May 19, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 19 MAY 1942

USA: U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt bestows the Medal of Honor on General James H. Doolittle for his role leading the April 18, 1942 "Doolittle Raid" against Japan.

CARIBBEAN (6th Air Force): 31st Fighter Squadron, 37th Fighter Group, transfers from Chorrera to Albrook Field with P-39's and P-40's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17's attack Koepang Airfield and surrounding AA guns.

U.S. Navy: Light cruiser Nashville (CL-43) departs Midway independently bound for the western Aleutian Islands.

IJN: In the early morning, Japanese submarine I-21 surfaces and launches her E14Y1 Glen floatplane piloted by Warrant Flying Officer Ito on a reconnaissance flight over Suva Bay off Suva in Fiji and reports a light cruiser and seven submarine chasers and after an hour and a half flight returns to the submarine.