May 11th, 1942 (MONDAY)
GERMANY:
MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
Destroyer HMS Lively in company with HMS Jervis, Jackal and
Kipling sailing to intercept an Axis convoy off Benghazi is subjected to air
attack by a German squadron
of 31 Junkers JU87 dive bombers from Crete. Lively sinks after taking three or four direct hits abreast
of A turret mounting Her survivors are taken aboard Jervis and Jackal. Location
100 miles NE of Tobruk at 33 24N 25 38E.
Destroyer HMS Kipling is subjected to the same round
of air attacks and sinks 60 miles N of Mersa Matruh at 32 28N 36 20E. Her
survivors are taken on board Jackal.
Destroyer HMS Jackal is scuttled at 32 23N 36 25E
after being damaged in the same attack which sank Kipling. Jervis had managed to
take her in tow, but the damage proved too great and she was sunk on 12 May by
Jervis. (Alex Gordon)(108)
AUSTRALIA:
Minesweeper HMAS Cairns commissioned.SOLOMON ISLANDS: A US submarine sinks the Japanese minelayer OKINOSHIMA.
CANADA: Ottawa: The Canadian Parliament passes legislation to begin full conscription.A U-boat torpedoes a transport ship on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
German submarine U-553 torpedoes British steamer Nicoya and Dutch ship Leno near Anticosti Island; Battle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence begins between the Royal Canadian Navy and German U-boats.
U.S.A.: A new U.S. medal is created. The Air Medal is established for award to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard after 8 September 1939, distinguishes or has distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Destroyer USS Bailey commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 1943, the unescorted Cape of Good Hope was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-502 NE of the Virgin Islands. The boat of the master with 18 survivors landed on Tortola, Virgin Islands on 24 May. The boat of the chief officer with 19 survivors landed after 18 days at Burgentra near Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.