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, 7 B-24's bomb and score 8 direct hits on the runway and gun emplacements at Attu. One B-24 and 2 F-5A's abort due to weather. 4 B-25's, 31 P-38's, and 14 P-40's hit Kiska 9 times, bombing installations and strafing gun emplacements and 3 parked airplanes.

American listening post in Aleutian Islands intercepts a radio message announcing that Admiral Yamamoto is taking a tour of Japanese bases in the South Pacific.

EAST INDIES: The submarine USS Searaven begins the rescue of stranded Australian sailors, airmen, and soldiers from Japanese-occupied Timor Island.

PACIFIC: Three Japanese ships are sunk at sea:
- A mine laid by USN TBF Avengers on 30 March sinks a transport near Buin, Bougainville, Solomon Islands.
- An ex-whale factory ship is sunk by unknown agent about 160 miles east of Formosa.
- Submarine USS Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks an army cargo ship off Yerimozaki, Hokkaido, Japan.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 7 B-25's bomb the Myitnge bridge, scoring 4 damaging hits. Ten others hit the Myitnge railroad works. Sixteen P-40's damage the bridge at Kamaing, attack the town of Nanyaseik, and score hits on the N approach to the bridge at Namti. Six B-24's damage the S approach to the Pazundaung railroad bridge.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: During the night of 16/17 April, 15 Thirteenth Air Force B-17s and 8 TBF Avengers of Torpedo Squadron Twenty Six and Composite Squadron Twenty Eight bomb Kahili Airfield on Bougainville. Two of the VC-27 TBFs conduct a mast-high bombing attack on ships in New Georgia Sound, the first attack of this kind in this theater.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, B-17's during the night of 16/17 Apr again fly a strike against Kahili Airfield. HQ 18th Fighter Group transfers from Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Moluccas, B-24's bomb Amboina. In New Guinea, a single B-24 scores hits on the NW shore of Hollandia Bay. Lost in an aerial collision is B-17F 41-24425.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 22 P-38's (some flown by Royal Canadian Air Force pilots) and 37 P-40's hit Kiska 9 times. The submarine base and gun emplacements on North Head are bombed and gun emplacements near the submarine base are silenced.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Ellice Islands, the 371st and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group based at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-24's begin operating from Funafuti.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe an enemy-held supply village SE of Tengchung.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) "Operation Peacock": G4M1 Betty carrying Admiral Yamomoto is intercepted by sixteen P-38 Lightning's led by Major John W. Mitchell (2 others abort) on a low-level, circuitous, over-water trip from Guadalcanal to a spot up the Bougainville coast to intercept Admiral Yamamoto who, according to US intelligence, is on an inspection trip in the S Pacific and is due at Ballale at 0945 local. Admiral Yamamoto's punctuality is calculated to allow the interception to take place at 0935 local. Two hours and 15 minutes after takeoff at 0725 local, the P-38's having flown at almost sea level find the flight of 2 Betty bombers and 6 Zero escorts. The 4-aircraft attack section under Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. attacks the bombers. The Zekes spot the attacking P-38's at about 1 mi (0.6 km) and try in vain to cut off the attack and bombers attempt to escape. In the air battle, P-38G 43-2238 piloted by Captain Lanphier and P-38G "Miss Virginia" 43-2264 piloted by 1st Lt Rex Barber shoot down the bomber carrying Yamamoto. G4M1 Betty 2656. The other G4M1 Betty Tail T1-326 is also shot down and ditches. Lost is P-38G piloted by Hine.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In Timor, B-25's bomb the airfield at Penfoei. Single B-24's hit the Finschhafen and Saidor areas. A detachment of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group based at Kipapa, Territory of Hawaii begins operating from New Guinea with P-70's.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Drum sinks a Japanese ammunition ship about 200 miles NNW of Mussau Island, Bismarck Archipelago. A submarine chaser rescues survivors, who include a number of Army prostitutes among them.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 9 missions involving 14 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, and 23 P-38's are flown to Kiska. The first mission is weathered out of the primary target, Attu, and directed to Kiska. Bombing and strafing concentrates on 4 grounded ships and the submarine base area where fires are started. One ship, believed to serve as a power station, is set afire.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) P-40's hit bridges in Burma, seriously damaging the Namti railroad bridge between Mogaung and Myitkyina. Nine B-24's bomb Rangoon's main railroad station.

