Wake Island
 

4 Jul 1898 - 23 Dec 1941; From 4 Sep 1945   23 Dec 1941 - 4 Sep 1945   Adopted 1976 Unofficial   Map of Wake Island Hear National Anthem  "The Star Spangled Banner" Text of  National Anthem U.S. Constitution -------------------------------- Wake Island Code (25 Jun 1972) Capital: Wake Island Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD) National Holiday: 4 Jul (1776) Independence Day ------------------------------------ Local Holiday: 22 March Wake Island Day Population: 100 (2017 est.), 1,650 (1970), 349 (1950) Note: military personnel and civilian contractors; no indigenous inhabitants GDP: $N/A Economic activity is limited to providing services. All food and goods are imported Exports: $N/A Imports: $N/A Ethnic Groups: N/A Total Active Armed Forces: N/A Defense is the Responsibility of the U.S. Merchant marine: None (2024) Religions: N/A Wake Island Chronology  2 Oct 1568                 The island is sighted by a Spanish expedition under                               Álvaro de Mendaña (b. 1542 - d. 1595), who names                               it Isla de San Francisco and claims it for Spain. Sep 1796                    The island is again discovered by the British vessel                               Prince William Henry commanded by Captain Samuel                               (by other sources William) Wake, for whom the main                               island is named. For some time the name Halcyon                               is also used. 1823                        American Capt. Edmund Gardner (b. 1785 - d. 1875),                               in the Balaena sees Wake and describes it in some                               detail. 20 Dec 1841                 The island's exact location, having been lost, is                               re-established by a U.S. naval expedition led by                               the explorer Commodore Charles Wilkes (b. 1798 -                               d. 1877) of U.S. Exploring Expedition, on the                               USS Vincennes (Wake's Island).  4 Mar 1866                 The German ship Libelle (Capt. Anton Tobias), en                               route from San Francisco to Hong Kong, strikes the                               eastern reef of the atoll during a powerful gale.                               Among the ship's passengers is a renowned opera                               troupe. The castaway passengers are stranded for                               three weeks before taking off in two small boats                               to the Mariana Islands. One of the boats makes it                               safely to Guam where the 22 passengers are                               welcomed by the Spanish governor. The other boat,                               carrying the captain and eight passengers, is                               never found. Before leaving the atoll to search                               for help, Capt. Tobias buried flasks of                               quicksilver, coined money, and other valuables.                               News reports about the buried cargo cause many                               expeditions to the uninhabited atoll in 1867-68                               in search for the valuable goods. 30 Aug 1870                 The China tea clipper Dashing Wave (Capt. Henry                               Vandervord), en route from China to Australia,                               crashes into the reef of the atoll during a gale.                               After 31 days Vandervord and 12 crew members set                               off in a boat, search for any inhabited land for                               30 days, and finally reach Kosrae (in the modern                               Federated States of Micronesia), where they are                               given assistance by the chief.  4 Jul 1898                 Brig. Gen. Francis Greene (b. 1850 - d. 1921) of the                               SS China stops at Wake en route to the Philippines                               during the Spanish-American War and raises the                               U.S. flag on Wake. 17 Jan 1899                 The USS Bennington, Commander Edward D. Taussig (b.                               1847 - d. 1921), acting on orders from Washington,                               takes formal possession of the island (which is                               not actively claimed by any other country) for                               the United States (Wake Island). 17 Jan 1900                 Wake an unincorporated territory of the U.S. 1902 and 1904               U.S. expeditions encounter Japanese pearlers,                               fishermen, and feather hunters. 19 Jun 1922                 Lt. Commander Sherwood Picking (b. 1890 - d. 1941)                               of the USS Beaver reports several deserted huts                               which were used by the Japanese. 