This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 18 B-24's bomb Kiska targets including North Head. Six B-25's, 16 P-38's, and 24 P-40's in 6 missions from Amchitka to Kiska, bomb the Main Camp and submarine base areas. Four B-24's bomb the runway at Attu. All aircraft, including 2 B-25's colliding in the air, return safely.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Thazi railroad junction. A detachment of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group with P-40's which has been operating from Sadiya, India since Nov 42 transfers to Jorhat, India.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's and P-40's attack and set fire to a small cargo vessel in Kokolope Bay.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit the Kitchen Creek area and the Labiabi-Duali area. Single B-24's attack Salamaua, Finschhafen and the bridge at Rempi. Single B-24's hit the airfields at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester.

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PACIFIC: In the Pacific, two USN submarines sink a fleet tanker and a submarine chaser. The latter vessel is sunk by USS Pickerel (SS-177), CO Augustus H. Alston, Jr, which is subsequently sunk off northern Honshu, Japan. All hands lost.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's, operating in 2 forces, bomb the Myitnge bridge, scoring hits on both approaches.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit Kitchen Creek while single B-24's bomb Korindindi. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's pound shipping and the airfield at Kavieng while single B-24's bomb Kavieng.

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BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Maymyo engine sheds. Nine others bomb the Pyawbwe railroad yards. Seven B-24's heavily damage the Thilawa oil refinery.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher assumes the position of Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOL) which has operational control of all Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), USAAF, USMC and USN aircraft in the South Pacific. A detachment of the 18th Photographic Squadron (Heavy), 4th Photographic Group with B-25's begins operating from Espiritu Santo.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's and A-20's pound areas along the Huon Gulf, around Kitchen Creek and the Heaths and Lane Plantations. Single B-17's bomb Salamaua. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's bomb the town area and airfield at Kavieng. Single B-17's bomb Cape Gloucester.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, reconnaissance covers all islands W of Kiska with negative results. 16 B-24's and 6 B-25's bomb the Attu runway and Kiska's Main Camp and runway. 4 P-38's fly top cover. Later, 3 B-25's, 16 P-40's, and 16 P-38's bomb Kiska again.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's bomb railroad targets at Mandalay; 2 others hit Ngamya. Three B-24's bomb the Prome railroad yards; 5 hit the Mahlwagon yards and roundhouse. 12 P-40's and a B-25 support ground forces in N Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's on armored reconnaissance strafe 15 horse-drawn wagons at Wanling.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, single B-17's attack occupied areas at several points along the Huon Gulf coast, hit Finschaffen on the Huon Peninsula, bomb Madang and other points on the N coast of New Guinea and hit Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.

NEIAF - After an armed reconnaissance of the north coast of Timor, lost is B-25D N5-140.

BURMA: The Imperial Japanese Army forces on the Malaya Penninsula begin advancing NW toward India.

SOLOMONS: USN destroyer USS O'Bannon (DD-450) sinks Japanese submarine RO 34 near Russell Island.

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CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 333d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group with P-39's transfers from Canton Island to Hilo, Territory of Hawaii.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24's attack Pazundaung bridge, damaging the S approach.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group based on Fiji but operating from Guadalcanal with P-39's, transfers to Guadalcanal.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Thirteenth Air Force F-5 Lightning photo reconnaissance aircraft note 114 Japanese bombers and fighters on Kahili Airdrome on Bougainville. There were 40 aircraft on the airfield yesterday.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER F OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's bomb the town area and AA positions at Salamaua. Single B-17's bomb Finschhafen. Single B-17's bomb Gasmata while another strafes Cape Gloucester.

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GUADALCANAL: 11th IJNAF Air Fleet begins "I" operation with attacks against Guadalcanal and Tulagi. 180 a/c involved. The airgroups of 4 carriers have been moved to land for this operation. This leaves
almost no trained carrier pilots left.
The Japanese aircraft attack shipping off the east coast of Guadalcanal, off Koli Point and off Tulagi.
The second phase of the Japanese Operation I GO, 67 "Vals" escorted by an estimated 117 "Zeros" are reported by coast watchers to be moving down the "Slot" to attack a convoy off the east coast of Guadalcanal, shipping at Koli point, and a Task Force at Tulagi.
All 75 operable fighters on Guadalcanal, 36 Wildcats, 9 Corsairs, 12 Lightnings, 6 P-40s and 12Airacobras, are scrambled, and the bombers are moved to the southwestern tip of the island for safety.
The air battle takes place off the Russells, near Tulagi, and over the convoy. Marine F4F pilots shoot down 12 "Val" dive bombers and 15 "Zero" fighters; 7 F4Fs and P-38s are shot down with the loss of a
pilot.
The "Vals" attack Allied shipping and sink the corvette HMNZS Moa and the destroyer USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) is damaged by one bomb hit and four near misses. Submarine rescue vessel USS Ortolan (ASR-5) and tug USS Vireo (AT-144) attempt to beach Aaron Ward, but the destroyer sinks as the result of bomb damage. Also damaged are the oilers USS Kanawha (AO-1) and USS Tappahannock (AO-43) and tank landing ship USS LST-449. Later, the tugs USS Rail (AT-139) and USS Menominee (AT-73) and the net tender USS Butternut (YN-9), tow Kanawha into Tulagi harbor, where the damaged oiler is beached just before midnight.
Marine 1st Lt. James E. Swett, on his first combat mission, shot down seven Japanese VAL's over Guadacanal. He's the first American to achieve this score in a single mission.

