May 9, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 9 MAY 1942

Japan: After the Japanese Navy defeat in the Battle of the Coral Sea, Japanese Imperial General Headquarters orders the invasion of Port Moresby temporarily suspended. It will never be rescheduled.

AVG: Squadron Leader Neale and Bill Bartling from 1st Squadron intercepted a single-engined reconnaissance aircraft, 60 miles southwest of Kunming, which Bartling reported shooting down into a lake. During the day, P-40E Warhawk pilot Colonel Scott in his personal plane made four flights into Burma. The first of these escorting two C-47s to Paoshan. Shortly after he departed, Paoshan was subjected to an air raid but little damage resulted and no interceptions were made. Scott flew to Lashio and conducted a strafing run, his own aircraft sustaining a few bullet hits. By the end of the day, he had returned to Dinjan Airifeld three times to refuel and re-arm and logged a total of 10 hours of flight time.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): During the night of May 8-9, six B-17's bomb Mingaladon and strike the docks at Rangoon.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): Seven B-26s from 22nd BG at 7 Mile Drome armed with 1,000 pound bombs plan bombing mission (PM 1) bomb a Japanese convoy reported to be roughly 60 miles from Rabaul off Woodlark Island. Before takeoff, B-26 40-1446 was was unable to participate due to mechanical trouble and instead returns to Garbutt Field. After take off, B-26 40-1402 aborts with engine trouble and returns to 7 Mile. The other five B-26s enroute change to target Japanese ships and seaplanes near Deboyne. Meanwhile, a single B-17 attack shipping and seaplanes at Deboyne. 8th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bombardment Group transfers from Port Moresby to Charters Towers with A-20s as combat operations continue.

IJN: A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai strafe 7 Mile Drome. Damaged by friendly anti-aircraft fire is P-39D 41-6800 pilot 2nd Lt. Don McGee force landed on Fishermans Island (Daugo).

IJA: On Mindanao, Japanese capture Dalirig and rout the defenders. Although defending forces in sthe Puntian sector are still intact, their position is untenable.

The first U.S. personnel arrive at Nukualofa on Tongatapu in Tonga.

The first U.S. personnel arrive in the Galapagos Islands.