Blog No. 24 – February 17-18, 1944

As part of a Pacific campaign in WWII, the U.S. Navy launched a mission labeled Operation Hailstone. The U.S. Marines invaded Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands during February 17-22, 1944. Its codename was Operation Catchpole.

This operation beginning on the 17^th was commanded by Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill, USN. The U.S. Marines who landed was commanded by Colonel John T. Walker, USMC.  The main objective of Operation Catchpole was the Engebi airfield.  Eniwetok was a circular atoll.  The four-staged mission was to be accomplished between the 17^th and the 18th of February, working along with the Truk Aircraft Carrier raids.

On Eniwetok, from the south, they would invade the two islets adjoining Engebi;  Eniwetok and Parry islands to the south; Engebi to the north;  and then the remaining small islets. They met their heaviest Japanese resistance on Eniwetok and Parry Islands. Eniwetok was not secured until February 22.

Because of the aircraft carrier raids (Operation Hailstone), working in tandem with the invasion of Eniwetok Atoll, Commander Fifth Fleet Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN, the Fast Carrier Force (Task Force 58) and Commander Rear Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, who both performed raids on February 17-18, 1944, at Truk Island, the morale of the Japanese hit rock bottom – pun intended. Their Navy lost merchant ships, light cruisers Katori and Naka; destroyers Maikaze, Fumizuki, Oite, and Tachikaze; submarine chasers Ch-24, and Ch-29, all sinking along with submarine chaser Shonan Maru #15 and Motor Torpedo Boat #10.