Instead of utilizing the costly and time-consuming alternative of seizing hundreds of small islands on which to build a series of land bases and airstrips.Many refrigerated and food supply ships operated by a three-tier team:More than half the ships had to be towed to actually dock. As before the war, it became a lonely, quiet coral island. All rights reserved. An atoll is a ring-shaped ribbon reef enclosing a lagoon. What was next? It was the only fitting haven for 800 miles where the US Navy could anchor its ships. But the Japanese knew Ulithi was there, as it was only 90 miles distant from Japan's base on the nearby island of Yap, which the American had bypassed.
This monumental force comprised of 106 destroyers, 29 aircraft carriers, 15 battleships, and 23 cruisers and you can just imagine how many support personnel was required.Ulithi is 1300 miles south of Japan, specifically Tokyo, 850 miles east of the Philippines, and 360 miles southwest of Guam. R4D Aircraft Used as a Projection Room for Movies, Ulithi, 1944 The U.S. Navy destroyer tender USS Prairie (AD-15) at Ulithi Atoll, in 1945. U.S. Third Fleet aircraft carriers at anchor in Ulithi Atoll, 8 December 1944, during a break from operations in the Philippines area.
The video below shows the sheer size of the fleet anchored there.
Where was this base? Corals grow around the island and, over geologic time, the volcano goes dormant and sinks, but the coral reefs remain and continue to grow faster than the island sinks, eventually creating an island ring made of coral around a central lagoon where the volcano was formerly located. The total number of American military personnel who saw, lived, and experienced tiny Ulithi Atoll was most likely in the tens of thousands, if not more. The Elmore Project. Alongside are three Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers and a Fletcher-class destroyer. On a weekly basis 4565 sacks of mail, 262,251 pounds of air freight, and 1269 passengers would land on this airstrip.Mogmog was the location for recreation. Ulithi, located in the West Caroline Islands, is 1,300 miles south of Japan, specifically Tokyo, 850 miles east of the Philippines, and 360 miles southwest of Guam.
VMSB-245 crews receive a target briefing prior to a mission against Yap Island on May 1, 1945. Dive In: Ulithi Atoll Getting There: Continental Airlines (888-736-9796; www.continental.com) and Continental Micronesia fly to Yap from Guam on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. To the north 1,300 miles is Tokyo and 850 miles to the west is the Philippines. It was the only fitting haven for 800 miles where the US Navy could anchor its ships. At it's peak, Ulithi Atoll housed 617 ships, had its own 1,200-yard airstrip, and hosted 20,000 troops on its recreation island, Mogmog.
The photo was probably taken at Majuro or Ulithi Atoll. The airline has excellent connections throughout the … © 2018-2019. Some of the smaller ships provided numerous services, such as the ice cream skiff – it made 500 gallons each shift and the USS ABATAN, which looked like a big tanker but was really distilling fresh water, as well as baking pies and bread.They also had additional men, and carried the mail and medical supplies, and began to supply orders for spare parts to the mechanics at Ulithi. The battleships USS New Jersey (BB-62) and USS Iowa (BB-61) are in the center and at right. Falalop Island (Cg) Ulithi Atoll 7 day weather forecast including weather warnings, temperature, rain, wind, visibility, humidity and UV The natives were settled on four larger islands, Sorlen, Falalop, Asor, and Mogmog and they were all moved to a smaller island, Fassarai.A 3,500-foot airstrip was built at Falalop; it was just barely wide enough to handle the Douglas DC-3s and the R5C Commandos that would arrive from Guam.
USS South Dakota (BB-57) foreground and USS New Jersey (BB-62) in the background in Ulithi Atoll. The other Essex-class carrier painted in sea blue Measure 21 is USS Lexington (CV-16). View the R&R story of Ulithi as told in these historical photos. Memo: Before bombing Yap Island, always remember to feed your monkey. Through his constant study of maps, Admiral Nimitz discovered this atoll and readily saw its value. Note the two Essex-class carriers in the background, the left one probably being USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). He called it the U.S. Navy’s secret weapon, and his censors made sure that no reporter made mention of it.
When the Leyte Gulf was secured by the Allies, the floating base from Ulithi moved on.Just a few short months ago it had a temporary population of a large US city and was the ruler of the Pacific.
Ulithi Atoll gradually drew down in size as ships moved north but remained in service throughout the end of the war. Atolls begin as an underwater volcanoes called seamounts. The battleships USS New Jersey (BB-62) and USS Iowa (BB-61) are in the center and at right. A cargo ship is moored aft of Iowa, and a converted flush deck destroyer ahead. It is one of the most remote and beautiful islands in the world. USS Essex underway from Ulithi CV-9 – 10 Feb 1945
F4F Hellcats parked at Ulithi Atoll.