- Apr 1 Aden becomes a British crown colony
Golf Major
Apr 4 4th Masters Golf Tournament: Byron Nelson wins, shooting a 283
Byron Nelson
- Apr 12 Sir Frank Whittle ground-tests the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft at Rugby, England.
- Apr 15 Stanley Cup: Detroit Red Wings beat NY Rangers, 3 games to 2
- Apr 19 41st Boston Marathon won by Walter Young of Canada in 2:33:20
- Apr 22 NYC college students stage 4th annual peace strike
- Apr 26 German Luftwaffe destroys Basque town of Guernica in Spain
- Apr 27 1st US social security payment made
- Apr 28 1st animated cartoon electric sign displayed (NYC)
- Apr 28 1st commercial flight across Pacific operated by Pan Am
- Apr 30 The Philippines holds a plebiscite for Filipino women on whether they should be extended the right to suffrage; over 90% would vote in the affirmative