Angaur is the southernmost
of the Palau Islands group in the Republic of Palau which lies
about 800km (500 miles) east of Mindanao. The island has only
one village and just over 200 people. Thanks to Allan
Kelly for assistance with this page.
History
The Germans began mining the
island in 1909, and the Japanese continued the operation until
WWII. The island's monkeys descend from a pair of brought over
in the early 1900s to monitor air quality in the island's phosphate
mines. Heavily defended by the Japanese, Angaur's lone village
overlooks its harbor on the western coast. The harbor's, which
is nearly enclosed, has water's so calm one would think it was
a giant swimming pool. Instead of their tunnels, though, you're
more likely to see the green ponds that have formed in the pits,
now home to a small colony of crocodiles.
In 1944, in Operation Stalemate II Angaur
and Peleliu were taken from the Japanese by a force comprising
the First Marine Division (Reinforced) and the US Army's 81st "Wildcat" Division.
The 81st's 321st and 322nd Regimental Combat Teams were landed
on Angaur on September 17, 1944 and on the morning of 20 September,
Division Commander Maj. Gen. Paul J. Mueller announced that the
island was secure.
Orin Whitman 1st Marine Division recalls:
"1st Marine Divison hit peleliu
15th sept 1944, we were held in reserve one day, 17th we landed on
Angaur and 22nd the marines called for help, we went over there (10
miles) on 23rd and relieved some of the marines they were shot up bad,
major Ray Davis lost 71% of his bn. any one who survived peleliu should
have some kind of metal, It was tough there. also went to Leyte PI
but it was nothing like peleliu. went on to japan and was home 28 of
feb. 1946."
Angaur
Airstrip
Built by the Americans used as a base for USAAF and USMC.
Japanese Lighthouse
North of town, there's an old Japanese lighthouse hidden
by a jungle on a hill. It takes a sharp eye to find it, but you'll
enjoy a great view from the top if you take the trouble.
