Today in World War II History—April 20, 1942
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 by Sarah Sundin

US Navy F4F-4 Wildcats and Royal Air Force Spitfires on the deck of aircraft carrier USS Wasp en route to Malta, 19 April 1942 (US Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo 1996.253.7386.029)
80 Years Ago—Apr. 20, 1942: Japanese secure Panay in the Philippines.
Carrier USS Wasp launches 47 Spitfire fighter planes to Malta, and all arrive safely.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt urges formation of more nurseries for children of working women.
They actually launched 48, one made an emergency landing in Algeria. And while 47 arrived safely, they were almost all destroyed shortly after landing by a German attack on the airfield.