MARCUS ISLAND – The World War 2 years

1931: Realizing the military importance of the island, the Japanese Navy took control of the island and began the military buildup of Marcus. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) retained control of the island throughout the war but its forces were supplemented by the Japanese Army. The island was never invaded by US ground troops but underwent an almost daily bombing by the US Navy and US Army Air Forces starting in the fall of 1944.

In August 1940, I-67 deployed to the Bonin Islands to take part in a combined fleet exercise. Onboard were the commander of Submarine Division 30 and an exercise judge,in addition to her crew of 89. She was off the southern coast of the island Minami Torishima (Marcus Island) on 29 August 1940 when a seaplane from the  seaplane carrier MIZUHO approached. I-67 practiced a crash dive to avoid the mock attack by the plane. She never resurfaced, and sank with the loss of all 91 men on board. On 25 September 1940, the Imperial Japanese Navy officially declared all on board to be dead, and I-67 was stricken from the Navy list on 1 November 1940. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki /Japanese_submarine_I-67 )

The cause of I-67′s loss remains unknown. During the post-accident investigation, the crew of Mizuho′s seaplane said they believed that they saw I-67 submerge with a rear hatch still open. Investigators concluded that if she had submerged with the hatch open, rapid flooding would have occurred and caused her to sink quickly by the stern.

1941s

By 1941, two dirt/coral runways (4900′ x 2000′) had been constructed, one on the west side and one on the south side of the island. They were both connected at the south west point of the island. It was heavily fortified by AAA positions. Lacking a natural protected harbor, a concrete pier and ramp had been constructed on the southern shore of the island. 

March 6 1941: Auxiliary store ship CHOKU MARU arrives at Marcu Island and recovers radio equipment under confidential Yokosuka instruction No. 928.

October 1941: The IJN begins to build its forces on Marcus Island with about 50 men of a Naval Guard Unit landing this month.

10 December 1941: Approximately 300 more IJN men from the Chichi Jima Naval Air Group (NAG) landed on Marcus Island on this date by the 2926 ton cargo ship YOSHIDA MARU, after a three day voyage from Chichi Jima. This brought the total of the Minami Tori Guard unit to 350 men. An unknown Naval officer was in charge and they reported to the 7th Base Force, 5th Fleet, in Chichi Jima. No aircraft were permanently stationed on Marcus Island at this time.

1942

The island received a steady supply of men and materials by Japanese cargo ships that unloaded at the pier on the south side of the island. This was largely done from the bases at Chichi Jima and Yokohama. Japanese tanker ships supplied the aviation gas and other petroleum products.

17 January 1942: The IJN 4211 ton cargo ship Hokusho Maru arrives at Marcus Island after a three day voyage from Chichi Jima. IJN Hokusho Maru departs Marcus Island on the 26th of January 1942 for Chichi Jima. It will later be sunk on11 September 1943 about three nautical miles NW of Nauru Island by the submarine USS NARWHAL (SS-167). It sinks at 00-28S, 166-52E taking down 32 of her crew.

First US carrier (USS ENTERPRISE) attack on Marcus Island – 4 March 1942

In mid February 1942, the US Navy formed Task Force 16 around the carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), with Vice Admiral William F. Halsey in command. It was supported by the cruisers Salt Lake City (CA-25) and Northrhampton (CA-26), along with a half-dozen destroyers. Its first mission was to attack Wake Island which had fallen to the Japanese. The task force left Pearl Harbor and attacked Wake Island on February 24, 1942.

TF16 benefitted from the cover of a weather front as it sailed away from the attack on Wake.Island. The day following the strike, Admiral Halsey received a message from Admiral Nimitz that directed the carrier Enterprise and their two cruisers, the Northampton and Salt Lake City, to proceed to a point 175 miles northeast of Marcus and launch an air attack on 3 March 1942. Their destroyer escorts did not have the fuel to accompany the Enterprise, so they went back to Hawaii.

The US knew little of Marcus Island and it lay at extreme range from Hawaii. Marcus is about 600 miles northwest of Wake on a line leading directly to southern Japan. At the time it was believed that the island was being used as an administrative center by the enemy, and that it contained radio and weather reporting installations. Landplanes had been sighted near it, indicating an air field.

The screening destroyers, lacking fuel, would detach before the Enterprise, Salt Lake City and Northampton made the final dash towards Marcus. Enroute, SBDs on anti-submarine patrol made two attacks on an unidentified submarine. The unidentifed submarine in both instances turned out to be the American submarine USS Gudgeon, heading out on patrol. Luckily the submarine was not damaged.

The attack was arranged to take place before sunrise on March 4 (zone minus 11 time) in the expectation that the full moon would provide sufficient light for the launching of planes and for rendezvous. Early in the morning of March 4 the Enterprise, in company with the Northampton and Salt Lake City, speed 24 knots, was nearing Marcus on course 235°. Because it was desired to include fighters in the attack, launching of planes was delayed until the ships were about 125 miles from the island. At 0438 the Enterprise changed her course into the wind and a few minutes later the first plane was launched.

The attack group consisted of the air group commander with 14 scout bombers (SBD’s of VS-6), 17 bombers (SBD’s of VB-6 ), and 6 fighters (F4F’s of VF-6). The bomber and scout planes were armed with one 500-pound (instantaneous fuse) and two 100-pound bombs each. Strong southerly winds prevailed, with a 9/10 overcast of heavy cumulus clouds extending from 4,000 to 8,000 feet. The moon was full. Because of the heavy overcast and the smallness of the objective, accurate navigation by the attack force was essential. Success was achieved largely through the use of a new method. The Enterprise tracked the planes by radar, informing the group commander of any deviations from the course to Marcus and telling him just how far he had proceeded on that course. This assistance was of great value for it enabled the planes to proceed above the overcast and yet be confident that they would know when to descend through it and locate the island.

At 0630 Marcus Island was sighted by the aircraft through a break in the clouds, “nestling in the moonlight,” and the order to attack from an altitude of 16,000 feet was given. The surprise was complete. At least four bombs were dropped before any antiaircraft fire was noticed. The bombing squadron separated into three divisions and began high speed approaches from the south and west. The dives varied in steepness from 045° to 070°, with final dives entered at from 8,000 to 10,000 feet, releases at 3,000 to 2,000 feet in ripple drops, and pull-outs at 1,000 feet with a continued power glide retirement.

Attacking first, VB-6’s SBDs went after runways and other air facilities – oil tanks, repair shops, and revetments.

The scouting squadron followed immediately, some of its planes making a conventional dive bombing attack, approaching from 15,000 feet and entering final dive at about 10,000, while others dived through the clouds and then executed a glide attack.

Due to balky radio sets, a call to the VF-6 Wildcats to strafe gun positions went unanswered except for a lone fighter, whose pilot obliged before promptly becoming separated from the rest of the force, hopelessly lost.

One SBD aircraft, 6-S-7, pilot Lt. (j.g.) Hart D. Hilton, and gunner J. Leaming, aviation radioman, third class, was badly hit and set on fire by a Japanese anti-aircraft shell The pilot was forced to ditch 10 miles off the east coast of Marcus. At 0705 the pilot reported that his plane was on fire and that he was about to land in the water. Lt. Richard H. Best (Bombing Squadron SIX) stated that he saw Hilton’s plane land in the sea about 10 miles east of Marcus, and that the pilot and gunner manned their rubber boat, waved and gave a “thumbs up” signal before he departed from the scene. The crew was soon picked up by a Japanese patrol boat, and spent the next three years in captivity.

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Although no enemy aircraft was encountered in the air or sighted on the ground or water, the antiaircraft fire, coming presumably from 3-inch guns located on each point of the island, was sufficiently heavy to prevent close inspection of the damage done. One SBD had been detached from the first section just before the attack to reconnoiter the island and broadcast any information available concerning planes on the field or other objectives. The spotting plane, however, witnessed a hit on and subsequent fire in what looked like a fuel storage tank. Several buildings or hangars on both sides of the field were on fire and several explosions at short intervals occurred in one group. Two large fires visible from 20 to 30 miles were still burning fiercely at 0705, as well as numerous smaller fires. Limited strafing was conducted both in the dive and during retirement, the fixed .50-caliber and the flexible .30-caliber machine guns being used. Several hits were scored which cratered the runway and demolished a suspected hangar. VS-6 followed and scored additional direct hits on a radio building, but anti-aircraft fire was heavy which forced the pilots to escape the area quickly with little opportunity to assess bomb damage.

Unfortunately, considerably fewer objectives were found than had been anticipated. No photographs could be obtained due to darkness and clouds. By 8 o’clock the planes had returned to the Enterprise, which, with the Northampton and Salt Lake City was already steaming eastward.

The strike group, less the ditched SBD of Lt Hart Hilton and the lost F4F of Lt James Gray, recovered back aboard the Enterprise shortly after 9am, and the carrier turned around to head east for safety. Lt James Gray, the receiver gear for his homing device not working, was in danger of having to ditch in the cold seas when Enterprise’s radar officer spotted a contact that seemed likely to be the lost F4F. A short message was transmitted with the correct course back to ‘home plate’, and the grateful Gray was soon back aboard, his fuel almost exhausted.

Foul weather again masked the carrier as she withdrew, and it also gave the tired aviators a chance to rest with air operations impossible to conduct. Drawing on the lessons of the cruise, commanders again noted a lack of fighters. Increased deliveries of fighters, including the upgraded F4F-4 with folding wings, would allow an increase in the allowance of fighters on Pacific Fleet carriers from 18 to 27 aircraft, but it would take time to organize the extra planes and pilots to affect this change. Also noted was a need to provide external, droppable fuel tanks for fighters in order to extend the range of the short-legged Wildcat. The provision of a working ZB receiver for the carrier-based YE homing equipment, together with rigorous training for all pilots, was deemed essential and the installation of this equipment was made mandatory in all new carrier aircraft. However, these changes would take time to implement, and the rapidly developing situation in the South and Central Pacific would not give the carrier force much chance to adjust.  

