American missions against Atka Island
June 11, 1942–December 10, 1942
June 11, 1942
(USN)
PBY Catalinas operating
from the seaplane tender USS Gillis in Nazan Bay off Atka hit ships and enemy
positions on Kiska in an intense 48-hour attack which exhausted the gasoline
and bomb supply aboard the Gillis but was not successful in driving the Japanese
off Kiska.
July 19, 1942
(USN) The seaplane tender USS Casco (AVP-12) established an advanced seaplane base in Nazan
Bay bordering Atka, to support seaplane operations against Kiska, which included anti-shipping
search, bombing of enemy positions, and cover for surface force bombardments.
August 4, 1942
(11th AF) One LB-30 flies a photo mission and two B-17s with three B-24s escorted by eight P-38's escort US Navy (USN) tenders to Nazan Bay off Atka; Two
4-engine flyingboats and a possible third are downed near Atka by two of
the P-38's, in their first aerial combat in any theater.
August 6, 1942
(11th AF) Three B-24s, two B-17s escorted by ten P-38s provide air coverage for
USN tenders to Nazan Bay off Atka.
August 7, 1942
(11th AF) Two air coverage missions are flown by one B-24, one LB-30 and four P-38s over Nazan Bay off Atka for USN
tenders.
August 12, 1942
(11th AF) A B-24 flies photo reconnaissance over Atka.
August 26, 1942
(11th AF) A photo mission over Atka is aborted due to bad weather.
August 27, 1942
(11th AF) Four B-17s, six B-24s, and two P-38s fly weather, reconnaissance
and patrol missions over Kiska and Atka.
August 28, 1942
(11th AF) All available B-24s and two flights of P-38s fly air cover
over Nazan Bay off Atka.
August 30, 1942
(11th AF) USS Casco (AVP-12) conducting support operations from Nazan
Bay off Atka was damaged by a torpedo fired by a submarine and temporarily beached.
September 2, 1942
(11th AF) Six bombers escorted by twelve P-38s fly
cover and photo reconnaissance over Nazan Bay off Atka.
September 4, 1942
(11th AF) Two bombers escorted by a single P-38 patrol Nazan Bay off Atka.
September 10, 1942
(11th AF) During the morning, weather, photo reconnaissance, and patrol missions
are flown over Nazan Bay off Atka.
September 26, 1942
(11th AF) A destroyer and a freighter are bombed
at 53-30N 174-20E north of Atka; two near misses are scored on the freighter.
December 9, 1942
(11th AF) B-24A Liberator 40-2367 force lands on the western end of Atka Island off Bechevin Bay.
December 10, 1942
(11th AF, USN) B-24A Liberator 40-2367 which crash landed
at Atka yesterday is sighted on the west end of the island, its fuselage
broken off aft of the wings. A PBY Catalina lands to rescue the crew but they are too heavy to take off and are later rescued by a USN destroyer escort.
