April 3, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 3 APRIL 1942

Burna: Burma I Corps continues northward withdrawal from Allanmyo area although not under enemy pressure. In Sittang Valley, Gen Stilwell begins deploying Chinese for stand at Pyinmana. Ch 22d Div is to fall back gradually on Pyinmana, where Ch 96th Div is to take over.10th Air Force: Six B-17's from Asansol bomb warehouses and docks at Rangoon starting three large fires; one B-17E fails to return.

India: India is removed from U.S. Iranian Mission's sphere of responsibility, but Karachi remains base for the 2 U.S. Middle East missions. Gen Wheeler is relieved as chief of Iranian Mission.

(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 21st Transport Squadron and 22d Transport Squadron, Air Transport Command, US Army Forces in Australia, are activated at Archerfield and Essendon respectively with various transport aircraft. 39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Mount Gambier to Williamstown with P-39's; first mission is June 2, 1942.

Japanese open all-out offensive against Bataan line, which is by now understrength, undernourished, poorly clothed and equipped, and battle weary. After air and arty bombardment, lasting from 1000 until 1500, Japanese move forward, making main effort against Sector D, the W flank of II Corps, where 41st and 21st Divs (PA) are thinly spread and dazed as result of preliminary bombardment. 41st, on W, gives way and is rendered virtually ineffective as a fighting force, although regt on extreme W succeeds in withdrawing in an orderly fashion. Bn on W flank of 21st Div is forced to pull back. Effort to re-establish line of 41st Div after dark is partially successful. The only corps reserve unit, 33d Inf (PA), less 1st Bn, is released to Sector D as is Prov Tank Gp (-) of Luzon Force reserve. In I Corps sector to W, Japanese succeed in reaching MLR on E flank but are unable to pierce it.

U.S. Navy: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz is named Commander in Chief Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA); his command encompasses the North, Central, and South Pacific. He simultaneously retains his position as Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC).

Light minelayers USS Pruitt (DM-22), USS Preble (DM-20), Sicard (DM-21), and USS Tracy (DM-19) mine the French Frigate Shoals to prevent Japanese submarines from using the area as a refueling point for flying boat raids on Oahu.

SS Exhibitor is bombed and damaged by Japanese flying boat in the Indian Ocean near Calcutta on India bound for Colombo, Ceylon. The ship's gunfire drives off the enemy plane as it makes a second pass; only four of the men on board (43-man merchant complement and 9-man Armed Guard) are injured in the attack.