23 Jul 1923 -  5 Aug 1923   The USS Tanager visits the island during a famous                               oceanographic voyage. The two smaller islands are                               named Wilkes and Peale after the members of the                               1841 expedition. 29 Dec 1934                 Wake Island is placed under the control of the U.S.                               Department of the Navy. 12 Mar 1935                 A commercial (Pan American Airlines) seaplane base                               is established to service trans-Pacific passenger                               flights and a 48-room hotel is opened. 19 Oct 1940                 A typhoon passes Wake Island causing considerable                               damage, but no deaths. 10 Jan 1941                 U.S. Naval Air Station, Wake Island 14 Feb 1941                 Wake and other islands are made "defensive sea                               areas" (Executive Order 8682). The first Marines                               arrive by August. 15 Oct 1941                 Maj. James P.S. Devereux arrives on Wake as island                               commander.  8 Dec 1941                 A day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,                               Hawaii, which brought the U.S. into World War II,                               Japan (by a powerful navy flotilla under the                               command of Rear Adm. Sadamichi Kajioka) attacks                               Wake Island. At this time its garrison includes                               449 Marines, 75 Navy and Army personnel, and 1,146                               civilian contractors. 23 Dec 1941                 The U.S. garrison surrenders and the island is                               occupied by Japanese forces. It is renamed Ōtori                               Jima. Wilkes Islet is named Ashi-shima and                               Peale Islet as Hani-shima. 23 Dec 1941 -  4 Sep 1945   Occupied by Japan. 24 Feb 1942                 The island begins to be repeatedly bombed by                               Allied aircraft. Summer 1943                 The island is blockaded. No land assault, however,                               is attempted.  7 Oct 1943                 Fearing a U.S. attack, the Japanese commander orders                               the execution of 98 prisoners of war who remain on                               the island.  4 Sep 1945 -  4 Sep 1962   Administered by the U.S. Navy Department                               (Wake Island Naval Air Base).  4 Sep 1945                 Two days after the overall Japanese surrender,                               Brig. Gen. Lawson Sanderson accepts the surrender                               of Japanese forces on Wake.  1 Jul 1947                 U.S. Navy delegates administration of Wake to the                               Civil Aeronautics Administration (from 31 Dec                               1958, Federal Aviation Agency [both                               within Department of Commerce to 1 Apr 1967,                               then under Department of Transportation] to                               30 Jun 1973). 1949                        The U.S. builds a 2,100-m paved runway, in 1959                               lengthened to 3,000 m. 15 Jun 1950                 Congress enacts a law making Wake Island, along with                               several other insular areas, subject to the                               jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court in                               Honolulu for purposes of any criminal or civil                               cases that might arise there. 15 Oct 1950                 Wake is the meeting place for President Harry S.                               Truman and Gen. Douglas MacArthur, in their                               discussion of the Korean situation. 16 Sep 1952                 Super Typhoon Olive hits Wake destroying 85% of                               structures, but no deaths. 550 persons are on Wake                               at this time. It costs some $1,600,000 to rebuild                               installations destroyed or damaged by the storm. 12 Jul 1960                 Congress enacts a law making Palmyra Atoll subject                               to the jurisdiction of the United States District                               Court for the District of Hawaii.  5 Sep 1962                 Administrative responsibility passes to the U.S.                               Department of the Interior, but the territory is                               actually administered by the U.S. Air Force.  5 Sep 1962 - 24 Jun 1972   Administered by U.S. Department of Interior.                               administration is carried out by the caretaker,                               the Federal Aviation Agency (from 1 Apr 1967,                               Federal Aviation Administration). 1966                        A Marine war memorial is completed. 16 Sep 1967                 Super Typhoon Sarah hits Wake Island, 95% of                               structures on the are damaged, but no deaths. 