CBI - China: Day 131 of 142 of the 1st Battle of Hebei.
1937 — , May 11
Spain: Day 299 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
1938 — , May 11
Spain: Day 664 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 309 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 94 of 124 of the Battle of Henan.
Day 2 of 3 of the Battle for Amoy Island in the Taiwan Strait.
1939 — , May 11
CBI - China: Day 674 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 22 of 35 of the Battle of Suizao.
CBI - Mongolia: Day 1 of 129 of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, a border dispute between the Soviet Union and Japan. Mongolian and Manchurian cavalry units get into a skirmish, aka the Nomonhan Incident, which begins the Soviet-Japanese Border Wars.
1940 — , May 11
ETO: Day 2 of 42 of the Battle of France. Seven German armored divisions begin a spearhead into the Ardennes Forest to cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium.
Spotlight...
Belgian women tearfully wave goodbye to husbands and sons leaving for the front line as the German invasion sweeps into their homeland on its way into France.
USA: President Roosevelt officially recognizes that a state of war between Germany and the Low Countries exists and reaffirms American neutrality.
UK: King George VI signs a proclamation canceling the Whitsun holiday.
Caribbean: British troops land on the Dutch islands of Aruba and Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea. US President Roosevelt announces that these actions are not contrary to the Monroe Doctrine.
ETO - Norway: Day 33 of 63 of the Battle of Norway.
ETO: Day 2 of 8 of the Battle of The Netherlands. German panzers find an undefended key bridge 50 miles from Rotterdam.
ETO - Belgium: Day 2 of 19 of the Battle of Belgium. German paratroopers capture the impregnable Fort Eben Emael.
ETO - France: Day 2 of 44 of the Battle of France.
ETO - Switzerland: Switzerland mobilizes its military forces in response to the German invasion of the neutral Low Countries. Civilians in towns near the German-Swiss border begin to flee south.
CBI - China: Day 1,040 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 179 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.
Day 11 of 49 of the Battle of Yichang.
1941 — , May 11
USA: Former President Herbert Hoover delivers a radio address saying, "We are not prepared for war" and, "We can help England better by staying out." However, he goes on to warn the Axis powers, "The potential might of this nation is the strongest thing in the whole world" and that "America cannot be defeated."
Spotlight...
Former US President Herbert Hoover
Hoover laid it on the line in his radio address by saying that if "we are compelled to act with our military power, let us be thoroughly prepared. Let us make our determination within the frame of our Constitution by the decision of Congress. And when that decision is made there will be no disunity in America. Perhaps the Germans will derive some momentary satisfaction from our unpreparedness, but not for long. The potential might of this nation is the strongest thing in the whole world. If necessary, we can raise and we can eventually equip an army of as many millions of men as we need. We can make more ingenious tools of war and we can operate them better than any nation in the world. That strength is always here in America. The defense of America is not dependent upon any other nation, for America cannot be defeated."
Herbert Hoover related dates...
11 May 41: HH gives radio address warning that the US is not prepared for war, needs to stay out, and yet "America cannot be defeated"
29 Jun 41: HH gives radio address warning of the consequences of giving aid to the Soviet Union
Atlantic: German sub U-103 sinks the British ship CITY OF SHANGHAI 750 miles southwest of Sierra Leone.
ETO - UK: Day 248 of 258 of the Blitz. During the day, the Luftwaffe bombs the RAF airfield at Feltwell. The first Messerschmitt ME-109F is shot down over England.
Spotlight...
The Messerschmitt Bf-109 in flight
The Messerschmitt Bf-109, often called ME-109 (most often by Allied pilots and aircrew and WWII enthusiasts on websites), was the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 airframes produced from 1936 up to April 1945.
A single-seat monoplane fighter used by the Luftwaffe before and during WWII, the Bf 109 was used as a fighter, interceptor, high-altitude interceptor, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft
The "F" series, the "Friedrich," saw a complete redesign of the wings, the cooling system and fuselage aerodynamics, and is considered by many as the high-water mark of Bf-109 development.
More aerial kills were made with the Bf-109 than any other aircraft of World War II.
A captured Messerschmitt Bf-109F
On the airfield at Martuba No.4 Landing Ground in North Africa, January 1943, this Bf-109F was given South African Air Force markings.
ETO - France: The RAF tries out their new four-engine Halifax bombers in a raid at La Harve but they fail to find their target.
ETO - Germany: The RAF bombs Hamburg and Bremen.
MTO - Greece: German troops complete their occupation of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.
MTO - Libya: Day 32 of 256 of the Siege of Tobruk.
Middle East: Day 10 of 30 of the Anglo-Iraqi War in Iraq. A British horse cavalry unit and an armored car unit leave Palestine to reinforce RAF Habbaniya.