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BOMBING SQUADRON SIX ACTION REPORT – Marcus Island Raid – 4 March 1942

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VB-6/A16/nhn	U. S. S. ENTERPRISE (CV6)
(  011  )		BOMBING SQUADRON SIX,  At Sea,    March 4, 1942.
CONFIDENTIAL

From:	Commander Bombing Squadron SIX.
To:	Commander ENTERPRISE Air Group.
Subject:	Attack on Marcus Island, March 4, 1942.
Reference:	(a) BuAer Conf. Mailgram 192115 of February, 1942. (b) U.S. Navy Regulations, 1920, Art. 874(6).
Enclosure:	(A) Photograph of Sketch of Marcus Island

1. At 0640, 4 March 1942, this squadron participated in an attack on Marcus Island. The sky was about nine tenths overcast with a heavy cumulus layer running from 4,000 to 10,000 feet. Winds aloft were strong southerly and on the surface 8 knots from 170°. The sea was calm. There was a full moon, elevation about 30° which provided considerable illumination above the clouds, but left it comparatively dark below. The sky to the east was beginning to lighten at the time of the attack, twenty-three minutes before sunrise.
2. Bombing Squadron SIX in company with Commander ENTERPRISE Air Group and section, and Scouting Squadron SIX composed the attack group escorted by six planes of Fighting Squadron SIX. Bombing Squadron SIX’s tactical organization was as follows: FIRST DIVISION6-B-1Lt-Cdr. W.R. HollingsworthMURRAY, J.F., ACRM(PA)6-B-16Lt. H.P. LanhamGARAUDY, E.J., ARM2c6-B-3Lt. L.A. SmithCARUTHERS, H.H., AMM2c 6-B-7Lt. J.W. McCauleyBOYD, B.W., AMM2c6-B-14Ensign C.R. WaltersTHOMPSON, W.T., AMM2c6-B-9Ensign A.L. RauschHALTERMAN, G.W., RM3c SECOND DIVISION6-B-10Lt. R.H. BestNELSON, H.W., ARM1c6-B-15Lt(jg) E.L. AndersonJENKINS, J.W., RM3c6-B-12Ensign W.E. RobertsSHEA, J.H., AMM1c 6-B-8Lt(jg) J.J. Van BurenGEORGIOU, A.A., RM3c, V-36-B-17Ensign K.H. HolcombWELCH, L.E., AMM2c6-B-18Ensign T.W. RamsayDUNCAN, S.L., AMM3c THIRD DIVISION6-B-4Lt. J.D. BlitchSTEINMAN, W.B., AMM2c6-B-5Ensign N.F. VandivierMASON, S.J., ARM2c6-B-6Ensign T.F. SchneiderHOLDEN, G.L., RM3c 6-B-13Lt. J.R. PenlandHEARD, H.F., ARM2c, V-36-S-18Ensign D.W. HalseyJOHNSON, P.S., ARM2c
3. The operation was a two squadron dive bombing attack.
4. The primary objective was aircraft on the field, with secondary objective being any installations sighted, with particular regard for radio station, fuel tanks, hangars, and AA batteries.
5. No enemy aircraft were seen.
6. Type attack – dive bombing.
7. Take offs were started at 0445 and when rendezvous of all units was completed at 0526 departure was taken for Marcus Island bearing 251° distant 128 miles. The group climbed steadily and went up through a large hole in the overcast, continuing on top until at 0630 the objective was sighted to the northward through a hole in the overcast. The squadron separated into three divisions and from 16,000 feet started high speed approaches from the south and west. The attack was delivered from 0640 to 0645. The dives varied in steepness from 045° to 070° with final dives entered from 8,000 to 10,000 feet, releases at 3,000 to 2,000 ft. in ripple drops, and pull outs at 1,000 feet with a continued power glide retirement. One plane of the first section was detached just prior to the attack to reconnoiter the island and broadcast any information available concerning planes on the field or other objectives. Withdrawal was made to the southeast until out of sight contact. Planes returned in small groups to the carrier and were landed aboard at 0845.
8. Limited strafing was conducted both in the dive and during retirement using the fixed .50 caliber and the flexible .30 caliber machine guns. The primary weapons were the one 500 lb bomb and two 100 lb bombs per plane. Enemy large caliber anti-aircraft was very limited and was apparently from three inch guns. There was however a large volume of rapid-fire A.A. that was of a caliber 20 or 37 mm, or 1.1 inch. This smaller caliber fire was much more accurate than any previously encountered and at times came uncomfortably close. Planes retiring when as far as five miles away saw tracers close aboard. The island was well ringed with these light batteries, but with the strongest concentrations at the three corners of the island.
9. During the approach the dark sky to the westward and cloud concealment were the only protective measures employed. During retirement planes made frequent, irregular, and radical changes of course and altitude.
10. Ammunition expended was as follows:500 lb bombs, Mk.12 2.100 sec. delay fuse- 17100 lb bombs Mk.4, 2/100 sec. delay fuse- 34Machine gun ammunition loaded in the ration of 70% AP and 30% tracer,.50 caliber- 200 rds.30 caliber- 100 rds
11. Because heavy A.A. fire made it inadvisable to pull up and turn around until well out to sea, it is almost impossible to adjudge damage. The spotting plane witnessed a hit on and subsequent fire in what appeared to be a fuel storage tank. Several buildings or hangars on both sides of the field were on fire and several explosions at short intervals occurred in one group. Two large fires visible from twenty to thirty miles were still burning brightly at 0705, as well as numerous smaller fires. No aircraft on the field were definitely identified as such, but from the location of the various fires and the spread of bomb hits it is believed that the majority of any aircraft on the ground would have been destroyed.
12. No damage was sustained by own aircraft.
13. No deficiencies in own aircraft armament or equipment were noted. The field appeared to be under construction and in no way compared to those seen at Taroa and Roi.

(Signed) W.R. HOLLINGSWORTH.

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https://www.youtube.com/embed/18vXH-NOJAE?feature=oembed

6 March 1942: In response to the raid, the Carrier IJN Zuikaku departed Kure for Minami-Torishima (Marcus Island) area to intercept VADM W.F. Halsey’s TF 16 after its raid.

 

 

30 March 1942: The 6536 ton auxilary collier/oiler ship Nissan Maru arrives at Minami Torishima at 1130 and begins offload. It had departed Kisarazu on 26 March 1942. It stayed anchored off the south coast of Marcus Island twelve days. On 11 April 1942 at 1700, Nissan Maru departs Minami Torishima for the 3 day trip to Chichi-Jima. It will later participate in the Japanese invasion of Attu and Kiska, Alaska where it will be sunk on 19 June 1942 by US Army Air Force B17s and B24s. NISSAN MARU sinks at 52-30N, 176-30E.

18 March 1942: IJN Choko Maru arrives at Marcus Island to drop off cargo. It had sailed from Chichi Jima and resupplied several other islands enroute (Haha-Jima, and Iwo Jima). On 20 March 1942 IJN Choko Maru departs Marcus for Tinian, Marianas. Nine months later, it will be hit by bombs while unloading cargo in Kwajalein Atoll by an USN Task Force 51 airstrike on 5 December 1943. It sinks about 1.5nm WSW of Little Bustard Island on 5 December 1943

April 1942: The Marcus Island Detachment (consisting of 12-15 planes from the Misawa Air Group and the 6th Air Group) is noted operating from Marcus. The Marcus Island Detachment was under the command of the Land Based Air Force (Rear Admiral Yamagata, 26th Air Flotilla) which in turn was assigned to the Northern Force (Vice Admiral) Hosogaya, CINC 5th Fleet). Seaplanes were never operated from Marcus because there was no suitable anchorage for them. It is also likely that access to the island would have been blocked by the reef. In connection with the Midway Operation, search planes operated from Marcus Island.

18 April 1942: – The D— By April 1942, (presumably after Halsey’s TF 16 attacked Marcus Island),
— some 15 land-based aircraft of unknown type, (from the Misawa and the 6th Naval Air Groups), were stationed there, under the newly raised 26th Air Flotilla.oolittle raid was carried out by the carrier Hornet. Its task force merged with Task Force 16 on 13 April 1942 and retained the name of TF 16.

1 May 1942: The 4861 ton auxilary transport KENSHO MARU arrives at Marcus to offload supplies. It had departed Imieji, an achorage and Japanese base in the Marshall Islands near Majuro on 18 April 1942. It stopped at Saipan on 27 April 1942 enroute to Marcus Island. It departs later in the day back to Japan. After many more port calls, the US Navy catches up with it at Truk Lagoon two years later. The ship was sunk at Truk by the US Navy on a raid on 17 February 1944.

1 June 1942: IJN CHOKU MARU departs Yokosuka for Minami Tori Shima (Marcus Island) in convoy with YOSHINOGAWA MARU. The ships are escorted part way south by survey ship escort KOMAHASHI. CHOKO MARU later proceeds to Wake Island. CHOKU MARU would spend the next two years carrying supplies to the garrisons at Truk, Chichi Jima, Saipan, Iwo Jima and others before being sunk by the USS TANG on 25 February 1944. The auxiliary stores ship rapidly sinks by the stern at 15-46N, 144-10E, about 97 nautical miles WNW Saipan. Eight crewmen are KIA.

June 1942: An air unit on Marcus island in June 1942 was believed to be from the Mihoro (Bihoro) NAG, 22nd Air Flotilla. It had 12 Mitsubishi Type 1 G4M1 bombers listed.

 

28 May 1943: The IJA cargo ship SHOJU MARU, escorted by the minelayer UKISHIMA, lay anchor off the southern coast of Marcus Island at 1900. They had departed Nagaura Port on Tokyo Bay on 23 May 1943. Six days later, on 3 June, 1943, they depart.

7 August 1942 – The Americans land on Guadalcanal

1943   _______________________________________

 

10 April 1943: IJN Captain Matsubara Masata was appointed as commander of Minami Torishima Keibitai (Security Force). (Navy Jirei No. 1090 dated 10 April 1943)

14 April 1943: Imperial Japanese Navy Directive No. 220 14 Apr 43
Directive to: Koga, Commandant, Yokosuka Naval District
—1. The 2nd Nankai Defense Unit is to be placed under the command of the Commandant of Yokosuka Naval District upon departure from the port in Japan proper.
—2. The Commandant of the Yokosuka Naval District will assign the foregoing unit for defense of Marcus Island.
Chief of the Naval General Staff
NAGANO Osami

May 1943: The Japanese strength on Marcus Island was strengthened further and the South Seas Garrison Unit (about 600 men under a LtCol) was added to its defenses. On 1 May 1943, Captain Matsubara was promoted to Rear Admiral. He reported to Chichijima special base force (reorganized from 7th base force). In 1943 the Minami Torishima Fortress garrison consisting of aprroximately 1,100 navy, 2,250 army, and 650 civilian personnel, for a total of approximately 4000 personnel.

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15 May 1943 0952K: The submarine USS PERMIT sights Marcus Island after running submerged for four hours. Just 4 days before, they had sunk 3 ships who appeared to be going to Marcus Island. They closed to within 7000 yards of the beach and sighted an aircraft flying nearby and a possible ship beached on the island. They cleared the island around 1830 K and proceeded a safe distance away where they surfaced at 2008K to charge their batteries.

16 May 1943 0522K: The USS PERMIT dove again on a course to return to Marcus Island. They sighted the same ship as before and noted two aircraft flying overhead. With no suitable targets, they surfaced at 1905K and set course for Midway Island.

 

24 June 1943 0155K: Shortly after midnight, the submarine USS SEARAVEN arrives at a position 15 miles east of Marcus Island. They had been plagued by heavily smoking engines from an oil leak since leaving Mare Island Naval Yard in California on 7 May 1943. They had departed Pearl Harbor on their seventh war patrol on 7 June 1943 with engines still smoking and were not able to get them fixed at Midway. They had encountered what appeared to be a Japanese I-61 class submarine on 20 June and suspected the smoke from their engines made them an attractive target. However, they proceeded on toward Marcus Island, running submerged during the day. They had been briefed at Midway to not approach closer than 15 miles to Marcus island during the day as they suspected Marcus island now had a radar that could pick them up at this distance on the surface.

