Today in
World War II History

Surrender of American troops at Corregidor, Philippine Islands, 6 May 1942 (US National Archives: 535523)

80 Years Ago—May 6, 1942: US Maj. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright surrenders on Corregidor, the unconditional surrender of all US and Filipino troops in the Philippines, 13,000 POWs.

US Gen. Joseph Stilwell sets off on foot from Burma toward India with 100 military personnel and civilians.

US Army Air Force impresses all but 200 civilian DC-3s into military service, to be converted to C-47 Skytrain cargo planes.

First American Red Cross Service Club opens in the United Kingdom, at Northern Counties Hotel in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain of US Air Transport Command, 1940s (US Air Force photo)

Navajo code-talkers on Bougainville, December 1943 (US Marine Corps photo)

80 Years Ago—May 5, 1942: Japanese land on Corregidor in the Philippines.

British land at Diego Suarez in Vichy-French Madagascar, fearing Japanese takeover and control of the Indian Ocean.

First 29 Navajo recruits begin boot camp with the US Marine Corps; they will pioneer code-talking.

Sugar rationing begins in the United States (Read more: “Make It Do—Sugar Rationing in World War II.”)

Fulmar fighters aboard carrier HMS Formidable off Madagascar, early May 1942 (Imperial War Museum: A 9710)

SBD Dauntless returning to USS Yorktown after an attack on Tulagi, Solomon Islands, 4 May 1942 (US National Archives: 80-G-20515)

80 Years Ago—May 4, 1942: Battle of the Coral Sea begins: US Navy intercepts Japanese fleet set to invade Port Moresby, New Guinea: first carrier vs. carrier battle in history and the first battle where enemy ships never see each other.

Off the Florida Keys, German U-boat U-507 sinks US freighter Norlindo, the first sinking in the Gulf of Mexico.

Vilhelm Buhl becomes Prime Minister of (Nazi-occupied) Denmark.

Hospital in Malinta Tunnel, Corregidor, 1942 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—May 3, 1942: In Solomon Islands, Japanese take Tulagi and Florida Islands, adjacent to Guadalcanal.

Sub USS Spearfish evacuates 27 personnel from Corregidor, including nurses, the last evacuation by sub from Luzon.

Prime Minister of (Nazi-occupied) Denmark Thorvald Stauning dies in Copenhagen, age 68.

Japanese bombers over Corregidor, 1942 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—May 2, 1942: Japanese bomb powder magazine on Corregidor, 60 Americans killed.

In Allied Arctic Convoy QP-11 returning from USSR, German destroyer Z-24 damages British light cruiser Edinburgh, carrying £5 million in Soviet gold; the cruiser is scuttled.

US poster encouraging purchase of War Stamps, WWII

80 Years Ago—May 1, 1942: In Burma, Japanese take Mandalay and Monywa.

US starts War Stamp drive, through May 31, run through drugstores and other retail stores. (Read more: “World War II War Bonds”)

Bell P-39Q Airacobra, 1940s (USAAF photo)

80 Years Ago—Apr. 30, 1942: First use of US Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter plane in combat—Australia-based P-39s fly mission to Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.

USS Peto, the first sub built on the Great Lakes, is launched at Manitowoc, WI.

Japanese secure central Burma.

USS Peto side launching at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI, 30 April 1942 (US Navy photo).

US poster, WWII

80 Years Ago—Apr. 29, 1942: Japanese take Lashio in Burma, cutting Burma Road and blockading China.

First US coastal convoy leaves New York for the Delaware River; tanker traffic resumes along US East Coast.

US poster, WWII

80 Years Ago—Apr. 28, 1942: US Office of Price Administration freezes prices of 60% of food items and all essential items, including tobacco, medicines, toiletries, and infant food.

Britain orders more “austerity” garments and bans lace on clothing.

Marquees in New York’s Times Square are blacked out as coastal dim-outs go into effect in a 15-mile strip around New York City.

US poster, WWII

Canadian recruitment poster, WWII (Imperial War Museum)

80 Years Ago—Apr. 27, 1942: Explosion at a Japanese mine in Manchuria kills 1527—the worst mine disaster ever.

In US, registration begins for upcoming sugar rationing, and sale of sugar is halted for a week (Read more “Make It Do—Sugar Rationing in World War II”).

In plebiscite, Canadian voters approve military conscription, except voters in Québec.