Invasion of Alaska

On June 7th, the Japanese landed troops on Attu and Kiska. With no American military presence on the islands, they met no resistance. On Attu, 43 Aleut villagers were taken as prisoners and eventually transported to Japan. The village's teacher, Charles Jones, was executed. His wife and fellow teacher, Etta Jones, was taken prisoner. On Kiska, 10 members of a Navy weather station were captured. 

While the Aleutian invasion would become a pivotal event in Alaskan history, it was a sideshow to the much larger battle at the Midway Islands. After breaking Japanese radio codes, the U.S. Navy had detailed knowledge of the Japanese plans and was prepared to meet their invasion fleet. From June 4 to 7, the two fleets, which included 40 ships, 7 aircraft carriers, and 500 planes, met at the Battle of Midway. 

The battle ended in a major defeat for Japan, which suffered crippling losses of planes and ships from which it never recovered. The Battle of Midway is considered the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. Ironically, the Aleutian attack may have played a role in the Japanese defeat. The two carriers diverted to attack Alaska were sorely needed at Midway and may have changed the outcome there if present.