Japanese attacks during World War II Howland Island

earhart light, pictured here showing damage sustained during world war ii, named amelia earhart during late 1930s.

a japanese air attack on december 8, 1941 14 twin-engined mitsubishi g3m nell bombers of chitose kōkūtai, kwajalein islands, killed 2 of kamehameha school colonists: richard dicky kanani whaley, , joseph kealoha keliʻhananui. raid came 1 day after japanese attack on pearl harbor , damaged 3 airstrips of kamakaiwi field. 2 days later japanese submarine shelled left of colony s few buildings ruins. single bomber returned twice during following weeks , dropped more bombs on rubble of tiny itascatown. 2 survivors evacuated uss helm, u.s. navy destroyer, on january 31, 1942. howland occupied battalion of united states marine corps in september 1943 , known howland naval air station until may 1944.

all attempts @ habitation abandoned after 1944. colonization projects on other 4 islands disrupted war , ended @ time. no aircraft known have ever landed there, although anchorages nearby used float planes , flying boats during world war ii. example, on july 10, 1944, u.s. navy martin pbm-3-d mariner flying boat (buno 48199), piloted william hines, had engine fire , made forced landing in ocean offshore of howland. hines beached aircraft , although burned, crew escaped unharmed, rescued uscgc balsam (the same ship later took unit 92 gardner island), transferred sub chaser , taken canton island.