Location
Eastern Island is located at the southeastern end of Midway Atoll and has a total land area of 366 acres. To the west is Spit Island, Eastern Channel and Sand Island. To the north is Midway Lagoon and Sand Islet.

Wartime History
During September 1940, a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 3rd Defense Battalion detachment was assigned to Midway and began constructing defenses. In September 1941, replaced by the 6th Marine Defense Battalion.

During August 1941, the U.S. Navy (USN) contracted several construction firms, that formed Contractors Pacific Naval Air Base to build facilities for NAS Midway Islands including Midway Airfield (Eastern Island Airfield).

Japanese missions against Midway Atoll
December 7, 1941–June 4, 1942

Today
Eastern Island is part of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Visitors to Midway Islands can observe many wartime relics including the original runways, buildings, bunkers and other wartime remnants remain on the islands. Bomb craters and long strings of strafing bullet marks from Japanese Zero fighter aircraft still visible across runway aprons and buildings.

Midway Airfield (Eastern Island Airfield, Henderson Field)
Built prewar used during the Battle of Midway by USN, USMC and USAAF aircraft

References
The Battle of Midway (1942) directed by John Ford includes combat footage during the Battle of Midway June 1942

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Last Updated
December 12, 2023