American missions against Tarawa (Betio)
January 26, 1943–November 20, 1943
January 26, 1943
(7th AF) B-24s, taking off
from Funafuti fly a photographic reconnaissance missions over
Tarawa. Heavy bombers attack merchant
vessels in the lagoon at Tarawa.
February 20, 1943
(7th AF) Three B-24s of the 307th Bombardment Group operating from Canton photograph Makin, Abaiang and Tarawa and attack shipping off Tarawa.
April 23, 1943
(7th AF) Twelve B-24's from Funafuti attack Tarawa.
June 14, 1943
(7th AF) One B-24 from Funafuti Atoll bombs the runways at Tarawa Airfield.
June 17, 1943
(7th AF) During the night
of 17/18 Jun, 4 B-24's take off from Funafuti Atoll at 2-hour
intervals to bomb Tarawa.
June 22, 1943
(7th AF) Three B-24's from Canton fly photo reconnaissance of Tarawa.
September 18, 1943
(7th AF) During the night of 18/19 September, B-24's, bomb Betio. This action
is part of a coordinated AAF-USN attack on Tarawa.
September 19, 1943
(7th AF) 20 B-24's, out of Funafuti
and Canton, bomb Tarawa Atoll and Abemama and obtain photo
coverage of Betio. 1 B-24 is lost to interceptors.
October 20, 1943
(7th AF) The first photographic coverage of Tarawa is obtained.
November 6, 1943
(7th AF) VII Air Force Service Command and VII Bomber Command also establish forward echelons at Funafuti. Landing fields are being built on Baker, Nukufetau and Nanumea to be used, along with existing fields at Canton and Funafuti as operational bases for attacks on Tarawa.
November 13, 1943
(7th AF) 18 B-24's from Funafuti Atoll bomb Tarawa.
November 14, 1943
(7th AF) Nine B-24's from Nukufetau bomb Tarawa.
November 16, 1943
(7th AF) B-24's from Nanumea and Nukufeta bomb Tarawa.
November 17, 1943
(7th AF) More than twenty B-24's from Funafuti and Canton bomb Mille Atoll, Maloelap Atoll and Tarawa Atoll.
November 18, 1943
(7th AF) Nineteen B-24's from Nanumea bomb Mille Atoll; 2 others hit Tarawa Atoll.
November 19, 1943
(7th AF) B-24's from Ellice
bases hit Tarawa.
November 20, 1943
(USMC) U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Division (2nd MAR DIV) make an amphibious landing on Tarawa and fight the Battle of Tarawa over the next three days.
