# USAAF Chronology:

                   COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES
                                    APRIL 1942
    FTP SITES
      1. ftp.rutgers.edu in directory pub/wwii/usaf
      2. byrd.mu.wvnet.edu (129.71.32.152) in pub/history/military/airforce/
         wwii_chronology

    AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
      A-20, Douglas Havoc
      A-29, Lockheed Hudson
      B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
      B-18, Douglas Bolo
      B-25, North American Mitchell
      B-26, Martin Marauder
      DB-7, Douglas Havoc
      DC-3, Douglas
      F-4, Lockheed Lightning
      LB-30, Consolidated Liberator
      O-46, Douglas
      O-47, North American
      O-49, Stinson Vigilant
      O-52, Curtiss Owl
      O-59, Piper Grasshopper/Cub
      P-39, Bell Airacobra
      P-40, Curtiss
      P-400, Bell Airacobra

    WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): Air Corps Proving Ground redesignated Proving
    Ground Command, with main base at Eglin Field, Valpariso, Florida. The
    command performs operational tests and studies of aircraft and aircraft
    equipment.
      (2d Air Force): During Apr, 16th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 41st
    Bombardment Group (Medium), flying ASW patrols from Paine Field, Everett,
    Washington with B-18's, B-26's and A-29's, sends a detachment to Astoria,
    Oregon; squadron redesignated 406th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Apr.
      (3d Air Force): During Apr:
      24th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) and 340th, 341st and 342d Bombardment
    Squadrons (Heavy), 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases flying ASW patrols
    from Sarasota AAFld, Florida with B-17's; the 24th is redesignated 414th
    Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr, and
      55th, 56th, 57th and 88th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 48th Bombardment
    Group (Light), cease flying ASW patrols from Savannah AAB, Georgia.
      (4th Air Force): 51st, 53d and 87th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 46th
    Bombardment Group (Light), begin flying ASW patrols from Blythe AAB,
    California with A-20's. During Apr, the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium),
    41st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Mather Field, Sacramento begins
    operating from NAS Alameda, California flying ASW patrols with B-18's, A-29's
    and LB-30's; the squadron is redesignated 396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)
    on 22 Apr.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): During Apr, HQ 16th, 17th and
    91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), are
    established at Charters Towers, Australia; ground echelon remains on Bataan,
    Luzon, Philippine Islands.

    THURSDAY, 2 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (3d Air Force): 50th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 46th
    Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Barksdale Field, Shreveport,
    Louisiana to Galveston Municipal Airport, Texas and begins flying ASW patrols
    with A-20's.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): Major General
    Lewis H Brereton, Commanding General 10th Air Force, leads 3 B-17's on a raid
    on shipping in the Andaman Islands off the S coast of Burma during the night
    of 2/3 Apr; they claim hits on 1 cruiser and a transport; 2 B-17's are
    damaged by AA and fighters, but all return to base. Earlier in the evening, a
    mission scheduled against the Rangoon, Burma area is aborted when 1 B-17
    crashes on takeoff and the other has mechanical trouble.

    FRIDAY, 3 APRIL 1942

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): 6 B-17's from
    Asansol, India, bomb warehouses and docks at Rangoon, Burma, starting 3 large
    fires; 1 B-17 fails to return.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 21st and 22d Transport
    Squadrons, Air Transport Command, US Army Forces in Australia, are activated
    at Archerfield and Essendon Airdrome, Australia respectively with various
    transport aircraft.
      39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor),
    transfers from Mount Gambier to Williamstown, Australia with P-39's; first
    mission is 2 Jun.

    SATURDAY, 4 APRIL 1942

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 36th Pursuit Squadron
    (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Lowood to
    Townsville, Australia with P-39's and P-400's; first mission is 30 Apr.

    MONDAY, 6 APRIL 1942

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): 10 DC-3's of
    Pan American Airways begin hauling 30,000 gallons (113,550 l) of fuel and 500
    gallons (1,893 l) of lubricants from Calcutta to the airstrip at Asansol,
    India, completing the mission on the following day. This fuel, subsequently
    transferred via Dinjan, India to China, is for use by Lieutenant Colonel
    James H Doolittle's Tokyo raiders, already at sea aboard the aircraft carrier
    USS Hornet (CV-8).

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 11th and 22d Bombardment
    Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), begin a transfer without
    personnel and equipment to the US. They will be established at Columbia,
    AAB, South Carolina on 26 Apr, be re-equipped with B-25's and transfer to
    India in Jul 42.

