May 22, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 22 MAY 1942

Mexico declares war on the Axis powers including Germany, Italy and Japan.

AVG: During the morning P-40s were sent to attack Japanese emplacements near Paoshan, along the Salween. AA fire struck the aircraft flown by Flight Leader Bob Little of the 1st AVG Squadron, shooting away the right wing, causing another of the AVG's leading aces to crash to his death.

11th Air Force: Lost is LB-30 Liberator AL-602 pilot Lt. Robert N Maupin (survived) crashed at Kodiak Airfield due to a landing gear failure and overshot the runway then crashed into a ravine over the Buskin River.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): 19th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, transfers from Bellows Field to Kualoa Field with P-40's; air echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives at Hickam Field with B-26's; ground echelon is on New Caledonia and 73rd Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group transfers from Wheeler Field to Bellows Field with P-40's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-17s bomb Lakunai Airfield while B-26s from the 22nd Bomb Group and B-25s from 3rd Bomb Group hit Lae Airfield and shipping off Lae.

C-47s from 21st Troop Carrier Squadron (21st TCS) begin movement of 300 troops and supplies to Wau Airfield to reinforce the Australian Army "Kanga Force" at Wau defending the Bulolo Valley. Kanga Force consists largely of troops of New Guinea Volunteer Reserve (NGVR).