 

Submerging at 0415 Local, the USS SEA RAVEN proceeded to make a reconnaissance of the island via their periscope. Three tall radio towers were sighted on the east side of Marcus Island about 10 miles out. A small 2 engine plane was then sighted to the southeast of the island, patrolling the seas around Marcus. At 1110, a small freighter was noted anchored about a half mile off the southern shore of Marcus, with a small escort ship, probable corvette, anchored about a mile off the southern coast. The plane continued to patrol the waters around the ships. On sailing submerged up the east side of the island, they noted what appeared to be a radar installation installed about midway up the eastern side of the island. They stated it appeared to look very similar to our US Army installations. At this time the Japanese aircraft began to get closer to them so they dove to 120 feet and proceeded northeast away from the island. They returned to the southern part of the island around 1617 to get a better look at the ships. They decided the chances of getting in to a reasonable firing range were too slim to warrant an attack on so small a target. They retired away from the island and surfaced that night to recharge their batteries.

25 Jun2 1943 0430K: Submerged and headed back into the island. The small freighter was still anchored in the same position from yesterday but the Corvette was now patrolling the area. They identified the freighter as one of the Santyo Maru class with a displacement of 1250 tons and a length of 225 feet. Deciding the target was not worth a torpedo, they retired from the Marcus Island area and proceeded to another patrol area. They returned to Pearl Harbor from 51 days at sea on 29 July 1943 without firing a torpedo.

9 August 1943: The submarine USS SUNFISH arrives submerged about 12 miles off the beach and conducts a two day reconnaissance of the island. Several aircraft were noted in the area and a ship was anchored on the southside of the island. They were able to identify the ship as a TATUHUKU MARU type freighter (1951 tons).

It was swinging radically at anchor just off the south shore of Marcus Island, indicating strong and variable currents close in from the south east. Occasional heavy rain squalls obscured the island from the Sunfish. They were able to get within 3000 yards of the ship but the currents would not allow a good shot. At times, full right rudder was needed in the maneuvering. A 500 ton trawler was also noted, patrolling the south side of the island. Finally, the captain decided it was not worth another day and the fuel to attempt to close on the target and they departed the area at 1500K on 10 August 1943. The ship then proceeded on its war patrol where almost 37 days were spent in and near northern Formosa (Taiwan) and five Japanese ships were either sunk or heavily damaged.

1 September 1943:

F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-5 in flight toward Marcus Island, Aug. 31, 1943.  (National Museum of Naval Aviation photo Note: I believe this photo is mislabeled by the source as there is no large land mass, as seen under the first F6F, anywhere near Marcus Island) 

US NAVY GUN CAMERA FILM OF ATTACK ON MARCUS ISLAND (archives.gov)

 

The movie “The Fighting Lady” was released in 1944 by the US Navy. While not naming the carrier it portrayed, it was no secret that it was the USS Yorktown (CV10). In it is footage of the 1943 and 1944 Navy carrier attacks on Marcus Island.

SEVENTH AIR FORCE B-24S BEGIN ATTACKS ON MARCUS

A total of five B-24 groups served with the Seventh Air Force during the Second World War. Two of those units, the 90th BG and 307th BG, were transferred to the Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces respectively to enter combat.

The remaining three groups, the 11th, 30th and 494th BGs, took part in the Seventh Air Force’s campaign in the central and western Pacific, which began in mid 1943. The 11th and 30th Bombardment Groups entered combat with the Seventh Air Force in November 1943, taking part in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Both units then took part in the island hopping campaign, moving to the Gilberts and Marshalls.

From August 1944 to early 1945 the 30th operated from Saipan, before returning to Hawaii for training.

The 11th BG moved to Guam where it conducted raids on Marcus Island and other targets. It then moved to Okinawa, from where it bombed targets on the Japanese home islands and in Japanese occupied China.

The 494th Bombardment Group took a different route across the Pacific. At the end of 1944 it moved to Anguar Island in the Palaus, before entering combat on 3 November with an attack on the Japanese airfields on Yap and Koror. The group spend the rest of the war attacking bypassed Japanese island bases, as well as taking part in the return to the Philippines. In June 1945 the group was the first B-24 unit to move to Okinawa and began to operate its B-24s against Kyushu (the first B-24 unit to operate against the Home Islands). At the end of the war the B-24s of the Seventh Air Force were amongst the aircraft used to fly mercy missions to the Allied prisoners of war being held in Japan.

12 September 1943: Supply ship KASAGI MARU arrived around 2000 off Marcus Island with suplies for the Marcus garrison. It had left the Nagaura harbor on Tokyo bay at 0300 on 5 September 1943. Escorted by two minelayers UKISHIMA and SARUSHIMAA, they stopped briefly at Chichi Jima on 8 September. Just prior to arriving at Marcus, the SARUSHIMA and UKISHIMA participate in a hunt for an enemy submarine until 0300. Nothing was found. At 2000 all arrive at Minami Torishima. The three ships depart Marcus Island on 15 September 1943 at 0300 for a return to Chichi Jima. On 15 September they detect a possible US submarine nearby and search for it until 1900 when the search is called of. They safely at Chichi Jima on 19 September 1943 at 1600. IJN SARUSHIMA will later be sunk on 4 July 1944 off Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. Carrier-based aircraft of Task Force 58 attack the convoy it is in (Convoy No. 3628) and the entire convoy is virtually destroyed. SARUSHIMA is sunk at 27-06N, 142-10E.

29 November 1943: IJN YOSHIDA MARU arrives at Marcus Island after a 16 day voyage from Chichi Jima. It had departed Yokosuka on 23 November 1943 and had stopped in Chichi Jima for five days before departing for Marcus on 29 November 1943. It departs 2 weeks later on 15December 1943 and returns to Chichi Jima on 20 December 1943.:

1944

Marcus Island was a thorn in the side of US submarines heading west to their patrol areas. The subs normally travelled on the surface under diesel power. But at the sight of an airplane, they would have to dive and operate submerged on batteries. A good example of this can be found in the Patrol Report of the USS FLASHER.

10 January 1944: Departing Midway on 10 January 1944, the USS FLASHER proceeds westward under two engine speed. The shortest route to their designated patrol area off Mindoro, Philippines would be a great circle track passing Marcus Island only 30 miles to the north. This was well within the range of Japanese patrol planes from Marcus Island.

Commander Reuben T. Whitaker, the captain of the USS FLASHER, decided to change the track to pass 80 miles to the north of Marcus in the hope that they could get by without being run down by Japanese planes from Marcus Island.

15 January 1944: IJN cargo ship YOSHIDA MARU departs Chichi-Jima in a convoy to resupply the Marcus Island garrison with vital supplies. It is the only merchant ship in the convoy. It carries 129 naval personnel, 116 civilian employees and is loaded with 1,394-tons of ammunition. It is escorted by auxiliary net layer KOGI MARU and subchaser CH-51.

16 January 1944: The USS FLASHER sails by Marcus Island on the surface, maintaining a 150-250 mile distance from it. No planes were sighted but the seas became pretty rough and they had to slow down to conserve fuel.

18 January 1944: (Tuesday) As they turned to the southwest, leaving Marcus behind them, Commander Whitaker writes the following account:

0655 (K) Sighted smoke bearing 170T, distance about 30,000 yards. Changed course to close on smoke and went ahead standard. On approaching closer, smoke appears to come from ship on an easterly course.

0704 (K) Sighted patrol bomber circling ship at about 15miles from us. This plane appeared to be searching from about 7 miles ahead of ship to about 3 miles astern of ship. Changed course to the east to keep from closing and to prevent plane from sighting us. At his point, trailing appears rather hopeless if he has air coverage, we are only about 250 miles from Marcus, so it is possible they may have it all day. Decided to continue on present course, trailing ship in the hope that this plane is just the morning patrol from Marcus and that he will depart when he assures himself that no subs are around. Believe our gray pain prevented him from sighting us.

0805 (K) Plane departed in easterly direction. Decided to get ahead of ship and dive for daylight approach. Commenced end around at three engine speed. Determined base course of shop to be about 095T, speed 11 knots.

1105 (K) Submerged about 15 miles ahead of ship and commenced approach.

1140 (K) Sighted masts of freighter. Found him to be zigging radically with about 40 degrees to 50 degree zigs every five minutes. At seven thousand yards, picked up SC type escort ship on his starboard bow. Decided to make attack from the port side.

1231 (K) All set up for stern shot at about 800 yard run when I took a look and target had zigged toward and left of me with 10 degree starboard angle on bow, crossing track at about 800 yards range. Had to go ahead full to try to get across and ship apparently saw our wake and turned away.

1234 (K) Slowed down to take look as I thought we might still fire with 180 degree track. Just got to periscope up when escort dropped depth charge at about 500 yards on the port beam. Took look at target but say no hope of firing, as freighter had pulled clear.

1236 (K) Went deep to 300 feet, no gradient.

1243 (K) One more depth charge, far away.

1306 (K) Back at periscope depth. Escort seen to be rejoining ship who is at about 12,000 yards bearing 130 T. Will surface when he is about 30,000 yards and make another end around.

1441 (K) Surfaced on course 080 T and commenced end around. Had no trouble tracking because of his heavy smoke.

1630 (K) It now appears that there are two vessels smoking. Believe he may have picked up another escort from Marcus.

1815 (K) Commenced closing target at 19 knots. It now appears that he has changed base course to about 130 T and is still using a radical zig plan.

1842 (K) Battle stations, commenced approach, radar range 14,850 yards. Radar picked up two escorts at 8,000 yards, one on each bow of target and about 1500 yard from track. Took station 6000 yards from target on his port bow and waited for favorable opportunity to attack.

1930 (K) Port escort had dropped well aft and target zigged toward. Headed in for seventy port track at 10 knots.

1936 (K) About 140 miles from Marcus Island, on the surface, the FLASHER fires four Mk XIV Type 3A torpedoes from their bow tubes with a torpedo run of about 2450 yards, track about 70 degree port, target speed 10.5 knots. At this time, we were about 20 degrees on the port bow of the escort at range of about 2300 yards. Commenced turning left with full rudder after firing; went ahead flank, 18 knots.

1937.5 (K) Observed hit about midway between stack and stern. Sparks flew about 200 feet into the air and target began to settle rapidly by the stern. Fifteen seconds after the first torpedo hit, another hit was heard but not observed as we were busy with escorts.

1938 (K) Port escort astern, range 2200 yards

1941 (K) Escorts dropped first of about ten depth charges. This was nice as it showed that they thought we were submerged. We opened out to 5500 yards and circled toward other side of target to be sure he sank.

2002 (K) Observed target sink, and at same time he disappeared from radar screen. Commenced clearing area at four engine speed. Escorts still dropping depth charges.

2115 (K) Went to course 270 True, at two engine speed, heading for area.

A total of three hits are scored and the YOSHIDA MARU sinks 161 miles WSW (23-46N, 151-30E) of its destination, Marcus Island, with the loss of 76 passengers, eight crewmen and 15 gunners.

The escorts stayed in the area recovering survivors and then proceeded to Marcus island, where they arrived on 24 January 1944 at 1200 K.

THE PACIFIC MERCHANT SHIPPING WAR

The Pacific War was very much a war of merchant shipping, in that practically everything needed to defend and/or assault the various island outposts of the Japanese Empire had to be transported across vast stretches of ocean. From the standpoint of the Japanese armed forces in the field it will be noted that 17 percent of army supplies shipped from Japan were sunk in 1943, 30 percent in 1944, and 50 percent in 1945. Japan also had to maintain her vital supply lanes to places like Borneo and Java in order to keep her industrial base supplied.

