The Mauling of Wake

Somewhere in the Pacific, the U.S. task force that had mauled Wake Island on Oct. 5 and 6 steamed back to its base. From a carrier's bridge TIME and LIFE Correspondent Robert Sherrod surveyed the scene: "I can see a sight that would gladden the hearts of all Americans. To the starboard there is another carrier. For miles beyond are cruisers and destroyers. On the port side are several carriers, and their protecting cruisers stretch all the way to the horizon. We cannot see them, but there are still other warships over the horizon. It is the greatest carrier task force ever assembled, bearing many more planes than have ever before been carried into a naval battle. And we know now it works."

150 Tons per Sq. Mi. They also knew what air attack would not do. For nearly 22 months, since Major James Devereux and the last of his Marines were overwhelmed, the Jap had been building on Wake. In 48 hours 600 tons of high explosive, some half million .50-caliber bullets struck the atoll's four square miles. At 150 tons of high explosive per sq. mi., it was the most concentrated attack on any Pacific target.

Jap barracks, oil tanks, coastal guns, ack-ack batteries, power plants, a water-distilling plant, ammunition dumps were destroyed. Yet toward the end of the second day Jap small-caliber guns put up ack-ack fire. Some of the younger U.S. pilots were puzzled. But old hands and the high command knew that only direct hits by aerial bombs could wipe out the burrowed Japs. A naval officer estimated that 85% to 90% of the enemy garrison were still alive. Unless the Jap evacuated, marines or infantry would still have to fight for Wake.

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