PACIFIC: The submarine USS Scorpion mines waters off Kashima Nada, Japan while USS Seawolf sinks a Japanese depot ship east of Okinawa.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the first night fighter victory in the Pacific, a USAAF P-70 shoots down a "Betty" bomber near Tulagi Island at 0425 hours.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single medium or heavy bombers bomb airfields at Hollandia and Lae, New Guinea and Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.

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April 21st: Admiral Koga succeeds yammamoto as Commander In Chief of the Combined Fleet

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JAPAN: The Japanese Cabinet is re-organized with Shimegitsu as Foreign Minister.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Runner mines the waters near Hong Kong while submarine USS Scorpion sinks a Japanese gunboat off the east central coast of Honshu, Japan.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 10 bombing and strafing missions by 15 B-24's, 16 B-25's, 10 P-38's, and 32 P-40's hit shipping in the harbor at Kiska and gun positions in North Head. Other targets include buildings in the Main Camp area and the runway.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Gilberts, 22 B-24's, from Funafuti, carry out a photo-bombing mission over Nauru. Several direct hits on runways and the dispersal areas are claimed.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Thazai.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb Wewak, Nubia, and Boram Airfields and shipping off Wewak. B-24s bomb Kaimana and targets of opportunity on Kendari Island in the Celebes.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, Commander North Pacific Forces (NORPACFOR) places all Army and Navy Air Forces [Task Group (TG) 16.1] under Brigadier General William O. Butler, Commanding General Eleventh Air Force. The Army Air Striking Unit (Eleventh Air Force) is designated Task Unit 16.1.1 (TU 16.1.1) and the Naval Air Search Unit (Patrol Wing Four) is designated TU l6.l.2. Two P-38's take off for Kiska but abort the mission.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's bomb the railroad yards at Maymyo, and 9 more bomb the area around the Myitnge bridge. In Thailand, 16 B-24's are dispatched to bomb the Bangsue Arsenal and other targets in Bangkok, but only 4 reach the target area and loose bombs over the city.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's bomb Kaimana and Laga. Single B-17's attack coastal villages in NE New Guinea and hit Ubili and Gasmata.

EAST INDIES: RAAF No. 18 (NEI) Squadron B-25s bomb Laga on Timor Island.

INDIAN OCEAN: A U.S. freighter is torpedoed by the Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci off the coast of South Africa and abandoned. Leonardo da Vinci then surfaces, finishes off the freighter with gunfire, and temporarily detains a member of the crew on board for questioning before returning him to his shipmates.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Stingray mines the waters off Wenchow, China.
USS Grenadier, CO John A. Fitzgerald is scuttled after damage by an enemy aircraft off Penang Malaya. All hands taken prisoner and 4 died in pow camp.

ELLICE ISLANDS: IJN bombers from Nauru Island, staging through Tarawa Atoll in the Gilberts, attack the airfield on Funafuti Atoll. One Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberator is destroyed and five others damaged.

THAILAND: 16 Tenth Air Force B-24s are dispatched to bomb the Bangsue Arsenal and other targets in Bangkok, but only 4 reach the target area and loose bombs over the city.