East Africa: Day 336 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt. The South African 1st Brigade arrives at Amba Alagi, Abyssinia.
CBI - China: Day 1,405 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 5 of 21 of the Battle of South Shanxi.
PTO - Japan: Japan demands that the US stops supplying war materials to China and resumes former trade relations with them (Japan).
1942 — , May 11
Atlantic: Day 118 of 169 of Germany's Second "Happy Time," during which U-boats sink 609 Allied ships with little risk.
ETO - UK: US 8th Air Force: The transport SS ANDES docks in the UK, carrying about 1,800 personnel for various 8th Air Force units. This is the first large shipment of AAF troops to the UK.
Germany: Amon Göth orders the Jewish council of Szczebrzeszyn, Poland, to pay 2,000 zloty and 3 kilograms of coffee as payment for the cost of the ammunition that will soon be used to execute the local Jewish people.
Russian Front - North: Day 246 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 93 of 102 of the Battle of the Demyansk Pocket, another failed attempt to break the siege at Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 7 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket.
Russian Front - South: Day 194 of 248 of the Siege of Sevastopol, Crimean Peninsula. German troops surround the defenders at Ak-Monay.
Russian Front - South: Day 4 of 12 of the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, Crimea.
MTO - Greece: The Luftwaffe sinks three British destroyers south of Crete, the HMS LIVELY, HMS KIPLING and HMS JACKAL.
East Africa: Day 7 of 186 of the Battle of Madagascar.
CBI - Burma: Day 149 of 164 of Japan's Invasion of Burma. The British complete their retreat across the Chindwin river.
CBI - China: Day 1,770 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
PTO: The fleet oiler USS NEOSHO sinks after suffering severe damage from a Japanese air attack during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
PTO - Hawaii: US Navy intelligence officer Joseph Rochefort determines that the Japanese are planning an attack on Midway.
PTO - Malaya: Day 82 of 357 of the Battle of Timor Island.
PTO - New Guinea: The Japanese invasion force headed for Ocean (Banaba) and Nauru Islands is turned back when their flagship OKINOSHIMA is sunk by the US submarine S-42.
PTO - Solomon Islands: US 5th Air Force B-17s attack at Kessa while B-26s hit the seaplane base at Deboyne Island.
1943 — , May 11
USA: Winston Churchill arrives in Washington DC for the Trident Conference scheduled to start tomorrow.
ETO - UK: The Luftwaffe bombs Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, killing 26 women in an Auxiliary Territorial Service hostel.
Russian Front - North: Day 611 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 372 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket.
MTO - Tunisia: Day 176 of 178 of the Battle of Tunisia. The Axis resistance in the Zaghouan sector weakens. RAF and US Air Forces provide air support.
MTO - Italy: US 9th and 12th Air Forces bomb Catania harbor, Marsala and the harbor at San Michele.
CBI - Burma: US 10th Air Force attacks at Syriam, causing large fires in the town area.
CBI - China: Day 2,135 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
PTO - Alaska: Day 339 of 435 of the Battle of Kiska, Aleutian Islands. Day 1 of 20 of the Battle of Attu. The US 7th Infantry Division lands on Attu. US 11th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 20 of 148 of the 2nd Battle of Lae-Salamaua. US 5th and 13th Air Forces provide air support.
1944 — , May 11
ETO: US 8th Air Force B-17s and B-24s bomb targets in France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg.
ETO: US 8th Air Force: The "Hard Luck" 492nd Bomb Group flies its first mission. No casualties today, but the high casualties to come in the next 89 days will bring about its disbandment.
[+] show related dates
492nd Bomb Group related dates...
18 Apr 44: 492nd Bomb Group arrives at Station 143, North Pickenham
09 May 44: 492nd BG does exhibition formation flight over 2nd AD bases
11 May 44: 492nd BG flies its first mission; no casualties
19 May 44: 492nd BG Mission 05 to Brunswick; first of their three deadliest
20 Jun 44: 492nd BG Mission 34 to Politz; second of their three deadliest
07 Jul 44: 492nd BG Mission 46 to Bernburg; third of their three deadliest; entire 859th Bomb Squadron is wiped out
15 Jul 44: The bomb dump at nearby Metfield mysteriously explodes, rocking the countryside and destroying the 491st BG's base
07 Aug 44: 492nd BG flies its final mission (no casualties) and is disbanded
13 Aug 44: 801st Provisional Group is redesignated the 492nd Bomb Group
15 Aug 44: 491st Bomb Group moves into the base at North Pickenham
Note:
Charles W Arnett
Charles Arnett
The 492nd Bomb Group has a special place in the hearts of brothers Paul and David Arnett, the two guys behind this ScanningWWII website. Their father, Charles Arnett, served in the 492nd BG as the pilot of a B-24 Liberator. He was shot down on his third mission and spent a year as a POW at Stalag Luft III where the "Great Escape" took place. It is because of our love for him that we developed a passion for WWII.
