April 13, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 13 APRIL 1942

Burma: Gap develops in Burma I Corps line, and Japanese are moving N through it toward oil fields. Burma 1st Div, under pressure S of Magwe, is reinf by 7th Armd Brig (less 7th Hussars). Gen Stilwell's orders designed to avert threat to Lashio--93d Div (less regt) is directed to move to Taunggyi; 49th Div plus regt of 93d is to continue to guard Thailand border; T-55th Div is to remain in Mawchi-Loikaw area--are delivered to Ch 6th Army. Ch 66th Army, less 38th Div, is to concentrate below Mandalay.

5th Air Force: Royce Mission (Day 2) B-25s using Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao hit targets in the Philippines for the second consecutive day. The B-25's take off just after midnight during 12/13 Apr and bomb shipping at Cebu and installations at Davao. After flying the morning mission, B-17E 41-2447 spotted by a F1M2 Pete that released a 60kg bomb that hit and destroyed the bomber on the ground. Later in the day the B-25's again attack Davao bombing the dock area

Seven A-24 Dive Bombers from 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS) escorted by eight RAAF P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron strike Lae.

RAAF: Eight P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron escort USAAF A-24 Dive Bombers striking Lae. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-15 pilot F/O Ally Cecil Clifton "Bink" Davies (MIA).

U.S. Navy: Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley is assigned as Commander-in-Chief South Pacific (COMSOPAC). He is to command all Allied base and local defense forces (land, sea, and air) in the South Pacific, with the exception of New Zealand land defenses.

USS Grayling (SS-209) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ryujin Maru off southwest tip of Shikoku, Japan, 31°51'N, 132°50'E. Destroyer Minazuki drives off Grayling with depth charges.

The last remaining motor torpedo boat in the Philippines, PT-41, her torpedoes expended and lacking gasoline to operate, is transferred to the U.S. Army to be moved overland to Lake Lanao for use as a machine gun boat.

Japanese transport No.3 Hino Maru is damaged by aircraft (nationality unspecified) off Koepang, Timor.