The military importance of this frozen, difficult-to-supply island was questionable, but the psychological impact upon the Americans of losing U.S. territory was tangible. During the winter of 1942–43, the Japanese reinforced and fortified the islands—not necessarily to prepare for an
island-hopping operation across the Aleutians, but to prevent a U.S. operation across the
Kuril Islands. The U.S. Navy began operations to deny Kiska supply which would lead to the
Battle of the Komandorski Islands. During October 1942, American forces undertook seven bombing missions over Kiska, though two were aborted due to inclement weather. Following the winter, Attu was recaptured, and bombing of Kiska resumed for over two months, until a larger American force was allocated to defeat the expected Japanese garrison of 5,200 men.
On August 15, 1943, an invasion force consisting of 34,426 Allied troops, including elements of the 7th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Regiment,
87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 5,300 Canadians (mainly the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade from the
6th Infantry Division, with supporting units including two artillery units from the
7th Infantry Division), 95 ships including three battleships and a heavy cruiser, and 168 aircraft landed on Kiska, only to find the island completely abandoned.
Japanese evacuationEdit
The Japanese, aware of the loss of Attu and the impending arrival of the larger Allied force, had successfully removed their troops on July 28 under the cover of severe fog, without being detected by the Allies. Allied casualties during this invasion nevertheless numbered close to 200, all either from
friendly fire, booby traps set out by the Japanese to inflict damage on the invading allied forces, or weather-related disease. As a result of the brief engagement between U.S. and Canadian forces, there were 28 American and four Canadian dead.
[7] There were an additional 130 casualties from
trench foot alone. The destroyer
USS Abner Read hit a mine, resulting in 87 casualties.
That night the
Imperial Japanese Navy warships, thinking they were engaged by Americans, shelled and attempted to torpedo the island of Little Kiska and the Japanese soldiers waiting to embark.
[8] Admiral
Ernest King reported to the secretary of the Navy,
Frank Knox, that the only things that remained on the island were dogs and freshly brewed
coffee. Knox asked for an explanation and King responded, "The Japanese are very clever. Their dogs can brew coffee."
[9]