June 1942 (1)

Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 4 June 1942 – shipping and oil storage ablaze

Aleutian Islands, Alaska

As of 1 June 1942, American military strength in Alaska stood at 45,000 men, with about 13,000 at Cold Bay (Fort Randall), on the tip of the Alaskan Peninsula and at 2 Aleutian bases: the Naval facility at Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island and a recently built Army air base, (Fort Glenn), on Umnak Island.  Army strength, less air force personnel at those 3 bases totaled no more than 2,300, composed mainly of infantry, field and antiaircraft artillery troops and a large construction engineer contingent [rushed in for the construction of the bases].

Admiral Theobald

On Admiral Robert Theobald’s arrival at Kodiak, he assumed control of the US Army Air Corps’ 11 Air Force, commanded by General Butler.  This force consisted of 10 heavy and 34 medium bombers and 95 fighters, divided between its main base, Elmendorf Airfield, in Anchorage and at airfields at Cold Bay and on Umnak.  Theobald ordered Butler to locate the Japanese fleet that was reported heading for Dutch Harbor and attack it with its bombers, concentrating on sinking Hosogaya’s 2 aircraft carriers.   Once they eliminate the enemy planes, Task Force-8 would engage the enemy fleet.

Dutch Harbor, Alaska

On the afternoon of 2 June, a naval patrol plane spotted the approaching enemy fleet and reported its location as 800 miles sw of Dutch Harbor.  Theobald placed his entire command on full alert.  Shortly thereafter, the bad weather rolled in and the enemy fleet could no longer be found.  The destroyers, USS King and Talbot, seaplane tender, Gillis, USCG cutter Onondaga, US Army transports President Fillmore and Morlen all weighed anchor and called battle stations.

206th Coast Artillery gun emplacement

For the Japanese, the Aleutian Campaign was initially intended as a reconnaissance in force.  Adak was to be occupied, any US installation there destroyed, its harbors mined and then the force would withdraw and land on Attu – all by the Japanese Army.  Kiska was to be occupied by their Naval force and held until fall, whereby they would evacuate before the severe winter weather moved in.  The reason for this, the Japanese flying boats could cover the northern half of the 1,400 miles between Adak and Midway.  The first blow on the Aleutians was to be one day before Midway to confuse the Americans and throw their timing.

The principle elements of the Japanese Second Mobile Force were the 2 carriers Ryujo and Junyo and launched their attack against Dutch Harbor 3 June.  Only 6 fighters and 13 carrier attack planes (all from the Ryujo reached the target due to the weather.  The next wave of 32 planes, with experienced pilots, reached their target and did considerable damage.  Upon returning from the attack, the Junyo planes chose a rendezvous point off Umnak Island which turned out to be almost directly over a US airfield that the enemy had had no previous knowledge of.  Here they lost 4 aircraft to the defending US fighters.

Click on images to enlarge.

To be continued….

Judy Hardy at Greatest Generation Lessons and I are coordinating the military and home front views of this period.  Judy had her Uncle Ced in Alaska on an Army base at this time and her family retained the letters of correspondence.  

###############################################################################

Military Humor – 

OLD SERVICEMEN

NEW SERVICEMEN

###############################################################################

Farewell Salutes – 

Jeff Brown – Dundee, NY; US Army, Captain (Ret. 20 years)

Jim Cameron – Juneau, AK; US Army, 82nd Airborne Infantry

Frank Duran – Tampa, FL; USMC, Shore party crane operator

Vic Ison – Covington, GA; USMC, WWII, PTO / US Army, Korea

Robert Murphy – Bedford, NH; US Army, Korea

Dale Noyes – Victor, IA; USMC; WWII, PTO

Try Reeves Jr. – Hokes Bluff, AL; US Air Force (Ret. 33 years), Vietnam 2 tours

John Swinkels – New Lynn, NZ; RNetherlands Army # 260816143, Prinses Irene Regiment

Allan Thompson – Beaufort, AUS; RA Air Force # 408936, WWII

Alexander Vraciu – W.Sacramento, CA; US Navy, ace pilot, PTO, Navy Cross

Johnny Workman – Talihina, OK; USMC, Vietnam

Lawrence Ziegler – Comox, CAN; RC Artillery, WWII, / RC Air Force (Ret.)

#################################################################################