Aleutian Islands World War II National Monument
The Aleutian Islands World War II National Monument is an American national monument on the Aleutian Islands of Attu , Kiska Island and Atka Island in Alaska . It was designated to commemorate the Battle of the Aleutians in 1942 during World War II. The National Monument is within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge . The United States Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the Aleutian Islands World War II National Monument .
Protected area history
The area was designated as a national monument by President George W. Bush in 2008 as part of the decentralized World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument .
On March 12, 2019 with the signing of the Congress-law John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act by President Donald Trump , the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument was dissolved and the Aleutian Islands National World War II Monument with an area of 1391 acres designated as an independent memorial.
Crash site of a Consolidated B-24 on Atka
Part of the protected area is the crash site of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator bomber on the island of Atka with an area of 5 acres . The bomber was on a weather reconnaissance mission when it was prevented from landing at nearby airfields due to poor weather conditions. The only casualty from the crash landing was Brigadier General William E. Lynd , who broke his collarbone . The wreck was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Japanese occupation relics on Kiska
On the island of Kiska there are five parts of the National Monument with relics of the Japanese occupation in June 1942 with an area of 2345 acres. The five areas on Kiska include historical relics such as the Japanese coastal and anti-aircraft guns, warehouses, roads, an airfield, a submarine station, a seaplane station and other facilities, as well as the remains of the US defenses after the island was retaken, including runway systems and gun batteries. Apart from Attu, Kiska was the only part of the USA that was occupied during World War II. The occupation relics on Kiska have been a National Historic Landmark since 1985 . 1985 was also included in the National Register of Historic Places.
Battlefield on Attu
On the island of Attu there are four parts of the National Monument with an area of 2600 acres. It commemorates the only battle that was fought in North America during World War II. Thousands of shell craters, bomb craters, cartridges, shrapnel and grenades can be found in the monument at the sites of heavy fighting on the tundra. There are also remains of Japanese trenches, foxholes and arms stores, as well as American ammunition magazines and depots. A 19-day battle raged around Attu. It was one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific War in terms of the percentage of soldiers killed and wounded. The four parts of the monument on Attu are the Japanese base in Holtz Bay and the sites of heavy fighting on Sarana Nose, Fish Hook Ridge and Engineer Hill. After the defeat, many of the Japanese took their own lives, leaving fewer than 30 of the original Japanese occupation force of 2300. The former battlefield is also since 1985 as a National Historic Landmark dedicated . In 1985 the battlefield was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
Attu later served as a base for bombing missions against Japanese islands.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Establishment of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
- ↑ John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act
- ↑ https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/79000407
- ^ National Park Service: Japanese Occupation Site National Historic Landmark , accessed August 1, 2019
- ↑ https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/85002732
- ↑ National Park Service: Attu Battlefield and US Army and Navy Airfields National Historic Landmark , accessed August 1, 2019
- ↑ https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/85002729