The Japanese initially resupplied the garrison on Marcus Island with visits from regular cargo ships. They would anchor off the south coast of the island and would be unloaded with barges from Marcus Island. There was a small concrete pier on the south coast that is still used today. With increased pressure on the Japanese cargo ships by American submarines, the Japanese began the construction of cargo submarines to resupply the outlying island outpost. The Ha-101-class submarines were designed as small, cheap transport submarines to resupply isolated island garrisons.

They displaced 429 long tons surfaced and 493 long tons submerged. The submarines were 146 ft 0 in long, had a beam of 20 ft 0 in, and a draft of 13 ft 3 in. They were designed to carry 60 metric tons (59 long tons) of cargo. The Sen Yu Sho (small supply submarine) was also referred to as the SS Type. These submarines were intended to be mass-produced and replace losses of the larger D1/D2 submarines. They featured all welded, modular hulls that allowed for a short five-month construction time. They carried no torpedo tubes, but some could carry ten 18-inch torpedoes as cargo for resupply of midget submarines. They carried a 25-mm AA gun. Twelve boats were laid down of which 10 were completed before the end of the war. Another planned 88 were canceled. The HA-104 cargo submarine was launched on 30 September 1944. It would make two resupply runs to Marcus Island.

At some point, the Japanese built a channel through the reef on the west side of the island to allow the supply submarines to get inside the reef and unload their cargo. (As seen below on the left side of the island, white line inside the reef in the middle of the picture)

The WW2 submarine cut inside the reef on the west side of Marcus Island is still present today, as seen below on the bottom of the picture as a light blue line located at the mid point of the runway.

From May 1944 to Feb 1945, Admiral Matsubara was in charge of all troops on Minami Torishima. On ground fighting he reported to General Kuribayashi, the commander of Ogasawara Heidan (Corps) on Iwo Jima. On navy issues Matsubara reported to RAdm Mori Kunizo, Chichijima special base force CO(Feb 1944-end of war).

6 April 1944:The following are extracts from a 36 page Situation Report submitted by Colonel SAKATA Zenichi, Commander of Army Troops on Marcus Island, dated 6 April 1944:

Chapter 1. General Remarks In accordance with IGHQ Army Section Order 889 of 2 November 1943, the following forces were added:
5th Independent Mixed Regiment (less 1st and 2nd Battalions) and Field Artillery Battalion (less 3rd Company), Engineer Company, and Medical Unit; One-half of 16th Tank Regiment. Of these forces, the 5th Independent Mixed Regiment HQ, 3rd Field Artillery Company, and tank unit landed on this Island on 2 March 1944 but the 3rd Battalion is still in Japan under command of the 5th Depot Division CO.”

“Present strengths:
[Army Troops]
5th IMR Commander Col SAKATA Zenichi
—–Hq under command of a Lt Col (201) including a Signals Section (99)
—–3rd Field Artillery Company (146)
—–Total 348 personnel
2nd South Seas Garrison Unit
—–2 Ordinary Companies, 1 MG Company, and 1 AT Company 577 personnel under a Lt Col
2nd Co, 16th Tank Regiment
—–16 tanks, 63 personnel under a Captain
One half of maintenance company, 16th Tank Regiment
—–45 personnel under a 1st Lieutenant
Grand Total 1076 Army Personnel[Navy Troops]
Naval Guard Unit
—–Commander, Rear Admiral MATSUBARA Masata
—–842 Personnel
Naval Air Group, Yokosuka Detachment, CO Ensign MAKANO [or NAKANO]
—–188 Personnel plus 9 workers
Naval Engineering Department Co Lt(jg) OSHIMA—–382 personnel plus 140 workers
Naval Ordnance Department Co Lt(jg) HIJITAKA
—–86 personnel”
Grand Total 1498 Navy Personnel plus 149 Civilian Workers

Chapter 2. Chain of Command
“Up to the time of departure from a port in Japan the Army forces had been under the command of the Hiroshima Division Commander, but upon departure they entered under command of the Eastern District Army Commander. Further, they came under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, Yokosuka Naval District and under the [immediate] command of the Marcus Island Guard Commander. In acordance with orders, the functions of the Army Forces on this island are under a unified command [he is referring only to his own unit, the 5th IMR]. But the 2nd South Seas Garrison Unit and the Tank Unit (even the tank unit has two separate co’s) are separately under the command of the Eastern District Army. On 4 March 1944, the army forces had been released from the command of the CinC Yokosuka Naval District and they came under the command of the 31st Army Command on 10 March. However, they receive orders directly from the Central Pacific Fleet Commander. The matter is indeed complex… [Goes on to discuss “right of command” and resolves to improve fighting strength both mentally and physically and ends up requesting a unified command structure]. It is earnestly desired that reorganization be effected immediately.

“Chapter 6. Discipline and Conduct ”The five units of the Independent Army Forces, which have no command relationship, are under the command of the Naval Guard Unit. Moreover, there are two units of the Naval Air Group that differ in command, as well as the Civil Engineer and the Engineering Section under the direct command of the Central Headquarters. Their composition is very complex. [SAKATA is complaining that the chain of command problems affect morale]

“Chapter 8 Intendance (Supply)“Since there are no local resources on this island, at present in the main supplies are sent from the Naval Stores Department. In addition to pay and clothing, the Navy is in charge of quarters, provisions, rations, canteen and water supply.”                                  (Source: https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=209730  by Wellgunde » 15 Sep 2014, 04:30)

2 May 1944: Marcus Island receives a seven ship convoy from Chichi Jima consisting of escorts (Minelayers KYOSAI, YURIJIMA, auxilary Minesweeper TOSHI MARU No 8 and TAMA MARU No 6) and cargo ships HYAKUFUKU, TATSUSHO, and KIKI MARUS at 0600. They depart at 1330 on 6 May 1944 to return to Chichi Jima. They return safely to Chichi Jima on 11 May 1944 at 0030. Thirteen days later, Marcus Island would be hit by a three US carrier raid on May 19-20.

THIRD U.S. CARRIER ATTACK ON MARCUS ISLAND

19-20 May 1944 – Planes from a three-carrier task force, Task Force 58, under the command of Rear Admiral A. E. Montgomery, hit Marcus Island with a predawn fighter sweep and strafed and bombed the island for two consecutive days. It consisted of three carriers, the CVs USS WASP and USS ESSEX, and the CVL USS JACINTO, and five cruisers, the CAs USS BOSTON, BALTIMORE, and CANBERRA, and the two CLs (AA) USS SAN DIEGO And RENO. Twelve destroyers provided the screen. They would then proceed to strike Wake Island a few days later.

The mission of the Task Group was to destroy enemy aircraft and installations, and surface craft in the vicinity of the islands. This was to be done by both aircraft and surface action. The primary stated purpose was to increase the security of the American bases in the Marshall islands, and to reduce the effectiveness of Marcus Island as an enemy operating base. A secondary, objective was to provide training for new units, the USS WASP and USS SAN JACINTO having only recently joined the active Pacific forces, and all three carriers having new air groups.

 

For a complete rundown of this third carrier attack on Marcus Island, see https://pacificairlifter.com/places-i-have-been/the-marcus-island-run/marcus-island-during-ww2/2944-2/.

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The US Army Air Force had begun to build its bomber force up after the capture of Guam in July 1944. Three B-24 groups operated in the central Pacific under the 7AF command: The 11th Bomber Group, at Harmon Field, Guam;

On 4 September 1944, the B-24s began missions to Marcus Island. Initially, the raids consisted of one to three aircraft. .Later raids would consist of up to 16 aircraft.  A total of 85 bombing missions to Marcus Island were flown by the B-24s, with the last B-24 raid taking place on July 4, 1945. By this time the emphasis of the war was the invasion of the mainland.

4 September 1944: (7th AF) B-24s on armed reconnaissance missions bomb Marcus.

5 September 1944: (7th AF) Two B-24s on armed reconnaissance hit Marcus.

6 September 1944: (7th AF) B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus. CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 145, OCTOBER 9, 1944 During October 6 Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed two small enemy cargo vessels northeast of Marcus Island and attacked targets on the enemy-held island on both October 6 and 7. The Liberators encountered meager anti­aircraft fire

7 September 1944: (7th AF) B-24s on armed reconnaissance missions hit Marcus.

11/12 September 1944: (7th AF) . B-24J #42-72989, “Pistol Packin Mamma”, took off 11 Sep 1944, with a crew of 10, from Isley Field, Saipan on a lone Armed Reconnaissance mission looking for Japanese shipping around Marcus Island. It was assigned to the 38th Bomber Squadron, 30th Bomber Group. Not seeing any shipping they proceeded to bomb the Japanese installation on the Island. They were soon hit by ground anti-aircraft fire which caused the B-24 to start burning. Three were able to bailout before the B-24 crashed with only one survivor, 2nd Lt. Richard M. Smith, the navigator. He was captured by the Japanese on Marcus Island and sent to Japan where he was interned as a POW.

The other crewmembers were: Dempster, Robert A. Jr, 1Lt, Pilot, PA Service # 0-813479; Chambers, William E. 2Lt, Copilot, GA; Robb, John L ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY, Service # O-682722; Brabender, Rene W. SSgt, Gunner, PA Service # 13135107; Brodziak, Philip A. TSgt, Engineer, NJ, Service # 12136565; Leland, Warren F. TSgt, Radio Operator, MA, Service # 11116615;
McGee, Robert L. SSgt, Gunner, NC, Service # 6928033; Sisko, Martin TSgt, Radar Operator, NY, Service # 12154650; and Thompson, George E. SSgt, Gunner, OR, Service # 19021103

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The following is an account of the shootdown, found in a letter from the sole survivor, Navigator Lt Richard M. Smith.

“We arrived over Marcus Island at 1035 on the 11th of September (1944) and since there was no shipping there, we decided to drop our bombs on the island installations. Almost at the time of bombs-away, we received practically a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire and started burning immediately. The worst fire was below and forward of the flight deck. Sgt Brodziak, our engineer, left his turret position at once and we tried to put the blaze out with the extinguisher from the flight deck but the thing did not work and by that time we were just a mass of flames in the forward part of the plane. I had torn off my flak suit, ear-phones and oxygen mask to get to the fire so I do not know if any “Bail-out” instructions were given or not. While I was getting my chute on, both Lt Dempster and Sgt Brodziak left the flight deck and I never saw either of them again. Lt Chambers, who was flying his first mission as co-pilot never left his seat. I am certain he was killed instantly. I ran down the catwalk and stepped out of the left-rear bomb-bay door which was still open. Just a few seconds later, our bomb-bay gas tank exploded and the plane nosed over and dove straight into the water. I watched it all the way down and not another man got out. The whole thing was over from beginning to end in less than two minutes time. I was in the water about 45 minutes when a landing barge came out from Marcus Island searching for survivors. I tried to avoid them but they saw me and took me aboard. They searched the area for an hour or so, but no one else was about in the water. At the island, the Japanese told me three had bailed out, but one’s parachute did not open and the third man drowned. I had seen one other chute floating down below and behind me, but I could not get near him. I was held on Marcus for a week and then a plane was sent from Japan for me to take me to Yokohama. (Assumed to be Yokohama, original ink blurred). From there I was questioned and imprisoned until July 25th of 1945. Later, when B-29s were bombing Japan, I was interrogated for information as to where they were headed. When I had no answer, they shot me in the shoulder to force me to answer. I had nothing and they gave up on asking any further questions. A group of us were then transferred to Omori prison camp where we were held until liberated on August 29th by US Navy and Marine personnel. The preceding paragraphs are absolutely all I know to tell anyone of what happened and I am absolutely sure I am the only survivor of “Pistol-Packin Mamma”. s/ Richard M. Smith, 2Lt, A.C.

