Today in World War II History—April 5, 1942
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 by Sarah Sundin

Heavy cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall burning during the raid on Ceylon, 5 Apr 1942; photo taken from Japanese aircraft (US Navy photo 80-G-71202)
80 Years Ago—Apr. 5, 1942: Japanese carrier aircraft sink British heavy cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall off Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and bomb British naval base at Colombo, Ceylon.
The first destroyer escorts, USS (future HMS) Bayntun and USS (future HMS) Bazely are laid down at Boston Navy Yard, MA.