A Small Outpost Of Marines At Wake Island Delayed Japan's War Machine For 30 Days

[rangerrebew]

December 21, 2019

A Small Outpost Of Marines At Wake Island Delayed Japan's War Machine For 30 Days

And history would never forget them.
by Warfare History Network
 

Bomb craters 50 feet apart spotted the ground with surgical precision, except for the airstrip. It remained untouched so the Japanese could use it after their conquest. Seven precious Wildcat fighters lay in smoldering ruins amid the lifeless bodies of 23 Marine aviation personnel. The Japanese blasted gasoline storage tanks, strafed the island’s Pan American Airways hotel, and peppered Pan Am’s huge flying passenger boat Philippine Clipper with 23 bullet holes.


As if to add insult to injury, as the enemy aircraft completed their runs, “The pilots in every one of the planes was grinning wildly. Every one wiggled his wings to signify Banzai,” mentioned a defender.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/small-outpost-marines-wake-island-delayed-japans-war-machine-30-days-107371?page=0%2C1

[PeteS in CA]

12 Wildcats, flown by VMF-211, had been delivered by USS Enterprise on December 2nd. Wake did not have air search radar, so they relied on patrols to spot attacks so that the rest of the squadron could take off and defend the island. Wake also had 3"/50 AA guns and 5"/51 shore batteries. The latter had been and to some degree still were the standard quick-firing anti-destroyer guns on USN battleships.

Starting on 12/8 the Japanese conducted several days of air raids - the first of which was not spotted by patrolling fighters, resulting in the destruction of the fighters still on the ground.

On 12/11 the Japanese made their first attempt to land. The IJN seems to have under-estimated Wake's defense. The accompanying warships were a half dozen older destroyers and three light cruisers. The force was driven off - landing not attempted - with Hayate being sunk by a 5" shore battery, and Kisaragi being sunk by a bomb dropped by a Wildcat.

The IJN came again on 12/22, and brought a supporting force of two aircraft carriers, 6 heavy cruisers, and several destroyers. After an early morning (23rd) landing and fighting most of the day, American forces surrendered.

[skeeter]

12 Wildcats, flown by VMF-211, had been delivered by USS Enterprise on December 2nd. Wake did not have air search radar, so they relied on patrols to spot attacks so that the rest of the squadron could take off and defend the island. Wake also had 3"/50 AA guns and 5"/51 shore batteries. The latter had been and to some degree still were the standard quick-firing anti-destroyer guns on USN battleships.

Starting on 12/8 the Japanese conducted several days of air raids - the first of which was not spotted by patrolling fighters, resulting in the destruction of the fighters still on the ground.

On 12/11 the Japanese made their first attempt to land. The IJN seems to have under-estimated Wake's defense. The accompanying warships were a half dozen older destroyers and three light cruisers. The force was driven off - landing not attempted - with Hayate being sunk by a 5" shore battery, and Kisaragi being sunk by a bomb dropped by a Wildcat.

The IJN came again on 12/22, and brought a supporting force of two aircraft carriers, 6 heavy cruisers, and several destroyers. After an early morning (23rd) landing and fighting most of the day, American forces surrendered.

Wake Isl is where Hammerin' Hank Elrod distinguished himself, another guy who's story reads like a Roland Emmerich movie and of whom Americans know very little about.

[PeteS in CA]

Wake Isl is where Hammerin' Hank Elrod distinguished himself, another guy who's story reads like a Roland Emmerich movie and of whom Americans know very little about.

Elrod shot down two G3M bombers and was the pilot who sank Kisaragi. His bomb landed among the destroyer's depth charges, setting them off. He was mortally wounded during the fight for the island.

[skeeter]

Elrod shot down two G3M bombers and was the pilot who sank Kisaragi. His bomb landed among the destroyer's depth charges, setting them off. He was mortally wounded during the fight for the island.

According to witnesses he had picked up a Thompson and was firing it from the hip when shot. Final words: 'kill the sons of b*tches'. Gotta love that.