Wake Island: The Last Stand That Surprised Japan

December 1941. The Pacific War is just beginning, and Wake Island, a small atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, has been suffering daily attacks from Japanese bombers. The defenders must rely on unfinished fortifications, outdated coastal guns, the four surviving aircraft of the 211th Fighter Squadron of the US Marine Corps (USMC), some anti-aircraft guns equipped with fire control directors, the help of civilian workers, and unwavering determination. Poorly equipped but well-trained, the marines work intensely preparing for the worst. On December 11, a Japanese landing force, under the command of Rear Admiral Kajioka, approaches Wake Island, determined to conquer the atoll and transform it into an advanced air base for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The bomber pilots reported that, in the previous three days, they had destroyed the island's defenses, therefore, little resistance was expected. Sources: 1. R.D. Heinl Jr. The Defense of Wake. US Marine Corps, 1947. 2. J.P.S. Devereux The Story of Wake Island. New York, 1947. 3. R.J. Cressman A Magnificent Fight: Marines in the Battle for Wake Island. Naval Institute Press, 1997. 4.