May 3rd
On this day in 1942 was the battle of the Coral Sea. The significence of this battle was it was the first naval battle in which the ships of both sides never saw one another and was done exclusively with planes and aircraft carriers. Just days prior to the battle the US broke the Japanese code and prevented the invasion of Australia. The Japanese were trying to extend the boundries of their empire as much as possible before the counter attack by the Americans. It was their goal from the first bombs being dropped on Pearl Harbor to offer a peace treaty that would favor them and get the embargo that caused them to attack in the first place lifted.
Also on this day in 1946 was the start of the war crimes trial in Japan. Most of the trials were for criminal acts stemming from the "Rape of Nanking" and the "Bataan death march". Also tried was General Hideki Tojo, the leader of the Japanese war effort.
I'm sorry, there really wasn't much on this day, so I'll try and do better tomorrow.
Once we learned that they had the Decoder Ring we got one too. 'D-r-i-n-k y-o-u-r O-v-a-l-t-i-n-e'.
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