During
World War II, Taroa Airfield was the easternmost Japanese air base. It was a favorite target for Allied bombers from
Makin Airfield,
Tarawa, and
Abemama and was heavily bombed in 1944. It became part of the vast
Naval Base Marshall Islands in 1944. In an article about
Charles Lindbergh's involvement in the
Pacific Theater, G. D. Provenza describes Taroa thus: The target that day was an enemy personnel area on Taroa; this tiny island had already been bombed flat, but hundreds of surviving Japanese troops were reportedly still dug-in there. Over the island at 8,000 feet, Lindbergh pushed forward into a steep 60-degree dive. The enemy gamely fought back, sending up accurate small-arms fire. A combination of aerial attacks, bombardment from naval ships, and supply line disruption caused many deaths; only 34% of those originally on the island survived. == References ==