May 28, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 28 MAY 1942

Burma: Japanese seize Kengtung.

China: Chinese withdraw from Kinhwa, Chekiang Province, under pressure.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): A B-17 flies the first armed reconnaissance from the secretly constructed airfield at Unmak, but finds no sign of the enemy. XI Fighter Command elements are not deployed at Unmak (P-40's and P-38's), Cold Bay (P-40's), Kodiak (P-39's), and Elmendorf Field [P-38's and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Kittyhawks].

USA: Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson warns Americans on the west coast to expect a Japanese attack as retaliation for the April 18, 1942 "Dollittle Raid" against Japan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): B-26's attack Lae Airfield. Intercepted by four A6M2 Zeros, shot down is B-26 40-1467 pilot 1st Lt. Spears R. Lanford (MIA). Meanwhile, at 7:50am fourteen Airacobras from the 36th FS and 35th FS took off from 7 Mile Drome to intercept twenty A6M2 Zeros over Port Moresby. Four aircraft were lost, but all pilots survived and later returned to duty: P-39D 41-6970 pilot Lt. J. F. Ward, Jr. (survived), P-39F 41-7190 pilot Captain Wyatte P. Exum (survived), P-39F Airacobra pilot 2nd Lt. Arthur "Art" Andres (survived) and P-39F 41-7126 (survived). During the air combat, the 36th FS pilots Connell, Egan, Erickson claimed 3 Zeros shot down. In fact, no Japanese planes were lost.

New Hebridies: U.S. forces arrive on Espiritu Santo and begin development of the island into a major base area with airfields and Naval anchorage in the South Pacific.

IJN: Japanese First Fleet, Main Body under Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto aboard Battleship Yamato sorties from home waters. The Second Fleet, Escort Force under Rear Admiral Tanaka Raizo whose composition includes 15 transports departs from Saipan; Second Fleet, Occupation Support force under Rear Admiral Kurita Takeo departs from Guam.

U.S. Navy: Task Force 16 (TF 16) under Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance formed around carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Hornet (CV-8) departs Pearl Harbor bound for positions northeast of Midway.

A detachment of 500 personnel from the Efate garrison arrive on Espiritu Santo and begin construction of Bomber 1 for operations against the Solomon Islands.

Submarine Salmon (SS-182) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ganges Maru in the South China Sea about 250 miles south-southeast of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 09°00'N, 111°00'E.

Submarine Seal (SS-183) damages Japanese army cargo ship Tatsufuku Maru at western entrance to Balabac Strait, 07°27'N, 116°17'E.