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EAST INDIES: The submarine USS Grenadier (SS-210) is scuttled off Penang, Malaya, after having been damaged by Japanese aircraft of the 936th Kokutai yesterday. The sub was running on the surface at dawn when it was spotted by the aircraft.
As the sub crash dived, her skipper, Commander John A. Fitzgerald commented "we ought to be safe now, as we are between 120 and 130 feet." Just then, bombs rocked Grenadier and heeled her over 15 to 20 degrees. Power and lights failed completely and the fatally wounded ship settled to the bottom at 267 feet.
She tried to make repairs while a fierce fire blazed in the maneuvering room. After 13 hours of sweating it out on the bottom Grenadier managed to surface after dark to clear the boat of smoke and inspect damage. The damage to her propulsion system was irreparable. Attempting to bring his ship close to shore so that the crew could scuttle her and escape into the jungle, Commander Fitzgerald even tried to jury-rig a sail. But the long night's work proved futile.
As dawn broke, 22 April, Grenadier's weary crew sighted two Japanese ships heading for them. As the skipper "didn't think it advisable to make a stationary dive in 280 feet (81.5 meters) of water without power," the crew began burning confidential documents prior to abandoning ship. A Japanese plane attacked the stricken submarine; but Grenadier, though dead in the water and to all appearances helpless, hit the plane with machine gun fire on its second pass.
As the damaged plane veered off, its torpedo landed about 200 yards from the boat and exploded. Reluctantly opening all vents, Grenadier's crew abandoned ship and watched her sink to her final resting place. A Japanese merchantman picked up 8 officers and 68 enlisted men and took them to Penang, Malay States, where they were questioned, beaten, and starved before being sent to other prison camps. They were then separated and transferred from camp to camp along the Malay Peninsula and finally to Japan.
Throughout the war they suffered brutal, inhuman treatment, and their refusal to reveal military information both frustrated and angered their captors. First word that any had survived Grenadier reached Australia 27 November 1943. Despite the brutal and sadistic treatment, all but four of Grenadier's crew survived their 2 years in Japanese hands.

JAPAN: Japanese Prime Minister Kideki Tojo announces that American fliers captured while bombing Japan will be given "one-way tickets to hell."

NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs and B-25 Mitchells bomb the Lababia-Duali area on Nassau Bay while individual B-17s bomb the Dobo and Nubia area.

PACIFIC: The submarine USS Stingray mines waters off Wenchow, China, while the Dutch submarine HMNS O 21, despite presence of an escort vessel, sinks a Japanese army cargo ship in Malacca Straits.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Ellice Islands, the airfield on Funafuti is bombed twice during the night of 21/22 Apr by the Japanese. Two B-24's are destroyed and 5
others damaged.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives in Fiji from the U.S.

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NEW GUINEA: Australian troops occupy Mubo.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Gilberts, 12 B-24's from Funafuti attack Tarawa Atoll, bombing fuel storage and barracks areas. After this mission, the 371st and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group cease operating from Funafuti and return to their base at Wheeler Field and Kahuku, Territory of Hawaii respectively. The 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from Midway to Barking Sands, Hawaii.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb the Mandalay warehouse area. Five P-40's damage the approaches to the bridge at Shaduzup.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe a 15-truck convoy SW of Lungling.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) The 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25's transfers from New Caledonia to Fiji.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single B-24's bomb the airfield and town area at Finschhafen and score a direct hit on a cargo vessel SE of Kavieng in the Bismarck Archipelago.

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USA: San Francisco: A US invasion force sails to take Attu, in the Aleutians.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 2 P-38's bomb Kiska and strafe personnel near Mutton Cove. Weather cancels other missions.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's, escorted by 11 P-40's, bomb the Namtu mines and railroad yards. 7 of the P-40's strafe the mine and smelter area. In China, 13 P-40's intercept 25 fighters near Lingling and shoot down 5.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, single B-24's bomb the runway at Cape Gloucester. In the Celebes, B-24's bomb Kendari Airfield. In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and strafe positions in the Mubo area. Single B-24's attack Lae, Gumbi, and Singor. B-25's pound Dili Airfield. Lost is C-49 "Calamity Mary Jane" Serial Number 41-7694.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 15 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, 23 P-38's, and 1 F-5A fly 12 missions to Kiska and Attu. Targets include Holtz Bay, North Head, South Head, the beach areas, the runway, shipping, and the submarine base.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 11 B-25's attack the Ywataung railroad yards and vicinity. The 492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group transfers with B-24's from Bishnupur, India to Panagarh, India.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, 3 B-24's fly a harassing strike during the night of 25/26 Apr against Kahili Airfield. 12 others bomb the same target later during the night. The 394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group with B-24's, based on Fiji, begins operating from Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb Wewak Airfield and the towns of Madang and Saidor. A-20's bomb and strafe positions at Green's Hill. Single B-24's hit airfields at Madang and Finschhafen.