This is the date we [182nd Regiment, Americal Division, USA] left Guadalcanal for Fiji, in 1943. I knew it was April, and that LIFE magazine had called it "the biggest air raid of the Pacific War so far", but they
thought it was only 100 Japanese planes. Yours says 180 planes. We were on the John Penn when the planes came over.
All our planes were caught on the ground. I sneaked under a 20mm gun mount, rather than be locked below decks, as the Navy did to keep us out of the way. I saw the greatest air raid in my history of 3-1/2 years out there in war. Planes went upwind, downwind, and crosswind clawing for height to attack the enemy. P-38's which were new went straight up like an elevator. Planes were falling with smoke trailing...no way to tell whose.
My late friend, Al Glendye, was Bos'n on a tanker loaded with air plane fuel. The ship was straddled by two 500 lb bombs. Had either landed and blown the ship, others would have gone down with it. J.F. Kennedy' s bio "PT-109" opens with a chapter on this raid. He was coming out as a replacement when their ship pulled into "Iron Bottom Bay".

ADMIRALTY ISLANDS: Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators attack Lorengau on Manus Island.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: In the Aleutians, the Eleventh Air Force reconnaissance airplane aborts shortly after takeoff due to weather.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Individual Fifth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island and Kavieng on New Ireland Island.

BORNEO: USN submarine USS Trout ( SS-202 ) lays mines near Sarawak.

BURMA: 2 Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells temporarily knock out a bridge on the Ye-u railroad branch, crossing the Mu River between Ywataung and Monywa; 18 B-25s, in 2 forces, bomb the Ywataung Marshalling Yard; P-40s support ground forces north of Shingbwiyang and 6 B-24 Liberators bomb Japanese HQ at Toungoo.

NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force B-25s hit areas along the northeastern coast from Mur to Singor. B-24s bomb the landing ground at Babo and town area of Fak Fak while individual B-17s and B-24s attack shipping and coastal targets at Lae, Salamaua, Finschhafen and Wewak.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, The weather airplane scouts Kiska and islands W of it with negative results.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb Meiktila Airfield; 6 B-24's attack the airfield at Heho; and Ft Bayard Airfield is strafed by 9 P-40's. Enemy stores at Ningam are hit by 4 P-40's and a B-25.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 11th Bombardment Group and it's 4 squadrons, the 26th, 42d, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons with B-17E's and F's, transfer from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands to the Territory of Hawaii. Group HQ and the 431st go to Hickam Field; the 26th to Bellows Field, the 42d to Kualoa Point; and the 98th to Mokuleia.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's carry out small harassing strikes, bombing Ulamoa, Finschhafen, and the airfield at Kavieng. Lost on a ferry flight is B-26 40-1417.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1), damaged by Japanese dive bombers yesterday, and beached off Tulagi by tugs USS Rail (AT-139) and USS Menominee (AT-73), sinks before daybreak.

USA: In the US, President Roosevelt orders certain wage and price controls in his effort to combat inflation. His order also restricts the ability of some workers to change jobs.

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PACIFIC: US submarines sink four Japanese ships.
- USS Drum ( SS-228 ) attacks a Japanese convoy, sinking an army cargo ship about 180 miles NNW of Kavieng, New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago.
- USS Grayling ( SS-209) in an attack on a Japanese convoy off Mindoro, Philippine Islands, sinks an army cargo ship about 10 miles E of Dumali Point
- USS Tautog ( SS-199) attacks a Japanese convoy in Buton Passage, off southeastern Celebes Island, Netherlands East Indies, sinking an army cargo ship. Tautog then sinks destroyer HIJMS Isonami as the enemy warship attempts to rescue survivors.