12 September 1944: After B24 Pistol Packin Mamma failed to return from her solitary recon mission, a search was organized for the aircraft and crew. Below are some excerpts from the memories of a fellow crew member, 1Lt P.W. “Bill” Barker.

“Buddy Robb… and his crew took off on a search for enemy shipping in the vicinity of Marcus Island, about 700 miles northeast of Saipan. They ‘got it,’ that is they never returned from a search mission.

On 25 September (1944), my diary record: The first grey streak of dawn found 12 Libs roaring into the sunrise. Theirs was a mission of mercy. The day before the crew had flown to Marcus for recon, and for unknown reasons, failed to return. We had organized a parallel search to cover a 15 mile lane from Saipan to Marcus. Two hours into the mission, we heard a report from Navy Scout, “Survivors in ocean”. We homed in on his M.O.s and arrived on scene in an hour. The crew reported four men in the water. We flew low and slow to drop raft, noting a school of sharks near the victims. Turning and making another pass revealed disappearance of survivors. Sharks! Navy amphib did not land soon enough and after 24 hours in the sea, the boys were in no condition to swim to and board a raft. What had been the crew’s fate? The typhoon that was lurking on their course? Enemy action? Pilotage? God only knows.”

Also on 12 September 1944, the stranded Ground Echelon of the 43nd BS on a ship in Enewetok Harbor would set sail for Saipan.

13 September 1944: (7th AF) B-24s on armed reconnaissance missions bombs Marcus.

14 September 1944:Three B-24s from the 27 Bomb Squadron 30 Bombardment Group flying out of KAGMAN FIELD (aka East Field) Saipan drop bombs on the southeast corner of Marcus Island. The small boat channel (Sub Channel) can be seen throught the outer reef of Marcus Island on the left of the picture.

 

16 September 1944: (7th AF) Three B-24s on training and armed reconnaissance missions bomb Pagan and Marcus.

   The Ground Echelon of the 42nd BS arrive at Saipan where they were again held on ship while they were told their final destination would be Tinian, just south of Saipan. After a 2 day wait, they were told their destination had be changed to Guam.

22 September 1944: After arriving in Guam, the men of the ground echelon had to live in the two man pup tents until they could build their permanent quarters. The permanent quarter were finally completed on 14 October 1944. The squadron was began to get organized and set up shop tents on Agana Naval Air Field. The packing boxes they had brought with them had been piled in open dumps and when they started to unpack, much of the equipment was found to be rusted or broken by the shipment or rain.The Radar section was hit hard as all of thier radar sets were badly damaged by rain. They were able to put only one in commission.

17 September 1944: (7th AF) A B-24 on a armed reconnaissance over Marcus is unsuccessful due to bad weather.

18 September 1944: (7th AF) Two B-24s on armed reconnaissance from Saipan bomb Marcus.

19 September 1944: (7th AF) Three B-24s on snooper and armed reconnaissance missions bomb Iwo Jima and Marcus.

20 September 1944: (7th AF) A lone B-24 on armed reconnaissance bombs Marcus.

23 September 1944: (7th AF) Two B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus.

24 September 1944: (7th AF) Two B-24s on an armed reconnaissance mission bomb Marcus.

25 September 1944: (7th AF) B-24s strike Marcus.

26 September 1944: (7th AF) Two B-24s from Saipan on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus.

26 September 1944: (7th AF) Two B-24s from Saipan on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus.

27 September1944: (7th AF) Two B-24s on armed reconnaissance hit Marcus.

29 September 1944: (7th AF) Three B-24s from Saipan bomb Marcus.

2 October 1944: (7th AF) B-24s hit Marcus.

4 October 1944: (7th AF) B-24s bomb targets on Marcus.

7 October 1944: (7th AF) B-24s on armed reconnaissance, attack Marcus and nearby shipping.

8 October 1944: (7th AF) B-24s hit Marcus.

9 October 1944: A U. S. naval squadron consisting of one battleship Pennsylvania type), two heavy cruisers (Pensacola type), and five
large destroyers bombarded the island.

12 October 1944: (7th AF) B-24s hit AA positions on Marcus.

14 October 1944: (7th AF) 3 B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus.

 

19 October 1944: Unexpected movement orders direct the 42nd BS and 431st BS, air echelon component of the 11th Bomb Group still on Kwajalein, to proceed to Agana Naval Airfield, Guam on this date. The early arrival on Guam was to allow the B24s to hit the Japanese occupied Yap Island to keep it from sending aircraft against the Leyte Invasion, which occurred the next day. It took several days for the entire squadrons to arrive on Guam. The 42 BS lost one plane enroute while it was refueling on the ground at Johnston Island. The plane, # 939, was having the bomb bay fuel transfer pump repaired when a short circuit occurred, igniting some previously spilled gas. All the crew’s and passenger’s baggage went up in smoke along with the aircraft. 

20 October 1944: The U.S. Navy lands four Sixth Army divisions ashore on Leyte, Philippines.

2 November 1944: Three B-24s from the 11th Bomb Group, flying out of the Agana Naval Airfield on Guam, flew an armed reconnaissance to Marcus Island. The formation had one B24 from each of the 11thBG squadrons, probably to familiarize them with the target (One from the 431BS, one from the 42BS, and the other one probably from the 26th BS) Bomb load was 45 100 pounders GP bombs, which fell on the airfield area (15 bombs per plane). The anti-aircraft fire was described as “light and ineffective”.

2 November 1944: – My plane “Glenna Bee” went alone on a raid today to Marcus Island. Carried 15 – 100 pound bombs and 3100 gallons of gasoline. Round trip took 10 1/2 hours. It returned safely. Combat crew claim they hit the target. Edward Tobias, crew chief Glenna Bee, 26th BS

3 November 1944: (7th AF) B-24s from Saipan continue armed reconnaissance and snooper missions over Marcus.

4 November 1944: (7th AF) 2 B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus.

5 November 1944:  B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus.

7 November 1944: (7th AF) B-24s bomb AA positions on Marcus.

21 November 1944: (7th AF) Three B-24s fly an armed reconnaissance and bomb Marcus.

24 November 1944: (7th AF) 3 B-24s from Guam Island on armed reconnaissance bomb Marcus.

28 November 1944: (7th AF) Three 42 Bomb Squadron B-24s flying an armed reconnaissance mission bomb Marcus @ 18,800 feet, bomb load 15x 100 general purpose bombs each

4 December 1944: Three B-24s from the 11th Bomb Group stationed at Harmon Field on Guam take off for a bombing mission to Marcus Island. Loaded with 45 100lb General Purpose bombs, their target are the air installations on the small island. Thirty two of the bombs hit on land whereas 13 landed in the water.The anti-aircraft fire was described as heavy but all three aircraft returned to Guam. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Dec 1944 US Archives, NAI 139809840) 

13 December 1944: Three B-24s from the 30th Bomb Group bomb on Saipan bomb air installations on Marcus Island. From 16,000 feet, 12 of the sixteen 500 lb General purpose bombs hi between the two runways. Four bombs land short or long in the water. Anti-aircraft fire is described as moderate to heavy but inaccurate. All three aircraft return safely to Saipan. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Dec 1944 US Archives, NAI 139809840) 

19 December 1944: Three B-24s from the 11th Bomb Group at Harmon Field, Guam, takeoff, loaded with fifteen100 pound General Purpose bombs each (Total: 45 bombs). Arrivng over Marcus Island just after 1200 noon local time, they each make individual run-ins to the island, with altitiudes varying from 15,600 feet to 18,000 feet. They are met with what they describe as heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire. One B24 receives a hit and is damaged, eith one crewmember injured. Only 24 bombs hit on land, in the airfield area. The other21 bombs land in the water. All three aircraft return to Harmon Field, Guam. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Dec 1944 US Archives, NAI 139809840)                                                   

26 December 1944: (7th AF) Three B-24s fly armed reconnaissance and bomb Marcus.

1945 – The allies increase pressure on Marcus Island

The new year of 1945 brought intensified bombing raids on Iwo Jima and the other Bonin islands. Almost daily bombing strikes continued on Iwo Jima until the actual invasion on 9 February 1945. 

2 January 1945: Three B-24s from the 11th Bomb Group at Harmon Field, Guam arrive over Marcus Island at 1152 K on an armed reconnaissance mission.It takes a little over five hours to get to Marcus Island and navigation must be preciese. Each is loaded with fifteen 100 pound General Purpose bombs, which are dropped on the airfield area from 16,000 feet. The crews report the bombing accuracy as Good, wih Heavy anti-aircraft fire which is reported as inaccurate. All three bombers return to Guam, for a total flying time over 10hours. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Jan 1945; US Archives, NAI 139809840) 

12 January 1945: Three from the 30th Bomb Group, 7th AF,  based at Isley Field, Saipan fly a 10 hours plus armed reconnaissance flight to Marcus Island. Each is loaded with eight 500 pound General Purpose bombs. Marcus is covered with clouds so the B24s use their fairly new to them airborne radar to bomb through the clouds from 19,400 feet. Results are unobserved due to the clouds. All three aircraft return to Saipan. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Jan 1945; US Archives, NAI 139809840) 

29 January 1945: Two B-24s from the 30th Bombardment Group, Saipan, took off on an armed reconnaissance flight to Marcus. 100 General Purpose bombs were used. Each aircraft fley their own bomb run, one from 17500 and the other from 18,700.  One aircraft hit their target whereas the other aircraft went into the ocean. Runways were reported as operational  with heavy equipment seen on the eastern end of the E-W runway. No anti-aircraft fire or airborne interceptors were encountered. Both aircraft returned safely to Saipan. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Feb 1945; US Archives, NAI 139809840) 

4 February 1945: Two B-24s from the 30th Bombardment Squadron based at Isley Field, Saipan takeoff on an armed reconnaissance flight to Marcus Island.Each flew their own runin, 2 minutes apart, from 18,300 feet and 19,000 feet, arriving over Marcus at 1207 and 1209 respectively. All bombs missed their target and fell into the water off the island. Heavy, inaccurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Both aircraft returned safetly to Saipan. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Feb 1945; US Archives, NAI  139928749)

11 February 1945:  Three B-24 from the 30th Bombardment Group based at Isley Field, Saipan, takeoff on an  armed reconnaissance mmissions to Marcus. A total of 100 100lb GP bombs were dropped. Bombed from 15,500 to 18,000 feet, witht the lead aircraft using radar as primary. The lead bombardier saw the bombs would miss thru a beak in the clouds and made a second run with one wingman. The other wingman bombed on the first runin. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Feb 1945; US Archives, NAI  139928749)

16 February 1945: Two B-24s from the 30th Bombardment Group bombed the airfield on Marcus Island. (One plane had aborted due to radio malfunctions) A total of 30 200 GP bombs were dropped from 10,000 feet by PDI. It was reported that 80% were in the target area with 20% 200 yards SE of the target. Anti-aircraft fire was reported as meager to moderate, and accurate. No planes sustained any serious hits.Both aircraft returned to Saipan.  (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Feb 1945; US Archives, NAI 139928749)

17 February 1945: Three B-24 from the 30th Bombardment Group on Saipan bombed installations on Marcus Island at 1218I time, from 16,500 feet. The leader bombed using radar with the other two aircraft releasing bombs when they saw lead release his. All bombs were reported to have hit on  the island, with the center of the pattern east of the desired MPI. Smoke observed on target afterwards. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Feb 1945; US Archives, NAI 139928749)

 19 February 1945: Marines land on Iwo Jima following seven months of bombing and shelling by ships and aircraft of the U. S. Fleet and the Army Air Forces. Admiral Nimitz, concerned that there would be kamikaze attacks on the task force while the invasion of Iwo Jima was in progress, sent reconnaissance aircraft to Japanese bases in the area.  

