May 2, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 2 MAY 1942

Burma: Elements of Burma I Corps (63d, 13th, and 1st Brigs) attack into Monywa while transport moves about the town toward Ye-U. Action is then broken off and Burma 1st and 2d Brigs withdraw independently while rest of Burma Army falls back toward Shwegyin.

USA: Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, in letter to Gen Greely, terminates U.S. Mission to USSR since Soviet Government has refused it diplomatic clearance as a whole.

5th Air Force: 8th Photographic Squadron transfers from Brisbane to Garbutt Field with F-4's. Lost is B-26 40-1426 (2 KIA, 5 survived).

RAAF: Lost is P-40E A29-48 (KIA) crashed near Port Moresby.

IJN: Lost is A6M2 Zero pilot Kawanishi (KIA) shot down in air combat over Port Moresby.

U.S. Army: 73d Inf (PA), reinf with stragglers of defeated 61st, attempts to stall enemy advancing N along Route 1. Unable to hold at SW corner of Lake Lanao, 73d withdraws N, establishes line from lake Lanao across Route 1, and delays enemy briefly. Japanese detachment from Cotabato continues E toward Kabacan. Brig Gen Joseph P. Vachon, CG of Cotabato-Davao defense sector, places all available forces at Kabacan. Digos defense force, ordered to withdraw to Kabacan, starts movement during night 2-3. Cagayan defense sector is alerted as enemy convoy heading toward Macajalar Bay is sighted.

U.S. Navy: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz visits Midway to inspect defenses and present decorations. He conferred with the senior Marine officer on Midway and directed him to submit a detailed list of all supplies and equipment needed for the defense and departs the next day.

SBDs (VS-5) and TBDs (VT 5) from carrier Yorktown (CV-5) bomb Japanese submarine I-21 in the Coral Sea. I-21 reports being attacked by planes, but significantly fails to specify whether or not her attackers are land based or carrier based. TF 17's approach to the Solomons thus remains undetected.

RAAF / Australian Army: A Japanese invasion force is detected off the southern coast of Florida approaching Tulagi. In the early morning, RAAF personnel and commandos on Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambogo were ordered to begin demolition of facilities.