Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, April 24 – 30, 1941

April 24, 1941: The passenger ship TSS Zealandia unloads Australian troops at Rabaul in the South Pacific

April 25, 1941: Japan considers setting up puppet state in southeast China’s Fujian province

April 26, 1941: General Douglas MacArthur, military advisor in the Philippines, says that in case of war with Japan, the United States should seize New Guinea, New Britain and New Ireland

April 27, 1941: During fierce fighting in east China’s Zhejiang province, Japanese Army takes large number of prisoners

April 28, 1941: Great Britain questions if US decision to move aircraft carrier Yorktown and other vessels from Pacific to Atlantic may tempt Japan to more aggressive moves

April 29, 1941: Japan says it has no designs on Australia

April 30, 1941: American aviator Claire Chennault receives permission to recruit at US army and navy bases for his new unit of volunteer pilots in China

Categories: War

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