Dates related to Charles Arnett...
26 Jul 42: US Lt Col Clark shot down flying an RAF fighter over France
19 May 44: 1st of 3 deadly missions for the Hard Luck 492nd Bomb Group
492nd Bomb Group related WWII Store items...
Reluctant Witness: Memoirs from the Last Year of the European Air War, 1944-45
ETO: US 9th Air Force B-26s attack airfields in France and Belgium.
Russian Front - North: Day 100 of 191 of the Battle of the Narva Isthmus, Estonia. Both German and Soviet troops remain in their defensive positions.
Russian Front - South: Day 34 of 35 of the Battle of the Crimea. German troops continue to withdraw.
Russian Front - South: Day 34 of 60 of the Battle of Romania, 1st Jassy Offensive.
MTO - Italy: Pressured by the respective governments, German authorities in Italy release Jews of Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, Swiss, Swedish and Finnish citizenship.
MTO - Italy: Day 116 of 123 of the Battle of Monte Cassino. RAF and US Air Forces provide air support. Day 1 of 8 of Operation DIADEM. The US 5th and British 8th Armies begin their offensive with a massive gun bombardment.
MTO - Italy: Day 111 of 136 of the Battle of Anzio. RAF and US Air Forces provide air support.
CBI - Burma: Day 68 of 166 of the UK's Operation THURSDAY.
CBI - Burma: Day 63 of 147 of the Battle of Myitkyina. US 10th Air Force provides air support.
CBI - Burma: Day 41 of 302 of the Chinese Salween Offensive. About 72,000 Chinese troops cross the Salween River and begin advancing along the Burma Road. US 14th Air Force provides air support.
CBI - China: Day 2,501 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 25 of 259 of Japan's Operation ICHI-GO.
Day 25 of 39 of the Battle of Central Henan, the first offensive in Japan's Operation ICHI-GO. Chinese troops are getting pushed out of central China.
CBI - India: Day 65 of 118 of the Battle of Imphal-Kohima.
PTO - Marshall Islands: The US 7th Air Force bombs targets in the Jaluit and Wotje Atolls.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 73 of 80 of the Battle of the Admiralty Islands. 5th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 149 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain. US 13th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 20 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 193 of 295 of the Battle of the Bougainville Islands. US 13th Air Force provides air support.
1945 — , May 11
USA: The Target Committee of the Manhattan Project, led by Robert Oppenheimer, decides the best targets in Japan for the atomic bomb are Kyoto, Niigata, Hiroshima, Yokohama, and Kokura.
Russian Front - Center: The Soviets launch a final assault against the remnants of Army Group Centre, which is still holding out in Moravia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 6 of 6 of the Battle of Prague, Czech Republic. The last German troops here finally surrender.
CBI - Burma: Day 97 of 99 of the Battle of Pakokku and Irrawaddy River operations in central Burma.
CBI - China: Day 2,866 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 41 of 91 of the Battle of Zhijiang. US 14th Air Force provides air support.
Day 33 of 60 of the Battle of West Hunan (near Zhijiang). Japanese troops continue withdrawing from southern China.
PTO - Caroline Islands: US 7th Air Force bombs airfields on Param in Truk Atoll.
PTO - Dutch East Indies: Day 11 of 52 of the Battle of Tarakan Island.
PTO - Formosa: US 5th Air Force B-24s bomb six towns while B-25s pound Kagi.
PTO - Japan: US 20th Air Force B-29s attack airfields and factories at Kobe, Oita, Saeki, Nittagahara, Miyazaki and Miyakonojo on Kyushu Island.
PTO - Japan: Day 41 of 83 of the Battle of Okinawa. The US 10th Army launches an offensive toward the capital city of Naha. Offshore, the USS BUNKER HILL is hit by two Japanese kamikaze planes, killing 373. Four Japanese bombers damage the USS HUGH W HADLEY.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 501 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain. US 10th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 385 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea. US 10th Air Force provides air support. The Australians launch their final assault on the northern coast of Wewak.
PTO - Philippines: Day 204 of 299 of the 2nd Battle of the Philippines, aka the Liberation of the Philippines or the Philippines Campaign.
PTO - Philippines: Day 148 of 244 of the Battle of Luzon. 5th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - Philippines: Day 63 of 159 of the Battle of Mindanao Island. 5th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - Philippines: Day 55 of 135 of the Battle of the Visayas region. US 5th and 7th Air Forces provide air support.
1949 — , May 11
Southeast Asia:Siam, which had been renamed Thailand in 1939 and renamed back to Siam in 1945, is renamed Thailand for the final time.
Day-By-Day listings for May 11 were last modified on Friday, March 9, 2018
Spotlight...
