Location
Lat 1° 19' 0N Long 172° 58' 60E Bairiki Island is located in Tarawa Atoll in the Republic of Kiribati (Gilbert Islands). To the northwest is Tarawa Island (Betio Island) and roughly 15 miles to the west is Bonriki Island.
Wartime History
On November 20, 1943 during the day, U.S. Navy fighters and dive bombers
strafed and bombed the island. At 4:55pm U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines under the command of Lt. Col Ray Murray and quickly secured Bairiki with little resistance with most killed by the air attacks. On
D+2, Marines established artillery from the 2nd Battalion
was landed on Bairiki to provide fire support against Betio. Afterwards, the island became a field hospital for American wounded.
Today
Bairiki Island is the capital of Kiribati. The central government offices, Parliament
building, President's Office and Residence, central post office, bank,
library and archives, and various other official buildings including
the Air Kiribati Travel Agency.
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Last Updated
November 19, 2022
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