Location
Part of the Gilbert Islands, today known as "Butaritari".

Wartime History
Japanese forces occupied the island on December 9, 1941.

Makin Raid
At 3:30am on August 17, 1942 August 8, submarines USS Argonaut and USS Nautilus embarked Marines from Companies A and B, 2nd Raider Battalion on the "Makin Raid". This operation was the first Marine raid launched from submarines in history. Their mission was to destroy installations, disrupt the enemy and divert reinforcements to Guadalcanal. After killing 83 Japanese and destroying installations, ships and flying boats (Sgt Buck Stidham and Sgt Walter Carroll claimed two seaplanes with their Boys Anti-Tank rifle). The Marines were forced to evacuate in the face of Japanese air attacks and reinforcements. Departing, the Marines had to leave their dead behind. Afterwards, their bodies were buried in a mass grave by the islanders under the direction of the Japanese.

American Liberation
On November 20, 1943 American Marines made an amphibious landings on Makin and Tarawa. Three days later, the island was declared secure. Immediately, work began to develop Makin Airfield and develop the island into a base area.

Makin Raiders Mass Grave Site
In 1999 the US Army Central Identification Laboratory located the mass grave of USMC killed during the 'Makin Raid' and buried on the island. They exhumed the remains of 19 Marines, and ten months later all positively identified and reentered in the United States. Makin Recovery Details

Lagoon & Reef
When the Japanese occupied the island, they operated Mavis and Emily seaplanes in the lagoon. During the war, four were sunk here. There are also several American planes, including two F4U's and a B-25 wreck sunk also.

Makin Airfield
Built by Americans after recapturing the island, still in use today

USS Liscome Bay CVE-56
Sunk by November 24, 1943 by a torpedo from Japanese sub I-175 20 miles off Makin.

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Last Updated
November 1, 2011