World War II


General
Defenses
War at Sea
Air War
Historic Preservation
 
General History

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Historic Photos - US Navy Photos taken during World War II
Historic photos taken by the US Navy during World War II in the Marshall Islands.
The Pacific War in Micronesia.
compiled by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
A Bibliography of Publications on Japanese Bases and their Equipment.
A Glossary of U.S. Naval Code Words with reference to the Marshall Islands.
United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Summary Report (Pacific War).
by United States Strategic Bombing Survey. (1946)
Summary of the post- World War II evaluation of the efficiency of United Sattes Bombing Programmes on the Japanese bases in the Pacific, the Phillippines and the Japanese homeland.
To Hell and Back: Wake During and After World War II
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Recollections of World War II. Personal Narratives
Shot Down over Jaluit in the Marshall Islands.
      by Bob Seedorf
The Third Strike Against the Marshall Islands in WWII .
      by Bob Seedorf
That Damned Torpedo.
      by Bob Seedorf
On Patrol in the Marshall Islands 1944-45
      by William L. Roberts
Stopping Over at Kwajalein, December 1944
      by Tom Duff
 
Coastal Defenses

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Japanese Bases

Taroa, Maloelap Atoll. A brief virtual tour through a Japanese airbase in the Marshall Islands
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
A guided tour through the main Japanese airbase outside Kwajalein during World War II. Today the remains of the airbase are remarkable and worth a visit.
The Japanese seaplane base at Wotje Island, Wotje Atoll
compiled by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Brief description of the Japanese WWII defenses on Wotje.
Mili Island, Mili Atoll: a brief overview of its WWII sites
compiled by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Brief description of the Japanese WWII defenses on Mili.
8-inch Coastal Defense Guns in Micronesia.
compiled by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Discussion of the British, Italian and Japanese 8-inch Naval Guns and their Emplacements in Micronesia. Featured are the guns at Betio, Tarawa, Kiribati; Wake I, Marshall Islands, and Sapuk, Moen, Chuuk.
Japanese Bases during World War II. Number of Short-term Workers in December 1943
British Naval Heritage in Micronesia: Tangible evidence of the armament trade from 1890 to 1937
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Secondary use of World War II Equipment in the Marshalls: Japanese Rice Cookers
a Photo Essay by Dirk HR Spennemann
Secondary use of World War II Equipment in the Marshalls:127 mm dual purpose gun components
a Photo Essay by Dirk HR Spennemann
United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Summary Report (Pacific War).
by United States Strategic Bombing Survey. (1946)
Summary of the post- World War II evaluation of the efficiency of United Sattes Bombing Programmes on the Japanese bases in the Pacific, the Phillippines and the Japanese homeland.

US Bases

Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, Kwajalein Naval Base
by US Navy. Bureau of Yards and Docks. (1947)
History of the development and operation of the Kwajalein Naval Base during WWII. Following the capture of Kwajalein in February 1944, the atoll was used as a fleet anchorage and naval base to carry out and support operations into the Western Carolines
Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, Majuro Naval Base
by US Navy. Bureau of Yards and Docks. (1947)
History of the development and operation of the Majuro Naval Base during WWII. Following the capture of Majuro in February 1944, the atoll was used as a fleet anchorage and naval base to carry out and support operations into the Western Carolines
Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, Enewetok Naval Base
by US Navy. Bureau of Yards and Docks. (1947)
History of the development and operation of the Enewetok Naval Base during WWII. Following the capture of Enewetok in February 1944, the atoll was used as a fleet anchorage and naval base to carry out and support operations into the Western Carolines
 
War at Sea

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Japanese

Wreck of the Toreshima Maru in Maloelap Lagoon
a Photo Essay by Dirk HR Spennemann
Wreck of a Japanese subchaser off Ollot, in Wotje Lagoon
a Photo Essay by Dirk HR Spennemann

USA

Losses of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels in the Marshall Islands during World War II,
7 December 1941-1 October 1945
 
Air War

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Japanese Aircraft

The wreck of an Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero" on the Japanese Airbase on Taroa, Maloelap Atoll
a Photo Essay by Dirk HR Spennemann

US Aircraft

The wreck of a Consolidated B-24J "Liberator" off Laura, Majuro Atoll
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Describes the history and current condition of a B-24J-CO Liberator' bomber (serial ##42-41205) which crash landed on 28 December 1943 in the lagoon off Majuro Island ('Laura'), Majuro Atoll. The plane belonged to the 431st Squadron, 11th Bomb Group, VIIthArmy Air Force, then headquartered in Funafuti, Kiribati. The crew was captured and disappeared in the days of the US assault on Kwajalein in February 1944.
Wreckage of a Consolidated B-24D "Liberator" off Jab'u, Arno Atoll
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Describes the history and current condition of a B-24D-145-CO 'Liberator' bomber (serial ##42-41205) which crash landed on 2 January 1944 in the lagoon off Jab'u, Arno Atoll. The plane belonged to the 98th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group, VIIthArmy Air Force, then headquartered in Nukufetau, Kiribati. The crew was captured and disappeared in the days of the US assault on Kwajalein in February 1944.
Adaptive re-use of B-24 parts in the Marshall Islands
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Discussion of the secondary use of oxygen cylinders recovered from B-24 wrecks during and after World War II.
Secondary use of artefacts and the development of a new historical context: an example of the jet age
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
This paper outlines the secondary use of external fuel tanks of a 1950s jet fighter aircraft., which can be found throughout the islands of Micronesia. Most of the tanks are now used as water catchments. These drop tanks, are demonstrative of issues of conservation management of cultural resources and the documentation of historical events for which there is no other tangible evidence in the Micronesian region, such as: the early development of military jet aircraft; the military build-up during the Cold War; the US Air Force involvement of the Korean War; the deployment of jet aircraft in Micronesia; and the control of Micronesian waters by the US Navy.
Investigations of a Grumman TBF "Avenger" aircraft submerged in Majuro Lagoon
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Description of the wreckage of an American torpedo plane on the bottom of the lagoon of Majuro Atoll.
 
Historic Preservation

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Apocalypse now?-the fate of World War II sites on the Central Pacific
Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Originally published in CRM Bulletin 15(2), 15-16, 1992.
[PDF document, courtesy US National Park Service]
Saving WWII Historic Sites. Metals Conservation Course in the Marshall Islands
David W. Look, . & Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Originally published in CRM Bulletin 16 (5), 22-24, 1993.
[PDF document, courtesy US National Park Service]
Digital Micronesia-An Electronic Library & Archive is provided free of charge as an advertising-free information service for the world community. It is being maintained by Dirk HR Spennemann, Associate Professor in Cultural Heritage Management, Institute of Land, Water and Society and School of Environmental & Information Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia. The server space and technical support are provided by Charles Sturt University as part of its commitment to regional engagement. Environmental SciencesInformation Sciences

© Dirk Spennemann 1999– 2005
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