U.S.: The USN reestablishes the rank of Commodore.

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, a B-24 flies reconnaissance over Kiska, Attu and the Semichis. P-40's fly reconnaissance over Kiska.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb and strafe the airfield and town and dock areas of Madang. A-20's hit the Kitchen Creek-Mubo area. Single B-17's attack barges at Bogia, Alexishafen and Finschhafen and hit the town of Wewak. In the Admiralities, vehicles at Lorengau on Manus Island are strafed.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, the weather reconnaissance B-24 observes 4 unidentified aircraft near Segula. Three B-25's, 17 P-40's, and 6 P-38's fly 5 attack missions to Kiska, and negative searches for the unidentified airplanes at Segula. The last mission finds Kiska closed in and returns with bombs.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's continue to fly harassing strikes as 3 of the heavy bombers hit Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force):
In New Guinea, B-17's and B-24's pound the town and dock area of Wewak. Some of the B-17's also bomb Cape Boram and Kairiru Island while some of the B-24's hit Alexishafen and shipping off Wewak. B-25's pound the harbors at Bobia and Uligan.
The 8th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) with A-20's transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Dobodura. On 25 May 43, the group and it's 4 squadrons will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron to reflect it's true mission.
Bismarck Archipelago: A lone B-17 strafes barges SE of Bogia and trucks at Cape Croisilles while another bombs the airfield at Arawe.

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 3 B-25's, 24 P-40's, and 13 P-38's fly 7 missions to Kiska. The fighters also strafe Little Kiska. AA fire damages 1 P-40 and 1 P-38. The P-38 force-lands safely.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's hit the airfield at Magwe. P-40's bomb and strafe the ammunition and supply dump at Walawbum.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's strafe more than 20 vehicles 25 mi (40 km) E of Loiwing.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Single B-24's continue snooper strikes, hitting Kahili Airfield twice during the evening. The 68th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group with P-40's (and some P- 39's) transfers from Guadalcanal to Fiji but continues to operate from Guadalcanal until Dec 43.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's and B-17's pound the airfields at Rabaul and Gasmata, shipping in the Saint George Channel, and targets of opportunity in the Ubili and Talasea areas. B-24's and B-17s hit shipping in Hansa Bay, the airfields at Lae and Nubia and Bogia harbor. B-24's, operating individually, attack several targets, scoring hits on the Madang dock area and at Toeal. Lost are B-17E "Blue In The Night" 41-9209, P-38G 42-12857, P-38G 43-2382.

Japanese - “Operation I-GO” raid against Port Moresby Japanese planes attack Port Moresby. Japanese aircraft, 43 "Betty" bombers escorted by 131 fighters, attack Port Moresby. This bombing destroys 3 B-25s, an RAAF Beaufighter and several fuel dumps as well as the runways of 3 airfields. Fifth Air Force pilots shoot down 17 "Betty" bombers and 10 fighters; 2 P-39 Airacobras are shot down.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Flying Fish sinks a Japanese merchant cargo ship at the eastern entrance to Tsugaru Strait, just off Shiriyazaki, northern Honshu.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 4 B-25's, 22 P-40's, and 8 P-38's hit Kiska 5 times. The last mission aborts due to weather. The other 4 missions bomb various targets starting large fires. Some fighters strafe Little Kiska.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-38's and Navy fighters strafe gun positions in the Rekata Bay area. B-17's bomb airfields at Kahili and on Ballale.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-17's bomb Lae and Finschhafen. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen 3 times and hit Madang once. Enemy airplanes attack Oro Bay and destroy 2 merchant vessels. In Timor, B-25's hit Vila Salazar and another village. Lost returning from a mission to Wau is P-39 piloted by Cohen.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 15 B-24's, 15 B-25's, 28 P-38's and 20 P-40's fly 11 attacks to Kiska; 43 tons of bombs are dropped on the Main Camp, North Head, and runway. Fighters attack the Main Camp causing large fires, and also strafe aircraft on the beach. Heavy AA fire damages 2 P-38's, 1 of which later crashes into the sea, and 1 B-25.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb the Myitnge bridge without inflicting further damage to the structure. Nine others hit Monywa Airfield. Six P-40's knock out a bridge at Shaduzup.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-38's and Navy aircraft bomb the airfield at Munda and strafe a barge at Bambatana

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and strafe the Labiabi area while a single B-l7 bombs the runway at Finschhafen.

