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| Location Lat 23° 45' N Long 166° 10' W The French Frigate Shoals are located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. (Leeward Islands) of Hawaii in the United States. The Shoals are a 20 mile long crescent shaped atoll with fringing coral reef. The atoll includes twelve islands, the largest is Tern Island. To the east is Necker Island. To the northwest is Gardner Island. Surrounded by a fringing coral reef and the Pacific Ocean. In Hawaiian known as Kānemilohaʻi. Before 1924 also known as French Frigates Shoal until the name French Frigate Shoals was adopted by the U.S. Geographic Board. Prewar The French Frigate Shoals were first discovered on November 5, 1786 by French explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse when his frigate Broussole with Astrolabe while sailing from Monterey westward across the Pacific Ocean bound for Macao. They named the location Basse des Frégates Françaises (Shoal of the French Frigates) and explored the southeastern portion and create a map that was used to create the first published map in 1797. They also discovered a volcanic rock with an elevation of 122' was was later name La Perouse Pinnacle in honor of the explorer. In 1924 the name French Frigate Shoals was formerly adopted for the area. Wartime History During the Pacific War, the The French Frigate Shoals were used by the Japanese in early 1942 then occupied by American forces in early 1943. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu, the French Frigate Shoals were not used by the Japanese. After capturing some classified U.S. Navy information on Wake Island on December 23, 1941, the Japanese learned the area was unoccupied and decided to utilize the shoals for flying boats to be refueled by submarines for a second attack against Oahu. Flying Boat Raid During the night of March 3, 1942, two Kawanishi H8K flying boats landed at French Frigate Shoals and were refueled by Japanese submarines I-15 and I-19, each carrying 10 tons of aviation gasoline. I-26 was to accompany them and act as an alternate for refueling and as a picket. I-15 and I-19 would shell any U.S. observation posts they found and enter the lagoon to await the two flying boats. Meanwhile other submarines were to be on station the day before the attack to support the operation including I-19 (flagship), I-23 plus two other submarines. I-19 was to be at "Point M" roughly 700 miles southwest of Oahu to broadcast a radio beacon for navigational purposes. I-23 would be stationed about 10 miles south of Pearl Harbor for weather observation and rescue purposes if either plane was forced down. In addition, two submarines were to be located 300 miles northwest of Wotje Atoll to help guide the returning flying boats to base. American Occupation When the Americans realized the Shoals were being used by enemy flying boats and submarines, the U.S. Navy occupied Tern Island to prevent any further usage by the enemy. On March 15, 1943 Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, French Frigate Shoals was established at this location. Today in the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. References French Frigate Shoals Contribute
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 January 1945 Map Fallingrain |
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