15 May 1944
  • Shokaku arrived at Tawi-Tawi, Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [Shokaku | CPC]
  • Hungarian Jews began to be deported to Auschwitz Concentration Camp in occupied Poland. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]
  • Hans Speidel arranged a meeting between Erwin Rommel and anti-Hitler conspirators, but he would ultimately attend on his stead. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Tawi-Tawi, Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [Yukikaze | CPC]
  • Károly Beregfy was made the commanding officer of Hungarian 1st Army. ww2dbase [Károly Beregfy | CPC]
Burma
  • The Kachin guide leading H Force of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) was bit by a venomous snake, but Colonel Charles Hunter forced him to continue forward to stay on schedule of the Myitkyina, Burma offensive. Meanwhile, M Force (Lieutenant Colonel George McGee, Jr.) reached Arang, Burma; by this time, most of the men of M Force were sick and exhausted; 50 were left behind for evacuation by air under the care of medical officer Captain Henry Stelling, while the others continued the march toward their objective of Myitkyina Airfield further south. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Charles Hunter | George McGee | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
  • Over the following three days, about 7,500 prisoners of the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in occupied Czechoslovakia were transferred to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in occupied Poland; part of the reason was to relieve Theresienstadt's overcrowded condition in preparation of a visit by the International Red Cross and the Danish Red Cross in the following month. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Theresienstadt Concentration Camp | Terezín, Cechy | CPC]
Dutch East Indies
  • Patrol Boat No. 102 departed Bitung, Celebes, Dutch East Indies; repairs for her No. 4 boiler continued while at sea. ww2dbase [Stewart | Bitung, Celebes | CPC]
Hawaii
  • US Navy 127th Construction Battalion relieved the 48th Construction Battalion in the work to build aviation gasoline facilities at Maui, US Territory of Hawaii. ww2dbase [Maui | CPC]
India
  • Anglo-Indian troops pushed Japanese troops out of Potsangbam, 2 miles south of Bishenpur, India. To the north near Kohima, Indian 33rd Brigade captured Treasury Hill with little Japanese opposition. ww2dbase [Battle of Imphal-Kohima | Potsangbam, Manipur | CPC]
Italy
  • British 78th Division joined in on the attack of Cassino, Italy as German troops withdrew from Gustav Line to Hitler Line 30 miles to the south of Rome, Italy. ww2dbase [Battle of Monte Cassino | TH, CPC]
Japan
  • According to orders, submarine USS Spearfish departed her patrol area on this date and set a course for Midway. ww2dbase [Spearfish | East China Sea | DS]
Mariana Islands
  • Submarine USS Tinosa arrived at Majuro Lagoon at the end of her sixth war patrol. For her fourth, fifth, and sixth patrols combined, Tinosa received the Presidential Unit Citation. For performance during her sixth patrol, Tinosa's commanding officer, Commander Weiss, received his second Navy Cross, and the assistant approach officer, LtCdr James Hunnicutt, received the Silver Star. ww2dbase [Tinosa | Majuro | DS]
United States
  • Anti-submarine hunter-killer Task Group 22.3 departed Norfolk, Virginia, United States with Escort Carrier USS Guadalcanal as flagship and Captain Daniel V. Gallery in command. The remainder of the Task Group consisted of Destroyer Escorts, USS Pillsbury, USS Pope, USS Flaherty, USS Chatelain, and USS Jenks. ww2dbase [The Capture of the U-505 | Norfolk, Virginia | DS]
Photo(s) dated 15 May 1944
Presidential Unit Citation issued to the officers and crew of submarine USS Tinosa for their work on Tinosa’s fourth, fifth, and sixth war patrols.P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft of the 318th Fighter Group lined up for an inspection at Bellows Field, Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii, 15 May 1944. Photo 1 of 8.P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft of the 318th Fighter Group lined up for an inspection at Bellows Field, Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii, 15 May 1944. Photo 2 of 8.P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft of the 318th Fighter Group receiving maintenance before an inspection at Bellows Field, Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii, 15 May 1944.
See all photos dated 15 May 1944

15 May 1944 Interactive Map




Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Please help us spread the word:

 Reddit
 Bluesky
 Mastodon

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds

Search WW2DB
Famous WW2 Quote
"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?"

Winston Churchill, 1935


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!