Emiej (Imeji) Island

Located 30 minutes by boat from Jabor, Jaluit Atoll.

History
Occupied by 2,2000 Japanese for the duration of the war, this island was subjected 6.2 million pounds of bombs, dropped over twenty months by American aircraft, aftther Kwajalein and Majuro were occupied. Attacking the island was considered a milk run for American crews practicing bombing techniques until the end of the war. Despite the tonage of bombs dropped, of the 837 Japanese killed during the war, only 381 were due to bombing, the rest were starvation and disease. During the war, the garrison mannaged to fish, raise pigs and cultivate gardens. Prior to surrender, the Japanese commander, Rear-Admiral Nisuke Masuda asked the local chief's premission to allow his men to remain on the island after the war (they declined). When the garrison of 2,000 surrendered, Masuda committed suicide on September 2, 1945 before his scheduled trial appearance for ordering the deaths of three US aviators captured in 1943. In his suicide note, he admitted to the acts.

Today
Since the war, the island has reverted, and is one of the best preserved wartime locations in the Marshall Islands. There is no electricity on the island, but it is possible to walk around the island in a day.

     Emiej (Imeji) Sea Plane Base

Location
Located on the south side of the island.

Wartime Usage
The base was built around a pair of large ramps, for servicing H8K Emily Flying boats and A6M2-N Rufes. Behind the ramps were two hangers. To the north was a torpedo storage area.

Today
Abandoned since the war, behind the ramps are the remains of two hangers and the hulk of an Emily. To the north of the ramps is the wreckage of several A6M2-N Rufes, and a torpedo storage area.

 Kawanishi H8K Emily Flying Boat

 Mitsubishi A6M2-N Rufe

 


 Kawanishi H8K Emily Flying Boat

 Kawanishi H8K Emily Flying Boat

 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator 5-T-6 Bureau Number 1515

 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator Bureau Number 0298

 

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