American & Japanese Missions Against Makin Island
February 1, 1942 - December 24, 1943

February 1, 1942
(USN) First U.S. Carrier Offensive Task Forces 8 (Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey) and 17 (Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher), built around the carriers Enterprise and Yorktown, bombed and bombarded enemy installations on Makin and other targets.

July 23, 1942
(7th AF) 3 B-17s, staging through Canton carry out photo reconnaissance of Makin

February 20, 1943
(7th AF) Three B-24s of the 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) operating from Canton photograph Makin

July 11, 1943
(7th AF) 3 B-24's from Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands fly a photo reconnaissance mission to Makin; 2 of the B-24's bomb the island.

September 18, 1943
(USN) three-carrier task force (Rear Admiral C. A. Pownall), attack Makin

November 15, 1943
(7th AF) B-24s bomb Makin

November 16, 1943
(7th AF) Single B-24 hist Makin

November 18-19, 1943
(USN) Six heavy and five light carriers of Task Force 50 (Rear Admiral C. A. Pownall) opened the campaign to capture the Gilberts with a 2-day air attack on airfields and defensive installations in the islands. B-24's from Ellice bases hit Makin.

November 20, 1943
Marines and Army troops on Makin

December 23/24, 1943
(Japanese) P-39's are airborne over Makin to intercept enemy bombers; 2 bombers are shot down; 1 P-39 is lost

January 16, 1944
(Japanese) P-39's sent up on interceptor mission over Makin