Japanese Occupation Site, Kiska Island
Encyclopedia
The Japanese Occupation Site on Kiska
island (along with Attu
island) in the Rat Islands
group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska
is where the Japanese Navy
attacked and occupied United States
territory during World War II
. The Japanese invaded in June 1942 after the Battle of Dutch Harbor
, capturing 10 Navy weathermen. They fortified their position during the Japanese occupation of Kiska
, but after Attu was recaptured, they secretly departed in June 1943 with no losses. The United States
and Canada
attacked the deserted island 18 days later but lost almost 200 men due to friendly fire and booby traps.
The site is rapidly deteriorating due to the environment and looting by commercial fishermen even though it is very remote and uninhabited.
Kiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
island (along with Attu
Attu Island
Attu is the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land relative to Alaska and the United States. It was the site of the only World War II land battle fought on the incorporated territory of the United States ,...
island) in the Rat Islands
Rat Islands
The Rat Islands are a volcanic group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska, between Buldir Island and the Near Islands group to its west, and Amchitka Pass and the Andreanof Islands group to its east, at about ....
group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
is where the Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
attacked and occupied United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
territory during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Japanese invaded in June 1942 after the Battle of Dutch Harbor
Battle of Dutch Harbor
The Battle of Dutch Harbor took place on 3-4 June 1942, and was a minor air and naval battle of the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II between Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Army and Navy forces.-Overview:...
, capturing 10 Navy weathermen. They fortified their position during the Japanese occupation of Kiska
Japanese occupation of Kiska
The Japanese occupation of Kiska took place between 6 June 1942 and 28 July 1943 during the Aleutian Islands Campaign of the Pacific War. The Japanese occupied Kiska and nearby Attu Island in order to protect the northern flank of the Japanese Empire....
, but after Attu was recaptured, they secretly departed in June 1943 with no losses. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
attacked the deserted island 18 days later but lost almost 200 men due to friendly fire and booby traps.
The site is rapidly deteriorating due to the environment and looting by commercial fishermen even though it is very remote and uninhabited.