 

22 February 1945: Three B24s from the 11th Bomb Group on Guam hit Marcus Island with a total of sixty 100 pound General Purpose bombs today. TOT varied from 1334K to 1336K, with one plane using AFCE and the other two by PDI. All bombs hit the runways and building area adjacent toherto. Heavy anti-aircraft fire noted, with ninor damage to two aircaft. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Feb 1945; US Archives, NAI 139928749)

24 February 1945: Three B24s from the 11th Bomb Group on Guam hit Marcus island with a  total of sixty 100 pound General Purpose bombs at 1537K. Bomb altitudes were 10,000 to  10,500 feet, with the leader bombing by radar and the other two in  formation releasing on lead’s release. All bombs hit on the North end of the NE-SW runway and the dispersal area east fo that runway. Anti-aircraft fire was heavy but inaccurate. Weather was clear. (COM STRATEGIC AIRFORPAC – War Diary Feb 1945; US Archives, NAI 139928749)

5 March 1945: IJN Submarine I-363, a Type D-1 submarine departs Yokosuka on on her second supply mission to Minami-Torishima

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A new aircraft enters the fray against Marcus Island

7 March 1945: Marine squadron VMB 612, flying PBJ-1D (B-25) out of Kagman Point, Saipan, begin their first night time low altitude anti shipping missions to Marcus Island and back.

Back in January 1944, the US Marines began experiments in low-altitude anti-ship night-radar operations with B25s. Designated the PBJ-1, it could carry eight HVAR rockets (Model 6) plus paraflares and flash bombs to visually mark a target. In August 1944, the VMB 612 PBJ-1D squadron departed the U.S. for Kagman Base on Saipan Island, arriving on the island in late October. Enroute, they were modified in Hawaii by the installation of an AN/APN-4 airborne Loran receiver, underwing HVAR rocket launchers synchronized to an AN/APQ-5 airborne radar bombsight, and AN/APN-1 airborne radio altimeters calibrated to give accurate reading between 500 and 1,000 feet.

Between 13 November 1944 and February 1945, the squadron flew anti-shipping strikes using rockets against Japanese ships and land targets in the Bonin and Volcano Islands area.

After the invasion of Iwo Jima in February, the squadron undertook search missions to the Marcus Island area, a mission total of 1,450 miles.. It was during this period that the squadron began to experiment with the Tiny Tim rocket. The subsonic Tiny Tim had a diameter of 11.75 inches, a length of 10.25 feet, a firing weight of 1,284 pounds, and a warhead with an explosive charge weighing 150 pounds. The Marines modified a Mk 51 bomb rack to carry the rockets and installed two on the belly of the aircraft at the bomb bay.

On 1 March, the squadron received three PBJ-1Js and in April 1945, the squadron moved to South Field on Iwo Jima (24.47N, 141.20E) in the Volcano Islands to continue anti-shipping missions near the Japanese mainland.

8 March 1945: Three PBJ-1Ds of VMB 612 from Kagman Point, Saipan, make 10.8 hours flights to Marcus Island and return, each flying a different search path to find shipping attempting to resupply the island fortress.

9 March 1945: Three PBJ-1Ds of VMB 612 from Kagman Point, Saipan, make 10.8 hours flights to Marcus Island and return, each flying a different search path to find shipping attempting to resupply the island fortress.

10 March 1945: Three PBJ-1Ds of VMB 612 from Kagman Point, Saipan, make 10.8 hours flights to Marcus Island and return, each flying a different search path to find shipping attempting to resupply the island fortress.

11 March 1945: Three PBJ-1Ds of VMB 612 from Kagman Point, Saipan, make 10.8 hours flights to Marcus Island and return, each flying a different search path to find shipping attempting to resupply the island fortress.

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Also on the night of 11 March 1945, the Japanese struck the US Navy’s main anchorage west of Pearl Harbor, the Ulithi Atoll. In September 1944, after the capture of the Marianas and Peleliu, Ulithi became the anchorage for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. An atoll made up of groups of islands in the Western Caroline Islands, 350 miles SW of Guam, Ulithi was the center of preparation for the assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The huge anchorage could hold over 1,000 large ships -a capacity greater than either Majuro or Pearl Harbor. The Iwo Jima invasion fleet was assembled and departed from Ulithi in February 1945. Now, the US was assembling the invasion fleet for Okinawa, which was to be invaded on 1 April 1945.

In November 1944, a Japanese suicide submarine (KAITEN) succeeded in sinking the fleet oiler USS MISSISSINEWA at anchor in the harbor.

Twenty five twin engine P1Y1 FRANCES aircraft left Kanoya Air Field on Japan’s southern most main island, Kyushu, in the morning of 11 March for the 8 hour, 1000 mile flight to Ulithi Atoll.

 

Recognizing that Marcus Island was the only viable staging base left for Japanese aircraft to refuel going to Truk, increased attention was turned to the island.

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13 March 1945: Three PBJ-1Ds of VMB 612 from Kagman Point, Saipan, make 10.8 hours flights toward the Japan-Marcus Island shipping lanes and return, each flying a different search path to find shipping attempting to resupply the island fortress.

          However, they missed IJN Submarine I-363, which arrived at Minami-Torishima and unloaded much needed supplies to the garrison on the 13th of March 1945.

24 March 1945: Nine B-24s from Guam bomb the torpedo storage area on Marcus. One of the crew’s was that of Lt Frank Jeter. This was their first mission over Marcus Island, but their 23rd overall, having been reassigned from the 392 BS, 30th BG on Saipan to the 26th BS, 11th BG at Harmon Field, Guam on 1 March 1945. 

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26 March 1945: (7th AF) Nine B-24s pound Marcus.

April – May 1945

For a video of a 11th Bomb Group B24 raid on Marcus Island, go to: https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ORafAv-lUo?feature=oembed

April and May 1945 were busy months for the US attacking Marcus Island. The primary mission of the 11th Bombardment Group for April 1945 was strategic bombing of airfields and related installations on Marcus Island and Truk Atoll. The purpose of these missions was to keep the airfields inoperable thus alleviating the possibility of enemy air attack on our installations on Iwo Jima and other bases in the Marianas and Volcano Islands as well as shipping in the area. A certain number of B-24 crews and aircraft were also put on a short alert status, as well as the US Navy patrol on Tinian.

Eleven daylight strikes against Marcus with 2×1000 pound SAP bombs being the average load and 12 to 18 aircraft participating in each strike.

5 April 1945: Planes from the 11th Bomb Group attack Marcus Island. Three of the 26th BS planes are attached to a formation lead by the 42nd BS. Results were reported as good, with one plane damaged by flak. (Grey Geese Calling, pg 113)

9 April 1945: (7th AF) Seventeen B-24s from Guam pound Marcus Island Airfield.

13 April 1945: (7th AF) Eighteen Guam based B-24s pound enemy positions on Marcus.

16 April 1945:  Eighteen Guam based B-24s pound Marcus.The bombardier from the 42nd BS on aircraft 556 received flak wounds to his right arm and chest on the bomb run.In addition to this hit, the plane suffed hits in the left wing, resulting in the loss of number one engine. (Grey Geese Calling, pg 140)

20 April 1945: The USS JALLAO sets sail from Pearl Harbor for its third war patrol. Cmdr Joseph B. Icenhower, the captain of the boat, is a veteran of 10 war patrols. Ten other officers man the boat and seven senior enlisted men round out the leadership of the crew. Each senior enlisted man has at least three war patrols and most have between 8-12. In addition to the officers and senior enlisted men, fifty nine seamen completed the ship’s roster of 77 total men aboard. With no specific orders on hand, the boat sailed westward, making practice dives and conducting other drills.

21 April 1945: (7th AF) Eighteen Guam based B-24s bomb Marcus.

23 April 1945: (7th AF) Thirteen B-24s from Guam pound positions on Marcus.

28 April 1945: Heavy flak is encountered over Marcus Island and four aircraft of the 42nd BS are hit. One person, Lt Roy M. Grice, was seriouisly wounded during the bomb run and one of his legs was later amputated. 

29 April 1945: At 1146K time, the USS JALLAO sighted Marcus Island, bearing 009 degreess, at 13 miles.

Between 1422-1505 K, twenty 7th Air Force B-24s, operating in two groups, pound Marcus Airfield. The USS JALLAO noted numerous bomb explosions on Marcus Island.

30 April 1945:  Lt Cooper of VD-5, Agana Field, Guam, makes a photo reconnaissance pass over Marcus Island at 1200K. They report not anti-aircraft fire and return to Agana without difficulty. (VD-5 ACA  #79)

Late April 1945: The Japanese supply submarine HA-104 starts preparations for a supply run to Minami-Torishima (Marcus) Island.

1 May 1945: Sixteen Guam based B-24s bomb Marcus Airfield. In compliance with 7th AF Bomber Command Tactical Doctrine, they attacked by squadrons. Attacking pin point targets such as Marcus Island, they found that the V of V’s formation was more suitable for this type of bombing as the attacking squadron can be broken up into smaller flights.

2 May 1945:  Twenty-one B-24s flying in two groups, hit the Marcus Airfield and its gun positions between 1434-1540 K time. The USS JALLAO continues to patrol the waters off Marcus Island and observed the explosions.

PB4Y squadron VPB102 is relocated to Tinian from Peleliu under the operational control of FAW-18.

 

5 May 1945: The USS JALLAO, on LIFEGUARD duty off of Marcus Island, sights one B-24 bearing 295 True, range 12 miles.

7 May 1945:  At 0700, VD-5 launches their routine photo reconnaisance mission out of Agana Field, Guam to survey the Japanese forces on Marcus Island. Flown with Lt CONOVER as Aircraft Commander, they arrive at 1240K to vlear skies and encounter no anti-aircraft fire at 15,000 feet overhead Marcus Island.

8 May 1945:

Three of the B24a made dummy runs on the USS JALLAO. The sub shot flares, used their IFF equipment, and their signal searchlight to alert the B-24s of their presence. At 1457k, a PBM bearing 020T, range 10 miles was sighted.

