May 1942

Monday 04:

World War II: Battle of the Coral Sea – The battle begins with the launch of attack aircraft from American and Japanese aircraft carriers.

Wednesday 06:

World War II: On Corregidor, the last American forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese.

Friday 08:

World War II: The Battle of the Coral Sea comes to an end. This is the first time in the naval history where two enemy fleets fight without visual contact between warring ships.

Monday 11:

William Faulkner's collections of short stories, Go Down, Moses, is published.

Tuesday 12:

1,500 Jews are sent to gas chambers in Auschwitz.

Friday 15:

World War II: In the United States, a bill creating the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) is signed into law.

Wednesday 27:

assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in Prague.

Thursday 28:

World War II: In retaliation for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, Nazis in Czechoslovakia kill over 1800 people.

Saturday 30:

World War II: 1000 British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne, Germany.

Sunday 31:

World War II: The Luftwaffe bombs Coventry, England