Alaska's Pearl Harbor

Rindfleisch
Published on May 25, 2021
By early 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy had taken over most of Asia. Their eyes were now set upon the Philippines, New Zealand, and Australia. But the United States military knew that they were next, and an imminent conflict was inevitable.

Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, and other surrounding territories were simultaneously attacked in December of 1941. When America least expected it, the Japanese were already at its doorstep in Alaska.

The Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II was the second time an American territory was occupied and attacked by a foreign force since the Mexican Revolution. The Japanese sought to control the Aleutians to prevent a possible US attack on the Northern Pacific.

On June 2, 1942, a Japanese Task Force was spotted off the coasts of Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island. Under the command of Japanese Vice-Admiral Hosogaya, an aircraft fleet attacked the island with hopes of damaging the American port with a surprise charge.

But they did not know that an underpowered yet brave American garrison was already waiting for them...

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