    TUESDAY, 7 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ War Department): The War Department officially
    states that the 8th Air Force will be established in the UK as an
    intermediate command between US Army Forces in British Isles (USAFBI) and the
    AAF commands. General George C Marshall notifies Major General James E Chaney
    of this decision.
      (1st Air Force): 92d Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 45th Bombardment
    Group (Medium), transfers from Dow Field, Bangor, Maine to Mitchell Field,
    Hempstead, New York and continues flying ASW patrols with A-29's; 92d is
    redesignated 433d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Apr.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): During the night of 6/7 Apr the
    Japanese break the Philippine II Corps front on Bataan, thus necessitating
    immediate removal or an remaining fighters to Mindanao, where for the next 3
    days they will fly reconnaissance, cover heavy bombers (sent to Mindanao from
    Australia) operating against concentrations at Legaspi, Cebu, Iloilo, and
    Davao, and carry out a strafing attack aircraft at Davao. After the heavy
    bombers return to Australia on 12 Apr, the fighters will continue to fly
    reconnaissance until Japanese forces envelop the troops on Mindanao on 1 May.
      HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 2d Bombardment Squadron (Medium)
    transfer from Ipswich to Townsville, Australia with B-26's; first mission is
    8 Apr.
      8th Photographic Squadron, Fifth Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces)
    arrives at Melbourne, Australia from the US with F-4's; 2 flights remain at
    March Field, Riverside, California until 16 Jun.
      18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium),
    transfers from Brisbane to Townsville, Australia with B-26's; first mission
    is 21 Apr.
      33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium),
    transfers from Ipswich to Antil Plains, Australia with B-26's; first mission
    was 6 Apr.

    WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): V Air Support Command (activated 1 Sep 41) is
    redesignated 9th Air Force with HQ at New Orleans AAB, Louisiana.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO): Harry L Hopkins, Special Assistant to
    President Franklin D Roosevelt, and General George C Marshall, US Army Chief
    of Staff, arrive in London for talks with British service and supply chiefs
    concerning the integration of US and British manpower and war production for
    action in Europe. General Marshall urges an offensive in the west to relieve
    pressure upon the USSR and promises a constant flow of US troops, including
    many air units, to the UK.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): The air echelons of the 3d,
    17th and 20th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group
    (Interceptor), and 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 35th
    Pursuit Group (Interceptor) [attached to 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor)]
    based on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands begin operating from Mindanao
    Island, Philippine Islands with whatever aircraft are left.

    THURSDAY, 9 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): 8th Air Force HQ echelon is located at Bolling
    Field, Washington, DC, to prepare the 8th for a move overseas.
      (1st Air Force): 78th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 45th Bombardment Group
    (Medium), transfers from Grenier Field, Manchester, New Hampshire to Langley
    Field, Hampton, Virginia with A-20's, DB-7's and B-18's and continues flying
    ASW patrols.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Japanese capture Bataan, Luzon,
    Philippine Islands after 3 months. The US-Philippine forces surrender
    unconditionally. Japanese artillery emplaced on Bataan opens fire on
    Corregidor Island in conjunction with air attacks.
      2d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers
    from Townsville to Reid River, Australia with B-26's; first mission was
    yesterday.
      7th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor),
    transfers from Bankstown to Batchelor Field, Australia with P-40's; they
    have been in combat since 14 Mar.

    FRIDAY, 10 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (4th Air Force): 2d Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy),
    30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), flying ASW patrols from Hammer Field, Fresno,
    California with LB-30's, sends a detachment to NAS San Diego; 2d is
    redesignated 392d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr.

    SUNDAY, 12 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): Lieutenant General Henry H "Hap" Arnold sends
    air plans for Operation BOLERO, the buildup of US armed forces in the UK for
    an attack on Europe, to General George C Marshall in London. The plan calls
    for establishment of the 8th Air Force in the UK.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Australia-based B-25's, staging
    through Mindanao Island, hit the harbor and shipping at Cebu, Cebu Island
    while B-17's carry out single-bomber strikes from Mindanao against Cebu
    harbor and Nichols Field on Luzon.
      18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium),
    transfers from Townsville to Reid River, Australia with B-26's; first
    mission is 21 Apr; 18th is redesignated 408th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)
    on 22 Apr.

    MONDAY, 13 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      CARIBBEAN (6th Air Force): 27th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), 25th
    Bombardment Group (Heavy), flying ASW patrols from Borinquen Field, Puerto
    Rico with B-18's, sends a detachment to Camaguey, Cuba; the detachment
    operates from Cuba until Aug 43; 27th is redesignated 417th Bombardment
    Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPOA, 7th Air Force): Vice Admiral Robert L Ghormley is
    assigned as Commander-in-Chief South Pacific (COMSOPAC). He is to command all
    Allied base and local defense forces (land, sea, and air) in the South
    Pacific Islands, with the exception of New Zealand land defenses.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Australia-based B-25's hit
    targets in the Philippine Islands for the second consecutive day. Staging
    through Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao, the B-25's take off just after
    midnight during 12/13 Apr and bomb shipping at Cebu on Cebu Island and
    installations at Davao on Mindinao. Later in the day the B-25's again attack
    Davao, bombing the dock area.

    TUESDAY, 14 APRIL 1942

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO): The British Government and Chiefs of
    Staff (CoSs) accept General George C Marshall's Operation BOLERO plan for the
    Allied build-up in the UK for an attack on Germany.

    WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (3d Air Force): The flight of the 97th Observation
    Squadron (Medium), 66th Observation Group, at Lawson Field, Ft Benning,
    Georgia, rejoins the squadron which is flying ASW patrols from Miami
    Municipal Airport, Florida with O-49's, O-52's and O-59's.

    THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 1942

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): B-17's take
    off from Dum Dum Airfield near Calcutta, India to bomb Rangoon, Burma. 6
    B-17's, guided by flares, bomb the target; numerous searchlights make it
    impossible to estimate the bombing results.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): HQ 49th Pursuit Group
    (Interceptor) transfers from Bankstown to Darwin, Australia.

    FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (3d Air Force): 124th Observation Squadron (Light), 75th
    Observation Group, transfers from Sherman Field, Ft Leavenworth, Kansas to
    Ellington Field, Houston, Texas and begins flying ASW patrols with O-46's,
    O-49's and O-52's.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Pursuit Squadron
    (Interceptor), 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Canberra to
    Darwin, Australia with P-40's; first mission is 20 Apr.

    SATURDAY, 18 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (11th Air Force): 18th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 28th
    Composite Goup, transfers from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of
    Alaska to Ft Greely, Kodiak Island, Aleutian Islands with P-40's.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA): Doolittle Raid on Japan. 16 B-25's launched from
    the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) carry out the first AAF attack on the
    Japanese mainland. 15 of the B-25's bomb in Japan, the principal targets
    being Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, and Nagoya. Since the bombers had to be launched
    earlier than scheduled they are unable to reach planned bases in China and
    have to be crashlanded or abandoned, 15 in China and the other in the USSR.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 5th Air Force units come under
    control of the Allied Air Forces (SWPA) which is created in Australia to
    control AAF, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Dutch elements.
      HQ 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Melbourne to Garbutt
    Field, Australia.

    MONDAY, 20 APRIL 1942

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Major General George H Brett
    assumes command of the Allied Air Forces, which has units based in N and E
    Australia, with advanced facilities in the Port Moresby, New Guinea area.
      39th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor),
    transfers from Williamstown to Woodstock, Australia with P-39's; first
    mission is 2 Jun.
      Ground echelon of 70th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment
    Group (Medium), transfers from Ballarat to Amberley Field, Australia; air
    echelon is still in the US with B-26's.

    WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): All Reconnaissance Squadrons are redesignated
    Bombardment Squadrons.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): Aircraft
    begin to evacuate military and civilian personnel and supplies from Burma to
    India. By 15 Jun the 10th Air Force has evacuated 4,499 passengers and
    1,733,026 pounds (786,095 kg) of freight.

    SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (SOPOA, 7th Air Force): A joint US-New Zealand Naval
    Command is ordered established under Vice Admiral Robert L Ghormley. It is to
    operate separately but in close liaison with General Douglas MacArthur and
    Vice Admiral Herbert F Leary.

    FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 1942

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Photographic Squadron, 5th
    Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces), transfers from Melbourne to
    Brisbane, Australia with F-4's; first mission was 16 Apr.

    SUNDAY, 26 APRIL 1942

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 35th and 36th Pursuit Squadrons
    (Interceptor), 8th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfer from Brisbane and
    Townsville, Australia respectively to Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-39's
    and P-400's; first mission is 30 Apr.

    MONDAY, 27 APRIL 1942

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): Ground
    echelon of 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
    transfers from Karachi to Allahabad, India; the air echelon is at
    Baumrauli, India with B-17's.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) (8th Air Force): Advanced echelon
    (ADVON) of HQ 8th Air Force and bomber, interceptor and base commands, along
    with 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 2d Air Depot Group, and a weather
    detachment totalling about 1,800 men, sail from Boston, Massachusetts for the
    UK.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): In Australia, US Army Air
    Services under Major General Rush B Lincoln takes over responsibility as an
    administrative, supply, maintenance and engineering command under Allied Air
    Forces.

    TUESDAY, 28 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (1st Air Force): 105th Observation Squadron (Medium),
    65th Observation Group, flying ASW patrols from Langely Field, Hampton,
    Virginia with O-47's and O-52's, begins operating from MCAS Cherry Point,
    New Bern, North Carolina.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) (8th Air Force): HQ VIII Ground Air
    Support Command is activated at Bolling Field, Washington, DC.

    WEDNESDAY, 29 APRIL 1942

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): Rangoon,
    Burma is again hit by a flight of B-17's which pound the dock area.

    THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 1942

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): HQ Air Transport Command is established at
    Washington, DC, Brigadier General Fred S Borum commanding.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): The Japanese
    capture Lashio, Burma and begin a move to drive the Chinese back along the
    Burma Road toward China and drive US and British forces back toward India.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): In New Guinea, P-39's flying
    out of Port Moresby strafe airplanes and fuel dumps at Lae and Salamaua.
      HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and ground echelon of 69th Bombardment
    Squadron (Medium) transfer from Ballarat to Amberley Field, Australia; air
    echelon of the 69th is still in the US with B-26's.
      71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium),
    transfers from Ballarat to Batchelor Field, Australia with B-26's; first
    mission is 15 Sep.

    SOURCES:
    AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History,
      Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
    COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force
      History, Headquarters USAF 1982
    THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the
      Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
    THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY by Roger A. Freeman, ISBN 1-85409-071-2

    Jack McKillop
    USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
    1955-59

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    |  Jack McKillop              |  Those who have long enjoyed such |
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