MAY 1942
  • May 1 . 11 Japanese transports set sail from Rabaul for Port Moresby invasion escorted by 7 cruisers and an escort carrier, Shoho .
  • May 1 . Japanese take Mandalay, Burma
  • May 1 . Japanese code book change, rescheduled from Apr 1, further delayed.
  • May 2 . Australian seaplane base at Tulagi evacuated.
  • May 3 . Japanese take Tulagi, Florida Island, Solomons.
  • May 4 . Yorktown (TF 17, Fletcher) attacks Tulagi, forcing temporary Japanese withdrawal.
  • May 4 . Japanese land 2000 troops on Corregidor, P.I.
  • May 5 . Yorktown and Lexington join up south of Tulagi.
  • May 5 . Corregidor surrenders - last of the Philippine defenses.
  • May 5 . British land on Vichy Madagascar.
  • May 6 . US carriers meet-up with Australian cruisers, set up ambush for Jomard Passage.
  • May 7 . Japanese carriers attack US oiler Neosho and destroyer Sims thinking they are a carrier and cruiser.
  • May 7 . US carriers attack escort carrier Shoho thinking it was the main force.
  • May 7 . Australian cruiser force sent ahead to block Japanese invasion fleet.
  • May 7 . Both sides decide against a night battle and prepare for dawn air attacks.
  • May 8 . Battle of Coral Sea is fought with Japanese in squalls and USN in sunlight. Shokaku damaged and retires. Both US carriers hit. Later, gas explodes in Lexington and abandoned. Carrier groups of both sides retire.
  • May 8 . Aussie cruiser force fight off land based air attack. Invasion fleet, without air cover, withdraws.
  • May 8 . The Battle of Coral Sea is the first time the Japanese Navy is stopped from an objective. Japs fare better in the battle, but lost the opportunity to take Port Moresby on south coast of New Guinea and to raid Australia. US convoy route to Australia remains open. Both Japanese carriers will miss Battle of Midway next month, whereas Yorktown will participate in that victory.
  • May 9 . Zuikaku ordered to pursue any remaining of American fleet.
  • May 10. Invasion force departs Rabaul for Ocean & Nauru Islands.
  • May 11. Invasion flagship Okinoshima sunk by S-42. Jap force retires.
  • May 11. Yorktown heads for Tongatabu and temporary repair.
  • May 11. Enterprise and Hornet arrive near New Hebrides.
  • May 11. Zuikaku task force withdrawn.
  • May 11. Rochefort determines Japanese buildup is to attack Midway.
  • May 12. Washington disagrees.
  • May 14. Tangier (AV-8) sets up at Noumea with flying boats, release carriers from scouting duty.
  • May 15. Enterprise & Hornet (Halsey) scare off invasion force for Ocean & Nauru, Phosphate Islands.
  • May 16. Allied 900 mile retreat from Burma to India completed with over 50% losses.
  • May 16. Enterprise & Hornet ordered back to Pearl.
  • May 17. Japanese plans to invade Midway include 200 ships -- 11 BB, 8 CV, 23 CA, 65 DD, 20 SS
  • May 17. French colonies of New Caledonia declare for Allies, but many spys.
  • May 18. Halsey ordered expedite return as Japanese troops mass at Saipan for invasion of Midway
  • May 18. British refuse to send 1 of 3 carriers from Madagascar to SWPac.
  • May 18. Japanese Phase 3 plans to occupy Fiji, Samoa, & New Caledonia.
  • May 19. Midway Island told to claim water shortage by insecure code.
  • May 19. Japanese sub-based seaplanes scout Fiji and Zanzibar.
  • May 20. Japanese complete conquest of Burma.
  • May 20. RAdm J. S. McCain, Commander Aircraft, (Senator's grandfather) to direct the operations of tender and shore-based aviation in the South Pacific area.
  • May 20. Japanese report "AF" short on water; confirms Midway is site of attack.
  • May 21. U-boat attacks on tankers in Atlantic coast & Caribbean at height.
  • May 21. North Pacific force established: 2 CA, 3 CL, 4 DD plus 9 DD, 5 SS & 107 aircraft.
  • May 22. 5 I-class submarines with 4 minisubs and 1 airplane enroute to Sydney.
  • May 23. Plan of attack on Midway and Aleutians known, extent of forces not known.
  • May 24. All warships from Coral Sea recalled to Pearl Harbor.
  • May 25. Carlson's Raiders arrive Midway on St. Louis.
  • May 26. Kittyhawk (APV-1) delivers 23 Marine aircraft, 5 light tanks to Midway.
  • May 26. Enterprise & Hornet arrive Pearl Harbor. VAdm Halsey ill, replaced by RAdm Spruance.
  • May 26. Last pro-Axis leader overthrown in French islands. Sympathizers report ship movements.
  • May 27. Yorktown arrives Pearl drydock. 1,400 dockworkers perform 3 months of repair in 2 days.
  • May 28. Enterprise & Hornet sail for Midway.
  • May 28. Japanese carriers sail. Japanese code books finally changed.
  • May 29. 15 transports depart Saipan for invasion of Midway.
  • May 30. 8 transports depart Honshu for Aleutians.
  • May 30. Yorktown, hull watertight and replenished, sails for waters north of Midway.
  • May 30. Japan's main body fleet, including largest battleship in the world, depart Hiroshima for Midway.
  • May 31. Midget sub attack in Madagascar; ferry sunk at Sydney.
  • May 31. Battleships Maryland and Colorado patrol 650 mile west of San Francisco
    < April   June >