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  USN February 17, 1944   USN February 17, 1944 |
Location Eten Airfield spans the length of Eten Island to the southeast of Dublon (Tonoas) in Truk Lagoon in Chuuk State (Truk) in the Federated States of Micronesia. Also known as "Eten Island Airfield" or spelled "Etten" or "Etan". Known to the Japanese as Takeshima Airfield or Takeshima Air Base. Construction During 1941, the construction of Eten Airfield was initiated but was not completed until late 1943. Eten Airfield had a single runway measuring 3,440' x 270' surfaced with 1.5" concrete for all weather use. The runway spanned the length of the island with lights for night operations. The northeast edge of the runway had a rubble masonry seawall with a pier measuring 95' x 30' with a boom rigged crane. To the southeast of the runway are buildings including repair facilities, headquarters building, power plant, radio and control tower surrounded the runway. At its height 1,200 personnel lived and worked at the air base. 40 fighters and 7 double bomber revetments were adjacent to the runway along the hillside. Major repairs were done at Dublon Island. Wartime History Eten was the primary Japanese fighter airfield used to defend the Truk area. Eten based the 21st, 22nd, 25th 26th and Koku Sentai. On April 23, 1943 two G4M1 Betty bombers from Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul arrived at Eten Airfield at 1:45pm. Aboard was the cremated ashes of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who died April 18, 1943. His remains were secretly transferred to the Admiral's sea cabin aboard Battleship Musashi in Truk Lagoon then transported to Tokyo. During late February 1944 the remaining Japanese aircraft that were flyable were withdrawn from Rabaul to Truk. By February 19, 1944 elements from 201 Kōkūtai, 501 Kōkūtai and 204 Kōkūtai were at Eten. Between 1944–1945, Eten was heavily bombed by American aircraft and neutralized. American missions against Eten Airfield March 15, 1944 - June 21, 1945 Today Portions of the abandoned Japanese fighter airstrip still remain, where the jungle has not reclaimed them. References WWII Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon pages 13, 19, 20 (map), 21 (photo/map caption), 22, 98, 100, 108, 113-115, 117-118, 121, 127-128, 137-138, 141-145, 150-155, 157, 159, 162-163, 168, 172-175, 189, 191-192, 195-196, 198, 201-205, 208, 211-213, 215, 221, 223, 226, 228, 236, 241, 245-247, 248-250, 300, 371, 395, 408, 441, 471, 484, 488, 492, 504 (index) Contribute
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