Later that day, around, six large unidentified planes were sighted 12 miles to the west of Marcus Island at low altitude. They circled to the south west of the island and landed on the airfield at 1405K. At 1814, the USS JALLAO sends a message (Serial No. Two) to COMSUBSPAC reporting the landing the Japanese planes on Marcus Island.

 

B-24 #44-40617, “Temptation”, of the 96th Bombardment Squadron, was hit over Marcus Island by anti-aircraft fire. It knocked out one engine, damaged the flight controls, and punctured the gas tanks. The aircraft, with a crew of 11, was able to maintain course and drop its bombs on Marcus Island. It then turned toward Guam and its home field Harmon Field. It lost altitude and another B24 dropped out of formation and joined up with it to monitor its return flight. A US Navy rescue flying boat arrived to take over the escort duties. About an half hour before sunset, about 70 miles north of Saipan, the aircraft ditched in the ocean. Due to the rough seas and high swells, the rescue plane could not land but circled over the crash site all night directing the search of surface ships. Several crewmembers were killed on impact and only two were able to get out of the airplane. They were picked up by a ship when the sun came up the next day.

For a more detailed account of this B-24 mission, see MARCUS Island – B24

9 May 1945: The 26th Bomb Squadron of the 11th Bomb Group on Guam was on again on alert for a strike on Marcus island. It was changed to Truk and some time around midnight work was begun on the flight line, draining unneeded gas from the planes to allow for an increased bomb load for Truk. 

Unbeknownst to the USS JALLAO, these aircraft were US Navy PB4Ys of VPB-102 and VPB-108, inbound to attack Marcus from just 100 feet. This attack was a direct result of their report of enemy aircraft arriving at Marcus Island the previous day on 8 May 1945.

Intelligence sources had found that the Japanese planned to send up to 30 planes from the mainland to Marcus or Truk to strike US bases in the Mariannas and Western Carolines. There was real concern that there might be kamikaze attacks on the fleet anchored at Ulithi Atoll.

On 1 May 1945, VPB-102, flying the older PB4Y-1 LIBERATORS, and VPB-108, flying the newer PB4Y-2 Privateers, all US Navy planes of the Navy Search and Reconnaissance Group, TINIAN, were placed on 1 hour alert so they would be available to counter this threat.

All flyable planes of VPB-102 were at all times during the alert gassed 2300 gallons and armed with twenty 100 General Purpose bombs. All personnel of the squadron were restricted to the Naval Air Base with instructions that the Duty Officer be notified of where-abouts any time they left the immediate squadron area. In this way, it was hoped that the planes would be airborne within one hour of the execute signal.

At 0105K, 9 May 1945, about 9 hours after the USS Jallao had notified their command of the arriving Japanese aircraft, CTF 94 Secret Dispatch 081249 was received by the Tinian Navy forces to execute the attack on Marcus Island.

LtCmdr Pressler, the commander of VPB-102, was the first to take off at 0202K. The remaining six aircraft assigned to VPB-102 were all off within an hour of that, the latest at 0303K. Three planes of VPB-108 were also able to get off during this time period, for a total of 9 aircraft airborne. All had to take off in a driving rain

LtCmdr Pressler was the first aircraft to reach Marcus Island. Seeing the Japanese aircraft on the runway ready to take off, he commenced his attack immediately without waiting on the others. At 0715, his bombs hit the Japanese aircraft on the runway. They immediately began to burn. He encountered intense antiaircraft fire throughout the run but was able to make it safely across the island. The other Navy aircraft arrived a varying intervals and attacked in one group of three and in a group of two. These aircraft ran the gauntlet of heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire as they flew down the north-south and east-west runway respectively. Each aircraft received damaging hits and two crashed within a few miles of the island. Six crewmembers survived and were picked up by the US submarine USS Jallao.

Seeing the accuracy of the anti-aircraft fire and that all Japanese aircraft had been destroyed already, LtCmdr Pressler ordered the last two aircraft to abort, jettison their bombs, and to return to Tinian. The number of Japanese aircraft destroyed varies with accounts, but up to five Japanese Bettys and Myrts were known destroyed and four more probably destroyed.

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PB4Y-1P VD-5, based out of Agana, Guam. On the recovery of Lieutenant Commander John E. Muldrow’s surviving crewmembers.

 

For a more detailed account of this mission, see Marcus Island – The Navy Enters

10 May 1945: The supply submarine HA-104 departs Yokosuka on a supply run to Minami-Torishima, carrying 31-tons of food and 0.5-tons of other cargo. (Ha-104 was an Imperial Japanese Navy HA-101 class cargo submarine.

10 May 1945: (7th AF) Eleven B-24s bomb Marcus Airfield in the morning.

11May 1945: Thirteen B-24s pound Marcus Airfield

13 May 1945: (7th AF) Nine B-24s strike Marcus Airfield.

 

15 May 1945: The last of the 494th Bomb Group aircraft and crews return to Anguar Island after being attached to the 11th Bomb Group for raids on Marcus and Truk. The 494th BG flew a total of 121 sorties from Guam in support of the 11th Bomb Group.

20 May 1945: (7th AF) Ten Guam based B-24s hit the Air Operations building west of the South Boat basin on Marcus. All planes and crews returned to Harmon Field without difficulty.

22 – 31 May – The submarine USS PIRANHA returned to Midway to refit 21 April – 17 May, then sailed for patrol, lifeguard, and bombardment at Marcus Island for 10 days between 22 May – 31 May. Here she was attacked several times by shore batteries. Leaving Marcus, she refueled at Saipan and then sailed to complete this patrol off Honshu, the main island of Japan.

24 May 1945: Twenty-six B-24s pound Marcus Airfield and surrounding area this Thursday.

26 May 1945: Ten B-24s of the 26th BG from Harmon Field, Guam, bombed the Marcus Airfield. This was what they called a ‘Hurry Up” mission. American forces on Iwo Jima had been under an all-night Japanese fighter attack and Intelligence thought the Japanese planes were flying out of Marcus Island, or at least staging out of there.

30 May 1945: Ten Guam based B-24s of the 26th BG hit Marcus Airfield. Some crews were under extra stress on this mission as they had been told, since they missed the target on the last mission of the 26th of May 1945, if they missed the target this time, they would not get credit for either mission. If they hit the target this time, they would get credit for both missions. Double or nothing. They went over the target in flights of three, A,B, C, and D. B flight hit the target as did all the other flights except A flight. C flight started a large fire in the dispersal area. The flak was moderate and inaccurate, one plane being hit. 20 – 100 lb GP bombs from an altitude of 12,000 feet. Total flying time was 11 hours 20 minutes.

4 June 1945: Thirteen Guam based B-24s hit Marcus Airfield and boat basin on Marcus.

12 June 1945: Twelve Guam based B-24s pound Marcus Airfield. Ten are from the 98th BS and two from the 26th BS. 

14 June 1945: While on its way to its assigned area on SEAFOX’s War Patrol # 4, the USS Seafox’s mission is changed and ComSub Pac directs it to proceed to Marcus Island for Lifeguard duties, expect to arrive noon, 17 June 1945.

19 June 1945: 

19 June 1945: Ten bombers from the 431st Bomb Squadron made the first bomb run over the target, receiving only a few burst of flak, none of which was close enough to cause any damage.

They were followed by 12 B24J/Ls of the 42nd Bomb Squadron. Burst of flak was close enough to be be heard by the crews. One burst, or possible a three gun salvo was “right on the button” within the formation, scoring hits on eight airplanes. Lt Beanblossom’s aircraft, 44-41576, received the most damaging hits, causing the loss of #3 engine and a gas tank leak in the right wing. They were unable to feather the #3 prop, which resulted in a rapid loss of altitude. They tossed every piece of jettisonable equipment overboard to help lighten the aircraft. The aircraft reported at 0040Z that they were unable to keep the airplane in the air and at that time ten members of the crew were observed to bail out, riding their parchutes into the Pacific. The whereabouts of the 11th crewmember was unknown. The US Navy advised them that a destroyer would be dispatched to the area and that a submarine would reach the area around 0600 the following morning. The rest of the formation returned to Guam and their aircraft were readied for an early takeoff the next day to come back and search for the crew.urin

During the night, the squadron received a TWX (teletype message) from Saipan reporting the crash landing of a B-24 between two of Tinian’s south runways There was only one person on board and he was in the hospital with severe injuries and could not be questioned. They were able to determine the individual was TSgt Guillerno Abrego (ASN 18024421) the flight engineer of Lt Beanblossom’s crew. He would later die in the hospital of his injuries. It was determined that he had not bailed out but had chosen to fly B-24 #44-41576 by himself back to Tinian.

https://pacificairlifter.com/places-i-have-been/the-marcus-island-run/marcus-island-during-ww2/marcus-island-the-saga-of-b24-44-41576-on-19-june-1945/

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20 June 1945: Lt (jg)H. PETERSEN of VD-1 obtained routine photo coverageof Marcus Island today. Takeoff from Agana Field, Guam was at 0640K and Marcus Island was reached at 1213K. Vertical photographs were obtained from 19,000 feet. On the return route photographs were taken of the rescue by submarine (USS SEA FOX) of an Army LIBERATOR crew (Lt Beanblossom crew from the 42 BS, 30 BG based at Harmon Field, Guam) that had ditched the previous day. Lt PETERSEN landed at Agana Field at 1740K. (VD-1 ACA 28, NAI 101717407)

25 June 1945: At dawn, three B-24s attack heavy AA positions on the west coast of Marcus.The USS SEA FOX monitored the flight.

26 June 1945:  One B-24 attacks heavy AA positions on the west side of Marcus at dawn. The USS SEA FOX reported anti aircraft fire and black smoke over Marcus at 0606. 

On the Japanese mainland, efforts to resupply Marcus Island continue. Cargo submarine HA-104 is again loaded with supplies and departs Yokosuka this Tuesday night on her last supply run of the war to Minami-Torishima. She arrives safely at the end of the month, unloads her cargo, then returns safely to Yokosuka. She will later be scuttled in the Yokosuka harbor by the Japanese.

27 June 1945: Three B-24s bomb the underground storage area and fortifications on Marcus

28 June 1945: Three B-24s from Guam bombed the fuel storage area on Marcus Island.

30 June 1945: Two Guam based B-24s (7th AF) attack the boat basin on Marcus. 20th AF B-29s fly a mission against Marcus.

1 July 1945 Sunday: 2 B-24s from the 11th Bomb Group, Guam, bomb the building concentration on Marcus Island.

2 July 1945: MONDAY 3 B-24s from Guam Island attack a radar installation on Marcus Island. 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with its 26th, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from Guam Island with B-24s to Okinawa.

3 July 1945: 2 B-24s from the 11th Bomb Group, Guam attack water storage facilities on Marcus Island

4 July 1945: 3 B-24s from the 11th Bomb Group, Guam (7th AF) attack AA installations on the SW corner of Marcus. The 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with its three squadrons of B-24s (26th, 96th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons) move from Guam to Okinawa to begin a bombing campaign on the main islands of Japan. Marcus is left to the Navy to fly periodic reconnaissance missions over it.

