May 6, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 1942

Burma: Ch 200th Div plus elements of T-55th, still at Taunggyi, are ordered to Myitkyina and eventually make their way to China.

CBI (10th Air Force): For the second consecutive night, B-17s bomb Mingaladon Airfield with three B-17's claiming direct hits on fuel dumps at the field.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's unsuccessfully attack shipping in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands. The air and ground echelons of the following units are killed or captured; the units are carried as active units without personnel until April 2, 1946: 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) 2d Observation Squadron (Medium) 3d Pursuit Squadron, 17th Pursuit Squadron, 20th Pursuit Squadron, 21st Pursuit Squadron and 34th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) 14th Bombardment Squadron. Most of the ground echelon of the following units were killed or captured: V Bomber Command, 5th Interceptor Command, 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 27th Bombardment Group (27th BG), 16th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Squadron and 91st Bombardment Squadron and 28th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Squadron and 93d Bombardment Squadron.

U.S. Army: General Jonathan M. Wainwright surrenders Corregidor and all forces in the Philippines to Japanese unconditionally snd organized resistance ends. Surrender negotiations are begun at 1030 and continued until midnight, when surrender document is signed. This brings the total area of lands occupied by the Japanese Empire to 20 million square miles of land and ocean. On Corregidor, Japanese seize Malinta Tunnel and land additional troops. Garrison of 11,000 surrenders. On Mindanao, Japanese resume attack, moving into Tankulan and pushing on toward Dalirig, which comes under arty fire.

U.S. Navy: During the Battle of the Coral Sea continuing to search for enemy warships, Adm Fletcher's Task Force 17 (TF 17) steams towards the Louisiade Archipelago, leaving USS Sims and tanker USS Neosho behind at a refueling point.

IJN: During the Battle of the Coral Sea: ten Japanese ships including Kamikawa Maru, a destroyer, cruiser and transports enter Deboyne Lagoon and occupy Nivani Island in the Deboyne Island Group. They establish Deboyne Seaplane Base as a forward operating area.

RAAF: Lost is PBY-5 Catalina A24-20 pilot S/L Geoff E. Hemsworth (POW / MIA) shot down off Misima Island.

Corregidor and Manila Bay forts surrender to the Japanese. To deny the enemy use of river gunboats USS Oahu (PR-6) and USS Luzon (PR-7) and minesweeper USS Quail (AM-15) are scuttled off Corregidor at Lat 14°23'N Long 120°35'E.

Lost to Japanese occupation of the Philippines are district patrol craft YP-97; ash lighters YA-52, YA-59, and YA-65; miscellaneous district auxiliaries YAG-2, YAG-3, and YAG-4; open lighters YC-178, YC-181, YC-537, YC-643, YC-644, YC-646, YC-647, YC-648, YC-649, YC-652, YC-653, YC-654, YC-669, YC-683, YC-714, YC-715, and YC-716; floating derricks YD-19, YD-47, YD-56, and YD- 60; covered lighters YF-177, YF-178, YF-179, YF-180, YF-181, YF-212, YF-223, YF-224, YF-230, and YF-317; ferry launches San Felipe (YFB-12), Rosal (YFB-682), Camia (YFB-683), Dap Dap (YFB-684), Rivera (YFB-685), Magdalena (YFB-687) and Yacal (YFB-688); dredge YM-4; fuel oil barge YO-64; pile driver YP-D 22; salvage pontoons YSP-41, YSP-42, YSP-43, YSP-44, YSP-45, YSP-46, YSP-47, YSP-48, YSP-49, and YSP-50; sludge removal barge YSR-2; harbor tugs Banaag (YT-104), Iona (YT-107), and Mercedes (YT-108); and water barge YW-54.

Fitted out with weapons, ammunition, provisions and clothing scrounged from abandoned Navy- commandeered tug Ranger, commanding officer, one other officer, and 16 men in 36-foot motor launch from Quail (AM-15) escape Manila Bay.

Submarine Skipjack (SS-184) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Kanan Maru about 26 miles northeast of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 12°33'N, 109°30'E.

Submarine Triton (SS-201), attacking Japanese convoy north-northeast of Keelung, Formosa, sinks cargo ship Taiei Maru, 28°42'N, 123°50'E, and transport/cargo ship Taigen Maru, 28°19'N, 123°28'E.

Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Nawiliwili, Kauai, T.H., is established.