April 18, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 18 APRIL 1942

Burma: In Yenangyaung area, Burma 1st Div drives to outskirts of Twingon; Ch 38th Div clears portion of Pin Chaung. On Sittang front, Ch 22d Div is relieved by Ch 96th and withdraws N of Pyinmana. Ch 200th Div is ordered to Meiktila but does not move. Ch T-55th Div collapses under enemy attacks S of Loikaw, and communications between it and Ch 6th Army cease. Road to Lashio is thus uncovered. Elements of 93d Div, which were to have assisted T-55th, do not reach the T-55th in time to be of help.

AVG: At 1:00pm Flight Leader Bob Brouk and his wingman, Bob Prescott, from 1st Squadron, intercepted a "white-painted Army 98" reconnaissance aircraft - probably a Ki-46 over the Loiwing/Lashio area and claimed to have shot this down.

11th Air Force: 18th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 28th Composite Goup, transfers from Elmendorf Field to Fort Greely, Kodiak with P-40's.

U.S. Army: General Douglas MacArthur assumes supreme command of SWPA and USAFFE becoming inactive. General Sir Thomas Blarney, CinC Australian Military Forces, is to command Allied Land Forces; General Brett is to head Allied Air Forces; Admiral Leary, previously in command of ANZAC Force, is to command Allied Naval Forces. USAFIA, under General Barnes, has about the same supply and administrative functions. USAFIP, under General Wainwright, remains in the new command structure until its dissolution on May 6, 1942. Japanese make another unopposed landing at San Jose de Buenavista on Panay.

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. Headquarers (HQ), 19th Bombardment Group transfers from Melbourne to Garbutt Field.

Six B-26s from 22nd BG took off on a bombing mission against Rabaul, three abort due to bad weather before reaching the target. Over the target, B-26 40-1486 bombed Lakunai Airfield while the other two B-26s attacked shipping in Simpson Harbor. During the attack, B-26 "Shittenengitten" 40-1404 scored a single 500 pound bomb hit on Komaki Maru at roughly Lat 04°12'S Long 152°10'E. The other bomber, B-26 40-1400 arrived late over the target and was intercepted by a pair of A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai and damaged in the left engine and crashed near shore. Two crew bailed out and were taken prisoner.

RAAF: Seven P-40E Kittyhawks took off on a mission to intercept Japanese Zeros approaching the Port Moresby area and intercepted by three Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group). Lost is P-40E A29-21 pilot Sgt Richard J. C. Granville (KIA) north of Port Moresby.

U.S. Navy: Task Force 16 (TF 16) under Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. formed around carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Hornet (CV-8) approaches to within 650 miles of Japan. Discovery by Japanese guardboat No. 23 Nitto Maru compels Vice Admiral Halsey to order USS Hornet (CV-8) to launch sixteen B-25s led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle earlier than planned. B-25s bomb targets in Tokyo, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagoya; one B-25 bombs and damages carrier Ryuho (being converted from submarine depot ship Taigei) at Yokosuka. Of the 16 B-25s launched, 15 are lost in occupied China, where brutal reprisals by Japanese against Chinese populace in Chekiang Province ensue; one B-25 lands intact at Vladivostok where it and its crew are interned by the Soviets.

Meanwhile, SBD Dauntless dive bombers from VB-3 and VB-6 plus F4F Wildcats from VF-6 from USS Enterprise (CV-6) attack Japanese guardboats ("picket" boats) encountered near TF 16, damaging armed merchant cruiser Awata Maru and guardboats Chokyu Maru, No.1 Iwate Maru, No. 2 Asami Maru, Kaijin Maru, No. 3 Chinyo Maru, Eikichi Maru, Kowa Maru and No. 26 Nanshin Maru. Guardboats No. 23 Nitto Maru and Nagato Maru, also damaged by SBDs and F4F Wildcats from USS Enterprise (CV-6) are sunk by gunfire of light cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43) (see 19 April). While the material damage inflicted by the bombers is small, the psychological effect of an air raid on the Japanese capital itself is great. The Halsey-Doolittle Raid ends all debate within the Japanese high command whether or nor a thrust against Midway should be attempted which will result in the Battle of Midway.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA): "Doolittle Raid" against Japan is led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, the first bombing mission against Japan. Sixteen B-25's took off from USS Hornet (CV-8) while at sea 668 miles off Tokyo. The Hornet departed from Alameda on April 2, and rendezvoused with USS Enterprise and ships of Task Force 16 (TF 16) under the command of Vice Admiral William F. Halsey north of Hawaii before proceeded across the Pacific. Fifteen of the B-25's hit targets in Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, and Nagoya. Since the bombers launched earlier than scheduled and were unable to reach their intended airfields in China. Fifteen ditch or crash and one lands in Soviet Union. Participating are:

No. 1 - B-25B 40-2344 (17th BG, 34th BS) pilot Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle ditched into the South China Sea
No. 2 - B-25B 40-2292 (17th BG, 37th BS) pilot Lt. Travis Hoover force landed in a rice paddy near Ningpo
No. 3 - B-25B "Whiskey Pete" 40-2270 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No. 4 - B-25B 40-2282 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No. 5 - B-25B 40-2283 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No. 6 - B-25B "Green Hornet" 40-2298 (17th BG, 95th BS)
No. 7 - B-25B "Ruptured Duck" 40-2261 pilot Lawson ditched in the South China Sea west of Shangchow in China, crew rescued
No. 8 - B-25B 40-2242 pilot York landed Primorskrai Airfield (Primiori) near Vladivostok in Soviet Union, crew returned
No. 9 - B-25B 40-2303 (17th BG, 34th BS) ***
No. 10 - B-25B 40-2250 (17th BG, 89th RS) ***
No. 11 - B-25B "Hari Carrier" 40-2249 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No. 12 - B-25B 40-2278 (17th BG, 37th BS)
No. 13 - B-25B 40-2247 (17th BG, 37th BS) pilot Lt. Edgar E. McElroy bombs Ryuhō in dry dock at Yokosuka
No. 14 - B-25B 40-2297 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No. 15 - B-25B "TNT" 40-2267 (17th BG, 89th RS)
No. 16 - B-25B "The Bat" 40-2268 (17th BG, 34th BS)

USMC: F2A Buffalos from Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) launch from USS Lexington (CV-2) then land at Palmyra Airfield.