Year 1942

WW2 War Diary for Wednesday, April 15, 1917: Occupied Territories France: French Resistance carries out grenade attack on German HQ building in Arras.

WW2 War Diary for Tuesday, April 14, 1942: Sea War Atlantic: US destroyer Roper sinks U-boat U-85 off Cape Hatteras – first major success for US anti-submarine forces. Mediterranean: Lt.-Cdr.

WW2 War Diary for Monday, April 13, 1942: Air War Pacific: ‘The Royce Raid’. Special squadron of 3 B-17 Fortress and 10 B-25 Mitchell bombers (1 lost) led by Brigade-General

WW2 War Diary for Thursday, April 12, 1942: Air War Pacific: 12 Japanese raids on Corregidor and Manila Bay forts (Philippines). Germany: 178 RAF bombers attacking Essen and dropping 269t

WW2 War Diary for Saturday, April 11, 1942: Home Fronts India: British Government’s constitutional proposals withdrawn, following their outright rejection by Congress Party. Stafford Cripps broadcasts to Indian people. Bulgaria:

WW2 War Diary for Friday, April 10, 1942: Occupied Territories Norway: Bishop Berggrav sent to Bredvedt Concentration Camp, near Oslo (Quisling threatens him with execution). Pacific East Indies: Japanese land

WW2 War Diary for Thursday, April 9, 1942: Sea War Indian Ocean: Japanese Carrier Force raids Trincomalee naval base (Ceylon); dive-bombers sink British carrier Hermes, Australian destroyer Vampire, a corvette

WW2 War Diary for Wednesday, April 8, 1942: Air War China: First experimental flight by US transport plane over ‘The Hump‘ – mountain barrier between India and China (regular service

WW2 War Diary for Tuesday, April 7, 1942: Government-in-Exile Holland: Admiral Helfrich appointed C-in-C of all Dutch forces in Far East and Southwest Pacific. Politics Turkey: Exchange of wounded British

WW2 War Diary for Monday, April 6, 1942: Sea War Indian Ocean: Three squadrons of Japanese cruisers and destroyers ravage Allied shipping in Bay of Bengal – sinking 16 vessels.

WW2 War Diary for Sunday, April 5, 1942: Sea War INDIAN OCEAN: JAPANESE CARRIER STRIKE ON COLOMBO, CEYLON. 91 bombers and dive-bombers cripple AMC Hector and destroyer Tenedos in harbour,

WW2 War Diary for Saturday, April 4, 1942: Air War Baltic – Operation Eisstoss (‘Ice Strike’): Ju 87 Stukas, Ju 88s and He 111s attack Russian Baltic Fleet in Leningrad.

WW2 War Diary for Friday, April 3, 1942: Air War Mediterranean: General Quaade, Luftwaffe spokesman, admits that the Luftwaffe has been unable to neutralize Malta because of its ‘tremendously strong’

WW2 War Diary for Thursday, April 2, 1942: Air War Britain: Night raid on Weymouth; 2 hospitals hit, heavy casualties.

WW2 War Diary for Wednesday, April 1, 1942: Air War Mediterranean: Improved Ju 87D Stuka makes its debut during 11-day ‘blitz’ on shipping at Malta (Spitfire Mk V fighters and

WW2 War Diary for Tuesday, March 31, 1942: Sea War Merchant shipping losses in March 1942: 106 Allied ships with 562,336 tons in Atlantic; 167 Allied ship with 271,828 tons

WW2 War Diary for Monday, March 30, 1942: Air War Europe: 33 Halifax bombers (5 lost) attack unsuccessful battleship Tirpitz near Trondheim. Eastern Front Only 8 of the 162 German

WW2 War Diary for Sunday, March 29, 1942: Home Fronts India: British Government publishes its constitutional proposals for India – Dominion status after war; Britain to defend sub-continent until then.

WW2 War Diary for Saturday, March 28, 1942: Sea War Arctic – Battle of Arctic Convoy PQ.13: after being scattered by storms, convoy and escort are harried by German bombers,

WW2 War Diary for Friday, March 27, 1942: Sea War Europe: ST NAZAIRE RAID (Operation Chariot). HMS Campbeltown (ex-Flush-decker destroyer USS Buchanan) deliberately rams dock gates at St Nazaire, under