February 21, 1943 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Fullam: 

John was on duty at his new destroyer, the USS Fullam, at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.

Aleutian Islands

The Japanese had occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska in the western part of the Aleutians chain during their Midway operation.  The Aleutians, however, were too far north, and the weather was too bad, for either side to use them for offensive operations.  Small Navy forces were present from both Japan and the US.  In late summer of 1942 the Japanese removed most troops from Attu; but given the weather, including frequent dense fog, the US Navy was completely unaware of the Japanese maneuver.  On February 18th, a US Navy force bombarded a mostly empty Attu Island.

We shall have a reason to re-visit the Alaskan theater later on.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 310-312.
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 1-21.
  

 

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