 Lat
6° 7' 60N Long 171° 55' 0E Second to Kwajalein, Mili has the
most land area of the Marshallese atolls.
Prior to WWII, this island was considered part of Caroline Islands. Mili
was only a small lookout, radio direction finding and
weather station. Developed into a base later in the
war, when Japanese resources were being stretched. The base development is characterised
by a relative absence of large concrete structures, such as command
buildings, power stations or bunkers.
American Missions Against Mili
June 17, 1943 - August 30, 1944
 Mili was the target of eighteen months of
bombing
by
US aircraft.
All supply lines to Mili were cut off, and the Japanese garrison
was
left to starve. Of the
originally 5,100 strong Japanese garrison
(2,600
Navy, 2,500 Army,) only 2,500 (50%) survived. Casualties occurred
from air raids, diseases, accidents, and suicides, but mainly
from starvation. The Japanese garrison became
the firstt Pacific island to surrender, on August 22, 1945, eleven
days before the formal surrender.
The perimeter of the island, especially the
ocean side, bristled with guns, which were a mixture of British and
Japanese manufacture: 8 6" and 3 x 14cm coastal defense guns,
4 x 127mm dual purpose guns, 2 x 10cm mortars, 35 heavy and over 70
light anti-aircraft guns as well as an assortment of small guns.
| Mili
Aerodrome (Mille Aerodrome) |
Construction
After the
occupation of
Kiribati, the development
of the air base on Mili were begun in the autumn of 1942. Using Korean and Marshallese
labor
force. Three crossing runways were built: 4750', 4550' and 4400'. Also, two
hangars and a service apron. By end of 1943 there were also
several
hundred buildings,
mainly of wooden construction, a wooden pier and several
repair shops. There was one radar set (range 50 miles)
on island, giving the air wing 10 minutes warning of attackers.
 Wartime History
During the war two squadrons of planes were temporarily stationed
here many of which were destroyed on the ground. A large number
of plane wrecks, mainly Zeros and
Betty bombers are scattered about on the island.
Today
Still in use for small aircraft, it is the only airfield servicing the atoll area.
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Plunger at Mili
The
next successful lifeguard mission was performed by PLUNGER (Lieutenant
Commander R. H. Bass) during "Operation Galvanic" the invasion
of the Gilberts. Stationed off Mili, PLUNGER rescued one aviator. This
fighter pilot had been downed near Knox Island, a small atoll not far
from Mili. PLUNGER raced to the spot at four-engine speed. The aviator
was clinging to a yellow rubber lifeboat. As the submarine drew near,
a Jap Zero plummeted out of the clouds and skimmed the conning tower
with guns blazing. The rescue party was not yet on deck, but there
were about a dozen men on the bridge, including the skipper, the exec,
the gunnery officer, the quartermaster, an electrician and four lookouts.
Six were wounded when a 20-mm shell hit the superstructure and exploded,
spraying the bridge with shrapnel. The wounded were rushed below, the
bridge was cleared, and Bass ordered a quick dive. PLUNGER went deep,
then planed up to periscope depth. The Zero had disappeared; the American
aviator was 50 yards away. Sighting the periscope, he waved cheerfully
and dug in with the oars, rowing toward the submarine. So PLUNGER rose
to the occasion to take aboard Lieutenant (jg) F. G. Schwartz, USNR.
Bass then set a course for Makin, where the wounded were transferred
to the transport LEONARD WOOD. Fortunately all of the injured recovered
and with seven rescues to concern by the time of the Marshall Islands
campaign.
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