Aeródromos de la IIGM: Wake

Aeródromo de la isla de Wake

El aeródromo corre a lo largo de la isla, de este a oeste. Fue construido por Morrison-Knudsen Company, una de las ocho empresas dedicadas a la construcción de bases aéreas y navales en el Pacífico. La empresa tenía su sede en Boise, Idaho, Morrison-Knudsen fue contratada para construir un aeródromo, base de hidroaviones y base de submarinos, para lo cual tendría que dragar un canal permitiendo el acceso de los sumergibles.

Tras la caída de Wake en manos japonesas los prisioneros norteamericanos fueron llevados a la pista y sentados en filas frente a una línea de ametralladoras japonesas. Los hombres estaban seguros de que iban a ser ejecutados, de hecho, era el plan original para ellos. Sin embargo la intervención del almirante Sadamichi Kajioka, quien comandó la fuerza de invasión, impidió la masacre.

Hoy día el campo de aviación tiene el acceso restringido.

Fuentes:
MAURER, M. “Air Force Combat Units Of World War II”. Maxwell AFB, Office of Air Force History, 1983
Marine Corps Historical Cente

English version

The airport runs along the island from east to west. It was built by Morrison-Knudsen Company, one of eight companies in the construction of air and naval bases in the Pacific. The company was headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Morrison-Knudsen was contracted to build an airfield, seaplane base and submarine base, which would have to dredge a channel allowing access of the submersible.

After the fall of Wake into Japanese hands American prisoners were taken to the track and sit in rows facing a line of Japanese machine guns. The men were sure they would be executed, in fact, was the original plan for them. However, the intervention of Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka, who commanded the invasion force, prevented the slaughter.

Today the airfield has restricted access

 Wrecked Grumman F4F-3s from VMF-211 near the airstrip on Wake (photographed after the Japanese took the island). The Wildcat in the foreground, 211-F-11, was flown on 11 December by Capt Elrod in the attack that sank the Japanese destroyer Kisaragi. Having suffered such damage as to make it unserviceable, 211-F-11 was ultimately cannibalized for spares.

Sources:
MAURER, M. “Air Force Combat Units Of World War II”. Maxwell AFB, Office of Air Force History, 1983
Marine Corps Historical Cente