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 Stan Gajda 1999 |
Location Makin Lagoon (Butaritari Lagoon) is located at the center of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. Borders Makin Island. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the Gilbert Islands. Today located in Republic of Kiribati. Wartime History On December 10, 1941 at 12:45am Japanese vessels arrive off Makin as part of Operation Gi the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Tenyo Maru and Okinoshima disembarks Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) troops that secure Makin Island. Meanwhile, Nagata Maru entered Makin Lagoon and unloads construction materials for a seaplane base and depart two days later. Afterwards, the Japanese Navy developed Makin Seaplane Base to support seaplanes and flying boat operations. On August 17, 1942 at 3:30am two submarines USS Argonaut (SM-1) and USS Nautilus (SS-168) surfaced off Makin and deployed rubber rafts with outboard engines to land U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 2nd Raider Battalion including Company A and Company B on Makin Island. This was the first Marine operation launched from submarines. The "Makin Raid" was to disrupt the enemy, destroy installations and divert reinforcements to Guadalcanal. The Raiders killing 83 Japanese and destroying installations, ships and two flying boats by Boys Anti-Tank fired by Sgt Buck Stidham and Sgt Walter Carroll. On August 18, 1942 by midnight, the Marines were forced to evacuate in the face of Japanese air attacks and reinforcements. Forced to leave their dead behind, the Raiders used the same rafts to return to the submarines. A total of nineteen Marines were officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Afterwards, the dead Marines were buried in a mass grave by Gilbertese islanders under the direction of the Japanese. On September 14, 1943 a single H8K2 Emily took off from Makin on a bombing mission against Espiriu Santo. On November 20, 1943 U.S. Marines (USMC) landed at Makin and Tarawa. Three days later, the island was declared secure. Stan Gajda adds: "During the battle of Makin in November 1943, a flight of Japanese Kates were intercepted by the SACP and all were shot down, some even going down in the lagoon. I have even had a letter from a guy in Japan trying to trace these planes for the crews relatives. I have heard of two planes in the north end of the lagoon that I never had time to locate and see and it is possible that at least one of these would be one of the Jills." Lagoon Reef Japanese seaplanes were moored inside the lagoon. There are also several American wrecks. Makin Seaplane Base Mavis and Emilys from the Makin Seaplane Base were moored in the lagoon H8K2 Emily Disabled at King's Wharf by strafing by Hellcats, and during the battle of Makin H8K2 Emily Sunk off Makin kilometer off the northwest off the end of King's wharf H6K5 Mavis Sunk off Makin near Chongs Wharf E13A Jake Out from the Stone Pier is a wrecked Jake which I did not have time to look for but I have seen chunks of it brought up in a fishing net. B5N Kate A number of B5Ns were shot down into the lagoon as they were coming in on a raid. The whole flight was lost with no survivors. I have heard of a small plane wreck in the lagoon at the northern end near Bikati Island. This is also exposed at low tide. I never had the chance to get up there but it could be one of the B5N Kate. B-24 Liberator Reportedly a B-24 remains in about 60' of water near one of the central passages into the lagoon in the northwest area of Makin Atoll. Stan Gajda searched for this plane and reported the bottom was clearly visible but he did not find the wreck. The local that knows where it is was never available. Japanese Barge Sunk in 15' off the Catholic Mission. Stan Gajda recovered two anchors from it. Seaplane Tender Sunk in the area out from the Catholic Mission. Higgins Boat Sunk to the east of the island on the edge of the reef shelf. F4U Corsair Straight out from the Catholic mission which can be seen at low tide. F4U Corsair Straight out from the Catholic mission which can be seen at low tide. B-25 Mitchell Straight out from the Catholic mission which can be seen at low tide. Contribute
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