Battle of Ni'ihau (Before The Sun Sets)

The Battle of Ni'ihau (codnamed Operation Tu) was a battle fought between the United States and Japan during the Pacific Theater of World War II. The engagement was the first in Japan's invasion of the Hawaii Islands and it's primary goal was to capture Pu'uwai to use as a base of operations within the island territory.

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto lead the Japanese force in the attack while Francis Loomis Jr. (who had previously commanded the response to the shellings of Johnston and Palmyra) took control of a military force with less than 400 soldiers and 40 aircraft. The defeat at Midway set a frightening position for Hawaii and those serving there. Loomis requested an increase in troops, however due to the ongoing Aleutian Islands Campaign and American operations in North Africa there weren't many troops to spare. Despite that, he was promised a force of at least 2,000 soldiers by the end of September.

Considering that Ni'ihau was a mostly unincorporated territory with no military bases on it, American officials assumed that there would be no reason to occupy it. The Japanese correctly guessed that the Americans would think this way so they planned to strike there to ensure as little casualties as possible. Japanese superiors developed an objective to occupy the island and establish a base where they could harbor military forces, believing it would make the invasion of Hawaii easier.

Two Japanese carriers sailed around the Johnston Atoll on June 12, one day before the battle was set to begin. By the morning of the next day, 100 aircraft were ready to take off. A ground regiment totaling 3,000 soldiers departed from the ships an hour after the planes launched. The aircraft began bombing targets at appropriately 5:35 pacific time. All of the targets were successfully destroyed within eight minutes of the arrival.

American officials detected the Japanese assault on the west coast of Kauai. They immediately ordered a counterattack by aircraft and started organizing troops. However, these officers quickly realized that there wasn't enough force to repel an attack by a force as big as the one currently attacking. Nevertheless, Francis Loomis. Jr took control of a battalion to prove that "United States won't stand defenseless in this moment of peril" (according to his own words). Boats carrying the soldiers moved out at 6:04 pacific time.

Although more Japanese aircraft were being shot down than American aircraft, the Japanese had more planes to spare than the Americans, posing a challenge to the defense of Ni'ihau. Some squadrons of American soldiers were equipped with anti-aircraft weaponry, but as the Japanese troops began storming the island attention was turned to them more than the fighter planes. Americans were ill-prepared with a lack of planning. Ultimately, the Japanese forces overwhelmed the Americans and a retreat was called.

As the battle ended, Loomis was commended for his courage and ability to take action. The Japanese began their occupation of the island and more ships started pulling around the Johnston Atoll, preparing to fight another battle.