February 24, 1942
1944
September 20, 1945
Kirby Crawford 1967
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Location
Runs the length of Wake Island, roughly east to west.
Construction
Built by Morrison-Knudsen Company, one
of of eight construction companies called the Contractors Pacific
Naval Air Bases. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Morrison-Knudsen
was contracted to build an airfield, seaplane base, and submarine
base and to dredge a channel into th elagoon to allow access
for submarines.
Missions Against Wake
December 8, 1941 - August 6, 1945
Gregory Urwin's "Facing Fearful Odds" tells:
"After the fall of the island, the American POWs were marched
to the runway and seated in rows facing a line of Japanese
machine guns. The men were certain that they were to be executed. Indeed,
this was the plan of the Japanese Special Naval Landing Force
troops who held them. Only the intervention of Rear Admiral
Sadamichi Kajioka, who commanded the invasion force, prevented
the slaughter. After Kajioka arrived, an interpreter read a
proclamation to the prisoners that said, in part: "The
Emperor has gracefully presented you with your lives."An
unknown voice bellowed from the crowd of Americans: "Well,
thank the son-of-a-bitch." With the exception of a
handful of senior military officers and contractors held
indoors, the captives remained three days and two nights
on the rocky runway."
Today
Today the
airfield has restricted access.
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View in Google Earth
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