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ALASKA: Japanese held harbor at Attu in the Aleutian Islands is bombed by a US naval squadron under the command of Admiral McMorris. This was Task Grouop 16.6 consisting of:
Light cruisers USS Richmond, USS Detroit and USS Santa Fe, and Destroyers USS Caldwell, USS Bancroft, USS Coghlan, USS Frazier, USS Gansevoort and USS Edwards.
The TG bombarded Adak Island from 0815 to 0840 hours local; the Japanese did not return fire. Kiska Island is also bombed on this day. Royal Canadian Air Force P-40K-1-CUs of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron based on Kodiak Island fly 24 sorties while five USAAF B-25s abort due to the usual Aleutian Island weather.

SW PACIFIC: Operation Cartwheel is agreed to. This has Halsey's forces move through New Georgia and Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. MacArthur will move NW along the coast of New Guinea. Then they will both attack Rabaul, New Britian and Kavieng, New Ireland.

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AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 1 B-25 unsuccessfully investigates a reported submarine 4 mi (6.4 km) W of Bay Island. Four P-38's bomb the Main Camp, then scout Buldir. Lost is B-17E 42-30681

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 19 B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Thazi. P-40's hit positions S of Sarenghkyet.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's pound Vila and the airfield on Ballale. B-17's hit Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Heavy bombers, operating individually, attack vessels off Cape Gloucester, Cape Goltz and Gasmata. A-20's bomb and strafe forces in the Green's Hill-Mubo area. B-25's bomb a village near Beru. Heavy bombers, operating individually, attack vessels NNW of Dobo and Nabire and small vessels and targets of opportunity in the Marienberg, Wewak, and Finschhafen areas.

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BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's pound the docks at Monywa; 10 others attack river traffic in the Katha vicinity.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, about 20 Japanese medium bombers and a like number of fighters attack airfields at Kunming. High winds prevent bombing accuracy and little damage is done to the airfield. Several Chinese villagers near the field are killed. Defending P-40's shoot down 10 aircraft.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 3 B-24's continue snooper missions, bombing the airfield at Kahili.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's attack 2 vessels NNW of Dobo. Single B-17's hit buildings N of Finschhafen Airfield, Wilwilan village, and targets of opportunity along the coast of NE New Guinea from the Nankina River to Mur. 380th BG HQ and it's 528th, 529th, 530th and 531st Bombardment Squadrons arrive in Australia from the U.S. Group HQ, and the 528th and 530th Squadrons are based at Fenton; the 529th and 531st are at Manbulloo. The group is assigned to the Fifth Air Force but will be attached to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) until Jan 45. One of it's primary missions is the training of RAAF crews in operating the B-24. The group will fly it's first mission on 21 May 43.

NEIAF - Lost attacking ships is B-25D N5-135.

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SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Lost on an escort mission over Buin is P-38G 43-2218.

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 4 B-25's, 17 P-38's, and 7 P-40's fly 4 missions to Kiska. Only the P-38's get through and blast Gertrude Cove, Main Camp, the submarine base and a ship.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 16 B-25's pound the Gokteik Viaduct, damaging the N end. Four others bomb the Maymyo railroad yards. Five B-24's bomb the Sule Pagoda wharves at Rangoon. Four P-40's and a B-25 hit Mohnyin, while 6 P-4O's attack a camp S of Weshi.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 5 B-17's bomb a bivouac area and revetments at Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single B-24's bomb Lae and airfields at Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.