SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

6 May 1942

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

7 of 10 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Burma

Ch 200th Div plus elements of T-55th, still at Taunggyi, are ordered to Myitkyina and eventually make their way to China.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Coral Sea

Continuing search for enemy vessels, Adm Fletcher’s TF moves toward Louisiade Archipelago, leaving DD Sims and tanker Neosho behind at fueling point.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Liberia

Initial detachment of U.S. forces arrives in Liberia.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 3 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-05-06, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Madagascar Theater

THOR mission records show at least 1 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Madagascar Theater on 1942-05-06, flown by RAF. Targets included MADAGASCAR.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Pacific Theater

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-05-06, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included an unrecorded target country.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
On Corregidor, Lt. General Jonathan M. Wainwright surrenders the last U.S. forces in the Philippines to Lt. General Masaharu Homma. About 12,000 are made prisoners.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)

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6 May in other years 1940 1941 1943 1944 1945

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6 May 1942

Entries

Ch 200th Div plus elements of T-55th, still at Taunggyi, are ordered to Myitkyina and eventually make their way to China.

Continuing search for enemy vessels, Adm Fletcher’s TF moves toward Louisiade Archipelago, leaving DD Sims and tanker Neosho behind at fueling point.

Initial detachment of U.S. forces arrives in Liberia.

THOR mission records show at least 3 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-05-06, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 1 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Madagascar Theater on 1942-05-06, flown by RAF. Targets included MADAGASCAR.

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-05-06, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included an unrecorded target country.

On Corregidor, Lt. General Jonathan M. Wainwright surrenders the last U.S. forces in the Philippines to Lt. General Masaharu Homma. About 12,000 are made prisoners.

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