May 20, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 1942

Burma: The Japanese Army completes their conquest of Burma. The Japanese Army 15th Army including the 56th Division, 18th Division, 33d Division and 55th Divison take up defensive positions.

India: Burma I Corps is placed under command of 4 Corps as rear guard reaches India.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): 11th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Karachi from the US with B-17's first mission is June 3, 1942.

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (SOPAC, 7th Air Force): Ground echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) transfers from Amberley Field to New Caledonia; air echelon is at Hickam Field with B-26's.

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

U.S. Navy: Reinforcements are being hastily moved to Midway and the Aleutian Islands, ahead of Japanese plans to invade them. A secret base on Umnak Island including Umnak Airfield being rushed to completion.

Rear Admiral John S McCain, in Seaplane Tender USS Tangier (AV-8) at Noumea, assumes command as Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces (COMAIRSOPAC), a new command established to direct the operations of tender and shore-based aviation in the South Pacific area.

IJN: Japanese submarine I-10 catapults her E14Y1 Glen floatplane piloted by Lt(jg) Shunshi Araki with radio operator FPO2C Ito Yoshiharu on a reconnaissance mission over Durban but fails to spot any warships or military targets. Detected from the ground and challenged by radio, the floatplane transmits a false identification signal then escapes and lands near the submarine and is successfully recovered.