Wake
Atoll that consists of three main islands: Wake, Peale and ?Wilkes
Wake Island
Japan
launched air raids on the island on December 7, 1941. Despite a heroic
defense, the island fell to troops of the Japanese Special Landing
Force on December 23, 1941.
American Surrender
Japanese forces depart Kwajalien for Wake on December 8, 1941. They attempt to land on December 11th, but are repulsed. In the early hours of December 23, 1941 they land again. After a short battle, captured
1,603 men with the fall of the island garrison.1 Among those were
1,150 civilian contractors employed with Morrison-Knudsen Company
Missions Against Wake
December 8, 1941 - August 6, 1945
American
Strikes on the Island
The first Pacific B-24 mission flown by four planes, against
the island on June 26, 1943. Yorktown carrier
planes flies attacked Wake with a devastating raid of 5 October
1943. Admiral Sakaibara saw this operation as an indication that
an invasion was imminent and ordered the execution of the 98 Americans "to
eliminate any threat they might pose".
Today
Some
World War II facilities and wreckage remain on the islands.
Wake Island Airfield
Runs the length of the island, built by civilian contractors. Occupied by the Japanese until the end of the war.
"98" Rock
The "98 rock", a large
piece of coral standing in the lagoon inscribed "98/U.S./P.W/5-10-43",
a message carved by one of the 98 POW's later executed on Wake
Island.
Command Posts and Fortifications
Other significant remains include USMC command post and hospital
bunkers, and the Japanese command post bunker.
Japanese Pillbox
Numerous Japanese pillboxes, fighting positions, tank traps
and aircraft revetments remain on the island. Photo by Kirby Crawford
1968.
Peale
Island
Smaller island located
to the north of Wake Island. Prewar, this island had the terminal and seaplane area for Pan American flyingboats. Also, priort to the start of the war, the US Navy began construction of a Naval Air Station, that was never completed.
Weeping Chemical Weapons
There is evidence of Japanese chemical weapon stocks on
Wake Island during World War II. It is also possible that the US
had stocks of CW on Wake prior to the war although no records
support this.
A
Mysterious Irritant Forced Evacuation of Island in Pacific
New York Times, July 4, 1969: "In July of 1969 'Japanese WWII' canisters began leaking gas,
reportedly containing chloropicrin. Several members of the US Coast
Guard station there were sickened by the gas and the area was evacuated."