13 July 1945: A PB4Y-1P of VD-3 took off from Agana Field, Guam, at 0750K for a flight to Marcus Island. Arriving overhead Marcus at 1325K, vertical and oblique photographs were obtained of the Japanese base. The ceiling and visibiltiy was unlimited.  (VD-3 ACA 32, NAI 83569996)

20 July 1945: The 393d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 509th Composite Group, begins a series of 12 precision attacks over Japan for the purpose of familiarizing the crews with the target area and tactics contemplated for the scheduled atomic bomb missions; the strikes (on 20, 24, 26, and 29 Jul) are mostly against (or near) cities previously bombed, in the general area of cities chosen for possible atomic attack, and involve from 2 to 6 aircraft in order to accustom the Japanese to sight of small formations of B-29s flying at high altitudes.

26 July 1945: Thursday: The Potsdam ultimatum is issued, i.e., Japan is told to surrender unconditionally or face “utter destruction.”

30 July 1945: The Japanese reject the Potsdam ultimatum. Nevertheless General of the Army George C Marshall, Chief of Staff, US Army, directs General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General US Army Forces in the Pacific, Lieutenant General Albert C Wedemeyer, Commanding General, US Forces in the China Theater, and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief Pacific, to proceed with plans for a surrender.

31 July 1945: Just after noon, at 1226K, a lone US Navy PY4Y-1P LIBERATOR overflew Marcus Island at 18,000 feet, securing good vertical photographs of the Japanese installations. The aircraft, flown by Lt F.W. Crook, had taken off that morning, at 0645K, from Agana Field, Guam, for the almost six hour flight. The Japanese did not shoot any anti-aircraft fire nor were there any Japanese interceptors noted on the island. The Fleet Air Photographic Squadron (VD-1) aircraft, with Lt F.W. Crook at the controls, landed back at Agana Field at 1805K and the film was rushed to processing. (VD-1 ACA 55, NAI 140072810)

1 August 1945: Hospital ship KIKO MARU departs Yokosuka for Marcus Island. On 2 August 1945,LtCdr William Cook’s Australian HMAS destroyer NIZAM passes a ship showing lights and challenges, but receives no answer. At first light, the Japanese ensign is seen on the masthead as are large Red Cross signs painted on the craft. HMAS NIZAM sends a boarding party over by whaler to investigate. The party is told that the ship is destined for Minami Torishima (Marcus Island). The ship has accommodations for 100 patients, but has none aboard. It was allowed to proceed.

6 August 1945 – With the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima and three days later on Nagasaki, the inevitable end of war was in sight in the Pacific.

7 August 1945: The USS ENTEMEDOR surfaces off Marcus Island at 0706 K. At 0925 K, their SV (Surface targets) radar receives a contact at 29.000 yards (16.5 miles) to the south west of Marcus. They submerged and approached the target in an attempt to identify it. At 1034K, they were able to idenify the target as a 221′, two masted, Japanese Hospital Ship ( KIKU MARU ).

They then returned to their Lifeguard position and surfaced so they could warn the incoming bombers of the ship. They surfaced in a rain squall. They were able to contact two B24s inbound of the Japanese hospital ship. the b24s stated that 12 B-29s were behind them but would be late. The concern was that the Japanese Hopital Ship would arrive at Marcus before the B-29s and would receive their bombs. At 1332K the 12 B-29s were sighted visually and the Japanese hospital ship was still 6 miles away. The B-29s commenced their bomb run and struck Marcus with 368 500 pound bombs (92 tons). The hospital ship, upon seeing the strike, promply reversed course to get away from the threat. It did return and took a position off off the southern coast at 1600K. By 1710K it had completed its loading and left Marcus on a westerly course back to Japan. The USS ENTEMEDOR followed the ship for awhile but then handed it off to a nearby destroyer, the USS CASSIN.

8 August 1945: The hospital ship KIKU MARU is spotted by the destroyer USS CASSIN (DD-372) about 250 miles NW of Marcus Island, 1125 miles southeast of Tokyo. They put a boarding party aboard and, after observing no violations, USS CASSIN permits KIKU MARU to proceed to Yokosuka.

12 August 1945: The US submarine APOGON, on its 8th war patrol enroute to Saipan, receives ComSubsPac 120949 directing them to proceed vicinity of Marcus Island. It relieves the USS Entemedor.

13 August 1945: KIKO MARU arrives at Yokosuka with 130 patients from Marcus Island.The vessel was manned by 6 officers and 98 men. Four medical officers and 71 enlisted medical personnel also were on board.

14 August 1945: The Japanese Emperor issues an Imperial Rescript calling upon his Commanders to surrender and cooperate with the victors. After they received the Emperor’s orders, and were convinced it was authentic, most outlying Garrison Commanders were more than willing to reply.

15 August 1945: USS APOGON sights Marcus Island bearing 093 degrees, range 22,000 yards. It settles into the routine of patrolling around Marcus and acting as a Lifeguard for aircraft in the vicinity. That morning they sighted a PB27 and established communications with it.

16 August 1945: USS APOGON received permission t patrol within 45 miles radius of Marcus Island.

17 August 1945: At 0615, the USS APOGON closed to within 3 miles of Marcus Island. Two boats, probably fishing boats, are tied up to pier south side of island. Recent air attacks still leave the radio towers, radar towers, smokestack, and large buildings apparently usable. A PB2Y flew overhead and communications were established with it.

 

22 August 1945: The first group of Japanese to surrender under this Rescript was the Japanese garridon on Mille Atoll, southwest of Majuro Island in the Marshall Islands They surrendered on 22 August, 1945, eleven days before the September 2, 1945 signing on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Aka Shima, Tokashiki Shima, and Morotai surrendered within a few days later.

25August 1945: The USS APOGON continues it daily patrol in the vicinity of Marcus Island, Around noon, they sighted a PB4Y2, which dropped leaflets over Marcus Island. They were informed that a plane would deliver mail to the tomorrow. At1300, they went ALL STOP and had a swimming call for 20 minutes. It was a beautiful day with a calm sea and the water was fine.

26 August 1945: The USS APOGON continues to monitor the activity on Marcus Island. At 1332, they sighted a CORONADO aircraft 13 miles away and established voice contact. He had mail for them. The sub received aboard 4 ammunition cans full of mail.

Mid August 1945: B29s dropped surrender leaflets on Marcus that give full instructions as to what the Japanese were to do. 1) Place two white crosses on the airstrip 2) When the American warship approached the island, they were to set off a white smoke bomb 3) A white flag was to be kept flying from a prominent spot.

27 August 1945: In the morning, around 9:20, the USS APOGON established radio contact with an American plane. The plane reported that the Japanese had placed two white crosses on the runway, signaling their acknowledgment of the surrender terms. At 1225, they sighted mast on the horizon in the southeast. They exchanged recognition signals and identified the ships as the USS MAYRANT (DD402) and USS DONEFF (DE49).

 

The USS MAYRANT approaches the island and stops about a half mile off the southern beach. A small landing boat with a huge Japanese flag stood out from the pier toward the MAYRANT. The APOGON was also about one mile from the beach. At 1448, the USS APOGON received ComSubsPac Dispatch 270144 ordering them to depart and proceed to San Diego via Pearl Harbor. Two minutes later, the APOGON departed the Marcus Island area on a course of 132 T proceeding to Hawaii. The log entry read “The MAYRANT and DONEFF can have Marcus Island.” They lost radar contact with Marcus Island at 1537, at 27,000 yards. The USS APOGON would later be sunk during the Bikini atoll atomic testing, 25 July 1946.

On the MAYRANT is notified by an aircraft that the runway had been marked with two white crosses. Approaching closer, a white smoke bomb could be seen. And, finally, they spotted a white flag flying from a building. As they approached from the south they could see several hundred men lined up next to the small concrete dock there. Asmall Japanese boat leaves the pier at Marcus and journeys out to the MAYRANT where the surrender ceremony is planned.

28 August 1945: A Japanese relief ship comes into view and anchors off the south coast of Marcus Island that afternoon around dinner time.

31 August 1945: Flying the flag of Rear Admiral Francis Whiting, the destroyer Bagley (DD 386) arrived at Marcus Island around 0905 am to join the other ships. . Later that day, on the deck of the destroyer, which had been moored at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941, Whiting accepted the surrender of the Japanese garrison on Marcus Island.

After the time of the surrender, there were 2,542 Japanese Army and Navy personnel, plus a number of Japanese civilians remaining on the island. the majority of them were suffering from a all forms of tropical maladies and most of them suffered from severe malnutrition. Not only were they unfit as laborers, their continued presences on the island presented a threat to the health of the Occupation forces.

2 September 1945: The war with Japan officially ends with the signing on the battleship Missouri. While the Japanese had broadcast their surrender on the morning of August 15 (the evening of August 14 in Washington, D.C.), it took some time for hostilities to come to a stop. Combat continued in places where Japanese commands had not received (or refused to believe) word of the cease-fire and surrender. But things had quieted down within a few days and by September, parts of the Third Fleet’s fast carrier task force (fleet and light carriers of both the U.S. and Royal navies) had been reassigned to other duties. Still, there was concern that kamikazes, whether rogue or under government orders, might try to disrupt the surrender ceremony. The Navy wanted fighter cover in case of any aerial threat to the assembled military leadership. Consequently, the remaining ships of the fast carrier task force, roughly half the maximum wartime strength, were not in Tokyo Bay, but instead were cruising offshore, ready to conduct flight operations to protect the ships and VIPs if necessary. Fortunately, these preparations were not needed: The instrument of surrender was signed by all parties without a hitch, at which point the carrier planes showed their other reason for being in the sky that morning. Moments after the ceremony on the Missouri concluded, 349 carrier airplanes (though some sources say it was 450) flew overhead in a massed formation. They were followed by 462 B-29 Superfortresses, the only other aircraft that had been able to bomb targets in the Japanese home islands on a regular basis during the war. It was an aerial show of might to match the roughly 250 Allied vessels in the harbor that day: A fitting celebration to the end of both the Pacific War and World War II as a whole.

Of interest, the commander of the Japanese Army forces on Marcus Island was Col Sakata. Col. Sakata died on Marcus and is listed as a battle casualty. The real story is a little different and there are two versions of what happened:

The first version states that one of his officers developed “island fever” and demanded that Sakata abandon the island. This officer was certainly delusional; Sakata would never have returned his command to Japan even had it been in his power to do so. When Sakata rebuffed the man’s demands, the officer killed Sakata. What became of the officer is unknown. He was probably given a field courts martial on the island and executed. I imagine it would have been too difficult to send him back to Japan for trial at that point in the war. It’s surprising that more of the personnel on Marcus didn’t go nuts. Marcus was short of everything except personnel..

The second version, suggested by Akira Takizawa: Because of the serious shortage of foods, Admiral Matsubara advised Col. Sakata that the army forces would return to Japan. But, Col. Sakata did not agree with it, because his pride did not allow him to retreat from the front. Admiral Matsubara asked Captain Nakamura, the tank unit commander, to persuade Sakata. Nakamura persuaded Sakata, again and again. But, Sakata did not agree. At last, Nakamura killed Sakata and committed a suicide.

(source:https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=209730#p1892949)

Bibliography

Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron 14/102 – Squadron History (tripod.com)