at Lae, New Guinea. HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) transfer without personnel and equipment from Batchelor Field and Charters Towers, Australia to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia. The units will be remanned and equipped and fight in the Mediterranean.

Thursday, 5 May, 1942

28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Cloncurry to Longreach, Australia with B-17's; a detachment is operating from Perth, Australia.

Wednesday, 6 May, 1942

B-17's unsuccessfully attack shipping in the Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands area. Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands surrenders. All US organized resistance to the Japanese in the Philippines ends. The air and ground echelons of the following AAF units are killed or captured; the units are carried as active units without personnel until 2 Apr 46: 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor); 2d Observation Squadron (Medium); 3d, 17th, 20th, 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor); 14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy); Most of the ground echelon of the following units were killed or captured: V Bomber Command; 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) ; 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) ;27th Bombardment Group (Light); 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light); 28th, 30th and 93d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy).

Thursday, 7 May, 1942

Battle of the Coral Sea, which began on 4 May, approaches its climax as Allied naval forces intercept Japanese naval forces near Misima Island, New Guinea. US Navy (USN) dive bombers sink the aircraft carrier Shoho. Allied forces lose the destroyer USS SIMS (DD-409). Allied Air Force bombers join the battle but their effect is limited; several bombers attack Allied vessels by mistake.

Friday, 8 May, 1942

Main action of Battle of the Coral Sea occurs as Allied and Japanese carrier forces clash. Allied bombers join USN aircraft in attacking the enemy's main support force which has around the S of San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands. The aircraft carrier Shokaku is severely damaged by aircraft from the carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5). USS Lexington is damaged so severely that it later is sunk by USN fire. USS 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 the SWPA are only on the defensive and paves the way for offensive operations. The reconnaissance work of the AAF proves of greater importance than its bombardment operations, which have no real effects on the battle. Lack of USN-AAF coordination is apparent from the Coral Sea action, and this eventually leads to better interservice communication.

Saturday, 9 May, 1942

8 B-26's and a single B-17 attack shipping and seaplanes at Deboyne Island, New Guinea. 8th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Charters Towers, Australia with A-20's; combat operations continue.

Sunday, 10 May, 1942

B-25's bomb the seaplane base at Deboyne Island, New Guinea. 80th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Lowood to Petric, Australia with P-39's and P-400's; first mission is 22 July.

Monday, 11 May, 1942

B-17's attack Kessa in the N Solomon Islands while B-26's hit the seaplane base at Deboyne Island, New Guinea.

Wednesday, 13 May, 1942

B-17's and B-26's hit shipping and the airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island. 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Cloncurry to Longreach, Australia with B-17's.

Thursday, 14 May, 1942

B-17's, B-26's and B-25's attack Rabaul, New Britain Island and Lae, New Guinea.

Saturday, 16 May, 1942

In New Guinea, B-25's, B-26's and and B-17's hit the airfield and storehouses at Lae and seaplane base at Deboyne Island. 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Sidney to Daly Waters, Australia with B-17's.

Monday, 18 May, 1942

B-17's bomb shipping in Koepang Bay, Timor Island. HQ 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)  transfers from Garbutt Field to Longreach, Australia with B-17's. Detachment of 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases operating from Perth and returns to Longreach, Australia with B-17's

Wednesday, 20 May, 1942

B-17's attack the airfield and AA guns at Koepang, Timor Island.

Thursday, 21 May, 1942

B-26's bomb aircraft at Lae, New Guinea.

Friday, 22 May, 1942

B-17's pound the airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island while B-26's hit the airfield at Lae, New Guinea and attack shipping in the harbor.

Saturday, 23 May, 1942

B-25's strike the airfield and buildings at Lae, New Guinea.

Sunday, 24 May, 1942

B-26's attach Lae Airfield, New Guinea, but heavy AA and at least 15 intercepting Zekes prevent accurate bombing. Several of the B-26's are shot down or badly damaged and forced to crashland.

Monday, 25 May, 1942

B-17's bomb Vunakanau Airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Wednesday, 27 May, 1942

B-17's bomb the base at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Thursday, 28 May, 1942

B-26's attack the airfield at Lae, New Guinea.

Sunday, 31 May, 1942

B-17's attack Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.