SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

20 May 1942

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

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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 sourced entries for this date.

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Entries

POA

Reinforcements are being hastily moved to Midway and the Aleutians, since Japanese plan to invade the islands is by now known. In the Aleutians, work on secret air base on Umnak I. is being rushed to a conclusion.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
India

Burma I Corps is placed under command of 4 Corps as rear guard reaches India.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
The Japanese conquest of Burma is complete; it is called a "military catastrophe". Coincidentally, on this same day General Stilwell arrives in Imphal and dismisses his evacuation party.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
UK Parliament

War Situation (House of Commons)

Official record of proceedings in the House of Commons, sitting of 1942-05-20: "War Situation." Mr. Vernon Bartlett (Bridgwater) My hon.

Source Hansard (UK Parliament) (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-05-20, flown by RAF. Targets included BURMA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-05-20, flown by RAF. Targets included LIBYA.

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 9 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-05-20, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, TIMOR.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

20 May in other years 1940 1941 1943 1944 1945

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20 May 1942

Entries

Reinforcements are being hastily moved to Midway and the Aleutians, since Japanese plan to invade the islands is by now known. In the Aleutians, work on secret air base on Umnak I. is being rushed to a conclusion.

Burma I Corps is placed under command of 4 Corps as rear guard reaches India.

The Japanese conquest of Burma is complete; it is called a "military catastrophe". Coincidentally, on this same day General Stilwell arrives in Imphal and dismisses his evacuation party.

War Situation (House of Commons)

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-05-20, flown by RAF. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-05-20, flown by RAF. Targets included LIBYA.

THOR mission records show at least 9 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-05-20, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, TIMOR.

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