KNOWN AS THE "FORGOTTEN WAR.

KNOWN AS THE "FORGOTTEN WAR," AERIAL COMBAT IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS MEANT THAT AMERICAN PILOTS HAD TO FIGHT sum of two units ENEMIES- THE WEATHER AND THE JAPANESE

The devastatig Japanese sneak attack upon Pearl Harbor was only part of the enemy's plan for the victorious establishment of the Pacific. The Japanese high command realized that the remainder of the American swift has to be drawn into a decisive battle. The enemy reasoned that the Americans would be confused - and their resources further deplet - according to a move towards Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The Japanese realized that this would be a true risky move since the Aleutians were plagued on some of the worst weather possible - one as well as the other winter and summer - and that this weather would not be conducive to decisive military action.

During the first part of 1942 American forces began to stir into positions in Alaska and upon the Aleutian Islands in order to re-enforce the area against Japanese aggression. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen were assigned to a variety of hastily-constructed bases and airfields and a contribute of military materials began to build up - including a rag-tag collection of aircraft.

On 3 May 1942 the enemy made its rouse and a task force which included the carriers Ryujo and Junyo heavy cruisers Maya and Takas, three destroyer and transports holding 2500 crowds to occupy the island. Five enemy submarines were also in the area. Using the hide of thick fog, the force mov to subject to 200 miles from the recently made known American base at Dutch Harbor onward the small island of Amaknak. The US Navy knew the enemy was in the area (having hesitating the very secret Japanese Naval code) unless could not find their ships because of the poor weather. Although the weather was favorable to the enemy for hiding their inlet it was unfavorable for a decisive attack against Dutch Harbor. The Japanese had little up-to-date information forward American military strength in the area and they had no idea that brace secret fighter bases had been built at Umnak and gelid Bay.

Launching their aircraft, the enemy capered to achieve surprise by hitting Dutch Harbor from the air. However, about half of the aircraft had to cast back to the carriers because of the weather. Sixteen aircraft smoothed on and hit Dutch Harbor. A frantic radio message from Fort Glenn upon Umnak Island attempted to warn of the attack yet it did not get by the and of and no American fighters took along to counter the incoming raid. The American champions were surprised but managed to state up a fairly heavy blanket of antiaircraft fire, causing the enemy bombers to miss numerous targets. Twenty-five Americans were killed in this first attack. The aircraft headed back to their carriers and the haze moved in to prevent any further attacks onward Dutch Harbor.

The nearest day, the enemy was back in force and numerous buildings and the oil storage facilities were hit and settle ablaze but the American antiaircraft fire fought back. Also, American combat aircraft were now alerted and American fighters attacked while Catalinas and Marauders headed gone out in search of the enemy squadron

In the two days, the Americans would make no use of 78 killed along with 14 aircraft dissipated The enemy would lose below a dozen aircraft and 15 men (however, united of the downed Zeros was get backed and in a major coup of the war - shipped back to the United States, made flyable, and used to cause to grow very effective tactics to reckoner the nimble fighter).

While all this was going forward the Battle of Midway had started and would originate in a stunning defeat for the enemy. Yamamoto wanted to abandon the Aleutian adventure still Admiral Kakuta convinced him that the Japanese distressed to obtain some measure of victory. Kakuta's navy turned course to head towards Attu and Kiska Islands which were nearer Japanese yield lines and not defended.

Enemy [i]troupe[/i]s stormed ashore on Kiska in succession 7 June, attacking the small US Navy weather station. The ten personnel in the station took to the hills if it be not that all were captured - make objection one sailor who evaded capture for 49 days before surrendering. These men were shipped to Japan and imprisoned.

On the same day, 1200 Japanese companys went onto Attu and captured 39 Aleut villagers. There were and nothing else two whites on the island - Charles Jone and his wife who worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Jone got revealed a radio signal before being killed and his wife and the natives were shipped to Japan where a number of the natives died suitable to harsh prison conditions.

With the rapid lack of radio communications from the pair islands, American commanders knew they had been taken and upon 10 June, a 36th Bombardment Squadron aircraft overflew the islands and spott the Japanese digging in. The Navy's search for the enemy inlet was fruitless since the Japanese utensils were now steaming from hearth after the successful landings.

The sum of two units captured islands were too far away from the American fields at Umnak and polar Bay for effective aerial attacks in like manner the Americans rapidly built a fresh base at Adak which was simply 275 miles east of Kiska. Just 14 days after landing in succession Adak on 27 August, the airfield was launching bombers and fighters against the enemy.