Ahoy mates. With this being December, I thought I would bring you the account of the Battle of Wake Island.

On December 8, 1941, the same day as the attack on Pearl Harbor (Wake being on the opposite side of the International Date Line), 16 Japanese medium bombers from the Marshall Islands attacked Wake Island, destroying eight of the twelve VMF-211 F4F Wildcat fighters on the ground. Since the target of the raid was the aircraft, the defensive emplacements were untouched.

Early on the morning of December 11, the Marines, with the support of the four remaining Wildcats, turned back the first Japanese landing attempt by the South Seas Force, which included the light cruisers Yubari, Tenryū, and Tatsuta; the destroyers Yayoi, Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Hayate, Oite, and Asanagi; two old destroyers converted to patrol boats (Patrol Boat No. 32 and Patrol Boat No. 33), and two troop transport ships containing 450 Special Naval Landing Force troops. The gallant defenders fired at the invasion fleet with their six 5-inch coastal artillery guns, sinking the Hayate and damaging most of the other ships. Captain "Hammerin'" Hank Elrod sank another destroyer, the Kisaragi. Hayate was the first Japanese naval ship sunk during World War II. The Japanese force withdrew before landing. This was the first Japanese defeat of the war. The first battle of Wake Island also was the only time in all of World War II when an amphibious assault was repulsed by shore-based artillery.

Well before dawn on December 12, a Kawanishi H6K Type 97 reconnaissance flying boat (Mavis) from the Yokohama Air Group dropped its bombs on the edge of the lagoon and then sought cover in the overcast and rain squalls. Captains Freuler and Tharin scrambled their planes to intercept it. Tharin, although untrained in night aerial combat techniques, chased and downed it. There were no survivors.
Later that same day, 26 Chitose Air Group Nells bombed Wake Island. Returning aircrewmen claimed damage to a warehouse and an antiaircraft gun in the "western sector." Antiaircraft fire shot down one plane and damaged four; Japanese casualties included eight men killed. Once the bombers had departed, the Marines continued working on their foxholes, freshened the camouflage, cleaned the guns, and tried to catch some sleep.

At about 1600 on the 12th, Second Lieutenant Kliewer, while patrolling, spotted a surfaced submarine 25 miles southwest of Wake. With the sun behind him, he dove from 10,000 feet. Convinced that the submarine was Japanese, Kliewer fired his four .50-calibers broadside into the submarine. Turning to the right, and seeking to increase his chances of scoring maximum damage on the enemy, he dove and dropped his two 100-pounders at such a low altitude that bomb fragments ripped large holes in his wings and tail surfaces. Emptying his guns into the submarine on his next pass, he looked behind him and saw her submerge. Major Putnam flew out to verify that the sub had been sunk and spotted an oil slick at the spot Kliewer indicated.
That night, a stateside radio report praised Wake's Marines. It stated that for security reasons it could not mention the size of the garrison defending the atoll, but noted that "we know the number is very small."

Although help was a subject very much on the minds of Admiral Kimmel and his staff back at Pearl Harbor, by December 11, plans to reinforce Wake had not yet materialized. Nor could they, until the carriers around which any task forces could be formed could be marshaled for the task. As Captain Charles H. McMorris, Kimmel's war plans officer, had estimated, all of the nearly 1,500 people on Wake could be accommodated very rapidly on board the seaplane tender Tangier (AV-8) if they either destroyed or abandoned their personal belongings. Tangier would be crowded, but he believed it could be done. Protecting the tender, though, was key. McMorris believed that the Tangier should not go until air protection is available. If the evacuation of Wake was decided upon--and he recommended against it--the "promptest measure" would be to have Tangier assigned to a task force formed around the aircraft carrier Lexington (CV-2). Then, accompanied by destroyers, she could evacuate Wake's garrison while Lexington's planes provided cover. Even as the people at Pearl Harbor considered plans for her employment, however, "Lady Lex" and her consorts were encountering difficulty refueling in the heavy seas northwest of Oahu. Ultimately, Task Force 12 had to put into Pearl to complete the refueling.

Hi Kenny

Very interesting I learnt something new here.

Thanks for you effort.

Regards

Sean

Good read, Gator. . .
Keep up the great work!
~Gunny