In an attempt to assuage his crushing defeat at Midway a few days earlier, Yamamoto ordered Hosogaya to carry out his attack on the Aleutians. On 6 June, 1942, the Japanese took Kiska Island without opposition. The public back in Japan was informed of this "great victory," but the events at Midway were unknown until after the war's end. On 8 June, Nimitz deployed his two carriers to destroy Hosogaya's fleet, but pulled them back before they reached their target, not wanting to risk them against Japan's land-based aircraft from Kiska. Although the Japanese had no real use for the islands they took in the Aleutians, they decided to stay because they prohibited the U.S. from launched Aleutian-based attacks on the Japanese homeland. Similarly, American commanders mainly wanted to recapture the islands to take Japan's sole foothold in the Western Hemisphere, a mainly psychological goal.
In mid 1943, as plans for Kiska began after the capture of Attu, ADM Kinkaid was intent on learning from the mistakes of that battle. Some argued that after the bloody, difficult battle for Attu, Kiska should be left alone to wither away. Even so, a desire to end the campaign and free up resources for elsewhere prevailed. He wanted the soldiers in this battle to better equipped; to this end parkas took the place of field jackets and the leather boots worn previously were swapped for arctic shoes. Also, troops were to be better training for the type of fighting that was sure to ensue. Only seasoned veterans from Attu and troops trained at Adak in the fighting style of the Attu battle would be in this fight. As U.S. Intelligence estimated Kiska's forces to number around 10,000, Kinkaid nearly doubled the Allied landing force to 34,426 troops, including 5,500 Canadians. After more than a month of heavy bombardment, unlike Attu, Operation COTTAGE began on 15 August, despite recent reports of no enemy activity. It was believed that the enemy had dug itself into the ground. By 1600 on the 15th, 6,500 troops had landed at Kiska. The landings were unopposed, and once on the island, veterans of the previous battle wee on the lookout for enemy troops waiting for them on higher ground.
They never found them. Nearly three weeks earlier, on 28 July, under the cover of fog, Japanese cruisers and destroyer had managed to find a way past the American blockade and succesfully retrieved all Japanese troops from the island. By the time our troops landed they were all safely back in the Kurile Islands. U.S. intelligence had refused to believe that the Japanese would abandon their post, claiming it was against their code of Bushido. In this final battle, against no enemy, American casualties totaled 313, all from friendly fire and ship accidents. On 24 August, 1943, after the island had been searched and no Japanese presence was found, the island was declared secure. The Aleutian Campaign was over and America had won her first full-theater victory of the war.
Aerial shot of Kiska
Library of Congress
| Table of Contents |
Geography and Weather |
Background |
Timeline |
Dutch Harbor |
Kiska |
Komandorski |
Amchitka |
Attu |
Significance |
Bibliography |