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ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The Eleventh Air Force dispatches 30 P-40s, 17 P-38 Lightnings, 9 B-24 Liberators and 6 B-25 Mitchells to fly 10 missions to Kiska Island, bombing and strafing the runway, North Head area, installations, parked seaplanes, and facilities on Little Kiska.

BURMA: Tenth Air Force P-40s dropping 1,000 pound (454 kg) bombs, hit airfields at Myitkyina and Manywet, rendering the runways at both unusable.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force P-40s strafe pack horses south of Tengchung, barracks and warehouses in Lungling, and cattle and trucks north of Lungling.

NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force B-17s, B-24s and B-25s carry out widespread attacks on individual enemy vessels. During these raids, B-17s bombing Hansa Bay sink an army cargo ship.
An estimated 144 Japanese bombers and fighters carry out a heavy attack on the Milne Bay area, severely damaging 1 vessel, beaching 1 vessel, and hitting 2 others, but doing very little damage to USAAF facilities in the area. AA defenses and the 40+ P-40s and P-38s that intercept the enemy strike shoot down 7 aircraft with the loss of three US fighters.
Captain Richard I "Dick" Bong becomes a Double Ace when he gets his 10th kill, one of the Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers (Allied Code Name "Betty") attacking the Milne Bay area.
HMAS Wagga, a minesweeper, with HMA ships Kapunda and Whyalla, took part in the defense of Milne Bay during a heavy Japanese air attack.
The British vessel "Gorgan" was damaged and the Netherlands troopship "Van Heemskerk" was hit by bombs and set on fire. Minutes before the fire reached drums of petrol, which blew up, the Wagga took the survivors off the ship and saved a lot of lives in doing so. The ship was beached, but became a total loss. The Wagga sustained superficial damage.

U.S.: John Grist Brainerd, director of research at the University of Pennsylvania' s Moore School, submits a proposal for an electronic computer to colleagues at the U.S. Army's Ballistics Research Laboratory. The proposal was written by the Moore School's John Mauchly. In May 1943, the Army contracted the Moore School to build ENIAC, the first electronic computer. Although ENIAC was not finished until after the war had ended, it nevertheless marked a major step forward in computing.
The USAAF activates the Weather Wing at Asheville, North Carolina to provide scientific weather information for the USAAF and the rest of the Army. This new wing assumes responsibility from HQ USAAF for the supervision of the Army Air Forces Weather Service which was established in 1937.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, reconnaissance over Kiska, Attu, Semichis, and Agattu spots no new enemy activities. Two bomber missions from Adak and 11 fighter missions from Amchitka, composed of 23 B-24's, 20 B-25's, 25 P-38's, and 44 P-40's, hit Kiska; 1 F-5A takes photos; 85 tons of bombs are dropped. Fires result on North Head and Little Kiska. One B-24 is shot down in flames and 4 bombers receive battle damage.
The US begin preparations for attacks on Attu in the Aleutians with the 7th Division US Army.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 10 B-25's bomb the Mandalay Marshaling Yard; 9 more bomb the marshaling yard at Ywataung. Eight B-24's hit the Thilawa oil refinery while 7 others hit Prome.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) The 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25's arrives on Guadalcanal from the U.S.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb the airfields at Rabaul and Gasmata. In New Guinea, B-17's bomb the airfield at Lae. The 7th and 8th Fighter Squadrons, 49th Fighter Group with P-40's transfer from Port Moresby to Dobodura.
On or about this date, the Royal New Zealand Air Force's No. 15 Squadron equipped with Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. IAs (P-40Es), arrives on Guadalcanal. This is the first RNZAF fighter unit to operate under Aircraft Solomons (AirSols) command.

NORTH PACIFIC: Submarine USS Seawolf sinks a Japanese transport about 275 miles (443 km) south-southwest of Marcus Island.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, Kiska is bombed and strafed 13 times. A total of 13 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, 29 P-38's, and 2 F-5A's cover targets which include installations in the Holtz Bay area and gun positions on North Head.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's, bombing a railroad bridge near Mogaung, score a direct hit on the target and blow up both approaches, leaving the bridge temporarily unserviceable. Later in the day the bridge near Pinbaw is demolished by direct hits. Eight B-24's hit the Rangoon Marshaling Yard, 9 B-25's bomb the Thazi rail junction, while 9 more, weathered out of Maymyo, hit rail targets in Mandalay.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe a group of buildings E of Tenchung.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's bomb Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's bomb Kaimana, Wewak, Madang, and Lae. B-17's pound shipping at Wewak, leaving 3 vessels sunk or in sinking condition. In Timor, B-25's bomb Vila Salazar. Lost on a training flight is B-25C "Chatterbox " 41-13088.