Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, April 23 – 29, 1942

April 23, 1942: Soviet authorities say they have seized B-25 bomber landing in Vladivostok after Doolittle raid against Japan, while detaining its crew, as no state of war exists between Moscow and Tokyo

April 24, 1942: US Navy issues new color specifications for its aircraft, including matt blue-gray on surfaces visible from above

April 25, 1942: Large numbers of ethnic Indians flee Burma ahead of advancing Japanese

April 26, 1942: British General Harold Alexander, left, orders his forces to prioritize the defense of India over Burma

April 27, 1942: More than 1,500 workers are killed in explosion in Benxihu coal mine in Japan-occupied Manchuria. It is the largest mining disaster in history

April 28, 1942: US General Joe Stilwell gets go-ahead from China’s leader Chiang Kai-shek to train Chinese force in India

April 29, 1942: South Pacific Amphibious Force, made up mainly of the 1st Marine Division, is established

Categories: War

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