Description

The Aleutians Campaign and the U.S. Navy, first published in 1945, provides an overview of WWII naval operations against the Japanese-held Aleutian Islands of Alaska. On June 3-4, 1942, Japanese aircraft attacked the naval base at Dutch Harbor, followed by landings of troops on Kiska (June 6) and Attu (June 7). Although of limited strategic value, occupation of the islands was anathema to Americans, and the US Army established an air base on Adak in August 1942. From there, bombers began raids on Japanese positions and the Navy engaged the enemy offshore. In May 1943, US forces landed on Attu, with support of US warships, and engaged in heavy fighting. By the end of the month, fighting was over with heavy casualties on both sides (and the near-total decimation of the entire Japanese force). In August, allied forces landed on Kiska to find that the Japanese had already, in secret, abandoned the island. The Aleutians Campaign and the U.S. Navy provides a contemporary view of this little known theater of the war, fought in a harsh environment against a determined enemy. Illustrated with maps and photographs.