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Location Lat 0°48′07″N Long 176°38′3″W Howland Island is a coral island north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean at the northern end of the Phoenix Islands (Rawaki). Today, Howland Island is a Minor Outlying Island (Unincorporated Unorganized Territory) of the United States of America (USA). The nearest island is Baker Island located 68km to the south. Honolulu is roughly 1,670 nautical miles to the northeast. Prewar Howland Island was colonized in 1935 with a single settlement named Itascatown. Also to build a landing area known as Kamakaiwi Airfield, in anticipation that Howland Island might eventually be used as a stop-over for the commercial trans-Pacific air route. Also, the settlement would help to solidify U.S. territorial claims for the island. On July 2, 1937 Amelia Earhart took off from Lae Airfield bound for Kamakaiwi Airfield but never reached her destination. Wartime History At the start of the Pacific War, four American civilian colonists were living on Howland Island: Richard Whaley, Joe Keliihananui, Thomas Bederman and Elvin Matson. On December 4, 1941 Japanese submarines RO-64 and RO-68 patrol off Howland Island to screen for any American ship movements in the vicinity. On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, Japanese twin engined aircraft bombed Howland Island and destroyed the buildings of Itascatown and killed Richard Whaley and Joe Keliihahanui. That same day, Japanese submarine RO-64 conducts a periscope reconnaissance then remains in the area. On December 10, 1941 Japanese submarine RO-64 is ordered to destroy the remaining facilities but due to rough seas and believing the submarine was spotted decides not to send a landing party ashore. On December 11, 1941 at 5:00am Japanese submarine RO-64 commences an hour long shore bombardment from 2,200 yards away targeting the wireless and weather station, barracks and the local lighthouse then departs. On December 14, 1941 Japanese submarine RO-63 reconnoiters Howland Island and repeats the reconnaissance the next day. During the remainder of the month, a single bomber returned twice during the following weeks and dropped more bombs on the rubble of Itascatown. Japanese missions against Howland December 1941 On January 31, 1942 the two survivors were finally evacuated by a U.S. Navy destroyer. During September 1943, Howland was occupied by a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) battalion. After 1944, American attempts at habitation were abandoned. Today In the early 1950s, the graves of Whaley and Keliihananui in Itascatown were exhumed and transported to Hawaii and buried at Schofield Barracks cemetery. Later, both were permanently burial at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in section 42-B site 12 with individual grave markers. In 1974 the island became the Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument system managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the 455 acre and the surrounding 32,074 acres of submerged land. The island is visited every two years by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Kamakaiwi Airfield Built in the 1930s, damaged during the war Earhart Light (Howland Island Light) The Earhart Light is a beacon made of stone, bricks and concrete on the west coast near the center of Howland Island. Also known as the Howland Island Light. This navigational landmark was built in 1937 and is named for Amelia Earhart who was lost attempting to fly to the island. Damaged during the war, it was rebuilt in 1963 by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) as part of a nationwide observance of Earhart's 65th birthday. The site includes a concrete sign that reads "Earhart Light 1937". Sine then, it has again fallen into disrepair. References FindAGrave - Richard Kanani “Dicky” Whaley (grave photos) FindAGrave - Joseph Kealoha “Joe” Keliihananui (grave photo) Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge part of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument system Contribute
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