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Location
Largest island in Wake Atoll. Connected by causeway to Peale Island and Wilkes Island.
American Surrender
Japan
launched an air raid Wake on December 7, 1941. Japanese forces departed Kwajalien on December 8, 1941 bound for Wake. They attempt to land on December 11th, but were repulsed. In the early hours of December 23, 1941 they landed again. After a short battle, the island surrendered. Captured
were 1,603 Americans. Among them were
1,150 civilian contractors employed by Morrison-Knudsen Company / Contractors Pacific
Naval Air Bases (CPNB).
Japanese & American missions against Wake Island
December 8, 1941 - August 6, 1945
On June 26, 1943, the first American bombing mission against Wake was flown by four B-24. USS Yorktown aircraft attacked on October
5, 1943. After these air raids, Japanese commander Admiral Sakaibara saw these air raids as an indication that
an invasion was imminent. He ordered the execution of the 98 American prisoners "to
eliminate any threat they might pose".
Weeping Chemical Weapons
There is evidence of Japanese chemical weapon stocks on
Wake Island during World War II. It is also likely that the US Navy
had stocks of chemical weapons 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."
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. Numerous Japanese pillboxes, fighting positions, tank traps
and aircraft revetments remain on the island.
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Last Updated
September 29, 2011
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