World War II: The Aleutian Islands Chronology (original) (raw)

1942

Jun 03 Japan attacks the Aleutian Islands at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Japanese Admiral Yamamoto provided the Northern Area Fleet, commanded by Vice Adm. Boshiro Hosogaya, with a force of 2 small aircraft carriers, 5 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 6 submarines, and 4 troop transports, along with supporting auxiliary ships. US Coastal defenses from the Aleutians to Panama are put on full alert. Ref: 82
Jun 06 Japan takes Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. Ref: 82
Jun 07 Japan takes Attu in the Aleutian Islands. Ref: 82
Aug 30 US sets up airfield at Adak in the Aleutian Islands. Ref: 82
Sep 14 US starts bombing Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. Ref: 82
Sep 16 The Japanese base at Kiska in the Aleutian Islands is raided by American bombers. Ref: 2
Nov 01 Japan increases presence on Kiska and Attu in the Aleutian Islands to 4,000 and 1,000 men respectively. Ref: 82
Dec 20 In the Aleutians, U.S. Army Air forces began bombing, strafing, and incendiary attacks on Japanese Kiska Harbor installations. Ref: 37

1943

Jan 01 Alaska Command reaches 94,000 soldiers. Ref: 82
Jan 11 US Army landing on Amchitka Island in the Aleutian Islands. Ref: 82
Jan 26 Japanese aircraft strafe Costantine Harbor on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians. Ref: 37
Feb 15 The US airfield on Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands is completed. Ref: 82
Mar 26 Navy engaged the Japanese in the Battle of Komandorskies, 150 miles west of Cape Wrangell, Alaska, with 3 big transports loaded with supplies escorted by 4 heavy cruisers and 4 destroyers. This is the largest sea fight of the Aleutians. B-25 Mitchell Bombers attack Japanese positions on Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands. Ref: 37
Apr 01 Gen. DeWitt orders preparations for Operation Landgrab, the invasion of Attu Island. American planes strike Japanese targets on Kiska. Ref: 37
May 11 Attu and Kiska in Aleutian Islands were retaken by a military expedition launched from San Francisco. The campaign lasted until May 30. Ref: 37
May 20 All organized Japanese Army resistance ends in the Aleutians. Ref: 37
May 29 Attu (in the Aleutian Islands) is back in US hands. 2,351 enemy dead, a few hundred were presumed to have been buried in the hills. Japanese surrender. Out of a U.S. force that totaled more than 15,000 men, 549 U.S. had been killed, 1,148 U.S. wounded, 2,100 U.S. men taken out of action by disease and nonbattle injuries. Ref: 82
May 30 American forces secured the Aleutian island of Attu from the Japanese during World War II. Ref: 70
Jul 28 Kiska (in the Aleutian Islands) evacuation, almost three weeks before the Allied landing. Ref: 82
Aug 15 Attack on Kiska (in the Aleutian Islands) to begin. 21 dead and 121 sick and wounded. Ref: 82
Aug 18 Navy lost 70 dead or missing and 47 wounded when the destroyer Amner Read struck a mine. American casualties totaled 313 men. Ref: 82
Aug 24 Corlett declared Kisku (in the Aleutian Islands) secure Ref: 82