World War II Database

After the successful attacks on Pearl Harbor, Philippines, Malaya, and Guam, Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi was tasked to take Wake Island, a US Marines base, with three light cruisers, six destroyers, and 450 marines. Wake Island, discovered by the British who named the island after Captain William Wake, was an atoll of three islands in a lagoon. It was strategically important, along with Guam, as they were situated halfway between Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, hence it was annexed by the United States in 17 Jan 1889. Without Guam and Wake, the US would not be able to supply Philippines efficiently.

The island's air defenses came from 12 Wildcat figthers and a few anti-aircraft guns. 7 out of the 12 fighters were destroyed on the ground before they were able to take off, but the stationary naval battery were successful in sinking two destroyers (Hayate, Kisaragi) and damaging several other ships including Kajioka's flagship Yubari. The landing attempt was driven off by the remaining Wildcat fighters and the marines beach defenses. Admiral Kajioka would withdraw the attack force back to the Japanese base at Kwajalein. This would be the only unsuccessful attack during Japan's first wave of attacks. He would return on 23 Dec, along with Rear Admiral Abe Koki's two fleet destroyers (Hiryu and Soryu) supported by heavy cruisers and destroyers (on the way back from Pearl Harbor), and attempt to take Wake again. This time he would be successful, taking Wake Island away from the US.

In total, Japan lost over 800 dead before Marine Corps commander Major James Devereux surrendered the island. Devereux had lost only 120 men. Wake would remain under Japanese control until 4 Sep 1945, after Japan's formal surrender.

Wake Island was part of Japan's "Outline Plan for the Execution of the Empire's National Policy", a plan to expand the outer perimeters so wide that her enemies would not be able to attack by air against the home islands or the rich natural resources the Japan was about to acquire. This perimeter extends from the Kurile islands down to Wake, Guam, the East Indies, Borneo, Malaya, and up to Burma.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
   14 Mar 2006 12:29:46 PM
   
   A bit of trivia:
   Wake was the only Island the Japanese took from the US Marines. All other times the Marines took the islands from the Japanese.
2. Anonymous says:
   16 Mar 2006 06:55:17 AM
   
   crap
3. Mr. L.E.Gleason says:
   28 Jun 2006 10:32:34 PM
   
   Defended w.6-5Naval Guns,12-3Dual A-A Guns.18Hvy.50 M.G.s,30Med.,Lth. Water-cooled M.G.s,12 F4F Wildcat Marine Corps fighters VMF-211,Elements of 1st Marine Defence Batt.449 Off.& men,68 U.S.N.Personnel,1,221 civilian Const.Workers.Attacked by IJN 3 cruisers,4 Destroyers,2 troop trans.and many land based aircraft.The SNLF- Special Naval Landing Force,naval personnel trained & equip. better than Army.No less than 400 were in one charge.Japan lost 1 destroyer by aerial bomb & 1 by artillery fire.Hvy. damage to Flagship crusier,also to a transport,and the 2 other destroyers,at least 20 aircraft shot down,and between 700-900 men.U.S. lost 52 military,70 civilians,12 aircraft and most of the LG.naval & AA Guns.Adm.Kajioka fell back to be reinforced by passing by IJN carriers Hiryu & Soryu,hvy. cruisers and destroyers.TheAlamo of the Pacific did surrender,but no till the last Marine Pilot,Capt.Henry T. Elrod flew into 22 enemy aircraft,shooting down 2,sinking the first enemy ship of the war w small bombs & strafing,and damaging other ships the same way,before losing his plane.Then while defending a flank gun position,died helping his men carry ammo to the gun emplacement.He was posthumously promoted to Major and his wife was presented with the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.Dec.8th, the war started for Wake Island and lasted 16 days till the 23rd against a Japanese assualt force who needed help in making Wake Island surrender from Marine Commander Winfield Scott Cunningham in 1941.
4. Anonymous says:
   18 Apr 2007 09:07:28 PM
   
   To the first post: On Guam, 500 marines defended the island. The japanese took it from them.
5. Anonymous says:
   5 May 2007 05:59:42 PM
   
   I am doing a project on Wake Island and this information is very helpful. Thank You for posting this. I do not understand the person who put crap. This is valueable information.
6. Anonymous says:
   4 Jun 2007 01:23:37 PM
   
   it was good information
7. Anonymous says:
   24 Jul 2007 12:43:29 PM
   
   Winfield S. Cunnignham was in the Navy, not the Marines. The Marine CO of Wake, under Cunningham, was Maj. James Devereux. And the Marines also surrendered at Corregidor, but again, the higher CO wasnt a Marine, but this time Army.
8. Anonymous says:
   26 Sep 2009 08:43:47 AM
   
   I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman who was on the original Garrison on Wake.
   He was takenprisoner and sent to Japan.
   During the day he'd work in the shipyard with the locals. Since they all had nothing, they shared what little food there was.
   Standing Six foot five, escape was impractical as well as impossible. While prisoner he became very friendly with these people. Imet him while stationed in Korea.
   Every 90 days we'd get R&R. He would go to Osaka and spend his time with his friends while prisoner. He told me he had no hard fellings toward the Japanese people.
   This is what the warrant officer told me.
   Tell the person who wrote crap, THAT is exactly what he is full of!!
9. Anonymous says:
   27 Sep 2009 02:36:21 PM
   
   I also had the pleasure of knowing one of the Original Pilots on the Japanese side. I was stationed in Japan for a year after Korea.
   He was a pilot of a Torpedo plane on the IMS Hiryu. He was told the United States had declared war on them. They were on their way to Pearl Harbor to keep our fleet from sortieing. When he got to Pearl he was astouded to see if war was declared why eren't they shooting?
   He later saw his ship sink at Midway
10. Jim Muirhead says:
    7 Jan 2010 12:21:32 PM
    
    In the 1950s, my Sergeant Major in Marine
    Air Support Squadron 1, 2MAW, was Herman L. Rasor. Herman was sent to Wake Island as a private in the Fall of 1941, assigned to the Marine coast artillery Bn. He wore the Wake Island device on his uniform. He was one of the finest NCOs I ever knew and served not only in WWII but Korea as well. He kept a framed photo of himself taken just after he was liberated. He was very emaciated. Semper Fi
11. Anonymous says:
    20 Apr 2010 05:19:50 PM
    
    the japanese captured the island of attu in the aleutians from the americans wake was the first to get captured but not the only one in the pacific theater
12. Anonymous says:
    23 May 2010 11:07:34 PM
    
    Does the name Jack Mestler ring a bell with anyone? He was supposed to have been on Wake, as well as in Pearl Harbor on the big day. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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