Location
Eten Island is located in Truk Lagoon in Chuuk State (Truk) in the Federated States of Micronesia. Also known as "Etten" or "Etan". To the north and northwest is Dublon Island (Tonoas, Tonowas) to the northwest is Truk Harbor, to the west is Fefan Island and to the south is Uman Island.
Wartime History
Occupied by the Japanese, military construction began in 1934 and began by leveling
half the island for an airfield. After the expiration of the Washington
Naval treaty in 1937, more construction began with help of
the Japanese Navy and South Seas Government. In 1939 work
intensified, with conscripted labor, Koreans, and Japanese
prisoners also used. All construction was completed by late 1943.
American missions against Eten
March
15, 1944 - June 21, 1945
Eten Airfield
Japanese built airfield
26th Air Flotilla Administration and Radio Communication Building
This building is a three story concrete building with steel doors and windows located at roughly the center of Eten Island to the south of Eten Airfield runway. Used by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 26th Air Flotilla administration and radio communications headquarters building 160' x 35' with portico edge. Also know as the Eten Headquarters Building or Eten Communication Center or Air Headquarters Building. During the Pacific War riddled with bullet holes and bomb damage.
Nearby are four blockhouses, one with mounts for a generator. Today, the walls have been covered with graffiti by Trukese youths.
Mount Uinku
Feature with an elevation of roughly 200' located at roughly the center of Eten Island. Also known as Mt. Uinku. During the Pacific War, the Japanese established defense on the hilltop. Two separate 127mm Anti-Aircraft Guns were emplaced in concrete batteries near the summit with three automatic weapons between them plus an empty concrete gun battery. Supporting these positions was a searchlight, command post, shrine, barracks, mess hall and generator building.
127mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 89 (1929)
Emplaced atop Mount Uinku
A6M Zero
Upside down with a gear leg above water at low tide.
D4Y1 Judy
Ditched off Eten Island.
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)
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Last Updated
August 25, 2018
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