24 Sep 1968                 An Air Force KC135 flying tanker crashes upon making                               an emergency landing; 11 persons are killed. Jun 1972                    Final scheduled Pan Am passenger flight landed                               on the island and in Jul 1972 Pam Am's last                               cargo fight departed the island. 25 Jun 1972                 Wake Island an unincorporated territory of U.S. 25 Jun 1972 -  1 Oct 1994   Administered by U.S. Air Force (Wake Island Air                               Force Base), responsibility for civil                               administration is delegated to the general counsel                               of the Air Force, the agent being the military                               commander of Wake Island. Feb 1973                    Marshall Islands claim Wake Island as "Enen-kio." May 1973                    Last regularly scheduled commercial passenger                               flights ceased calling at Wake Island. 25 Apr 1975 –  3 Sep 1975   U.S. forces on Wake support the movement of 92,126                               orphans and evacuees from South Vietnam in                               support of operations "Babylift" and "New Life." 15-16 Mar 1981              Typhoon Freda hits, causes significant damage. 16 Sep 1985                 Wake Island is designated a National Historic                               Landmark by the National Park Service of the U.S.                               Interior Department.  1 Oct 1994 - 16 Jan 1997   Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (within the                               Office of the Secretary of Defense) funds Wake's                               actual administration, which the U.S. Army Space                               and Strategic Defense Command (SSDC) carries out                               under a use permit issued by the Air Force                               (Wake Island Launch Center). Nov 1996                    Construction of the new launch facility for the                               Hera target missile is completed. 16 Jan 1997 -               Administered by U.S. Department of Interior;                                (activities on the island are managed by U.S.                               Army to 1 Oct 2002, then U.S. Air Force 15th                               Wing to 1 Oct 2010, then under 11th Air Force                               Detachment 1 Pacific Air Forces Regional Support                               Center)(Wake Island Airfield).  1 Oct 2002                 At the conclusion of the Theater Missile Defense                               test program, management of Wake Island returns                               to the Air Force. 31 Aug 2006                 Super Typhoon Ioke severely damages much of the                               island's infrastructure (evacuated on 28 Aug).  6 Jan 2009                 Wake Island's submerged waters part of the Pacific                               Remote Islands Marine National Monument (expanded                               27 Sep 2014 out to the full 200 nautical miles). 19-20 Jan 2024              Wake Island hit with a series of powerful wave                               overruns causing extensive flooding caused by a                               distant but powerful extratropical cyclone passing                               well north of Micronesia. 17 Apr 2025                 President Donald Trump by Executive Order 10918                               reduced the protected status from areas of the                               national monument restoring commercial fishing                               access from 50 to 200 nautical miles.

Pan American Airways, Airport Managers at Wake Island
 9 May 1935 –  4 Jul 1935  William S. Grooch                  (b. 1890 - d. 1939)
Jul 1935 – 1936            George W. Bicknell                 (b. 1893 – d. 1972)
1936 - 1937                Stewart Acers Saunders             (b. 1896 - d. 1964)
1937 - 193.                Don Young
19.. - 19..                Kenneth S. Sitton                  (b. 1922 - d. 2012)
1940? - 1941               Jack C. Bonamy
U.S. Island Military Commanders (from Aug 1941, 1st Marine Defense Battalion)
Jan? 1941 - 19 Aug 1941    Elmer B. Greey                     (b. 1899 - d. 1991) 
                             (officer-in-charge)
19 Aug 1941 - 15 Oct 1941  Lewis A. Hohn                      (b. 1907 - d. 1967)
15 Oct 1941 - 29 Nov 1941  James Patrick Sinnott Devereux     (b. 1903 - d. 1988)
29 Nov 1941 - 23 Dec 1941  Winfield Scott Cunningham          (b. 1900 - d. 1986)
Japanese Commanders of Ōtori-shima
23 Dec 1941 -  1 Jan 1942  Sadamichi Kajioka                  (b. 1891 - d. 1944)
                             (commander of the 6th Torpedo Squadron)
 1 Jan 1942 - 13 Dec 1942  Susumu Kawasaki                    (b. c.1899 - d. 1946)
                             (commander of the 65th Guard Unit)
13 Dec 1942 -  4 Sep 1945  Shigematsu Sakaibara               (b. 1894 - d. 1947)
                             (commander of the 65th Guard Unit)
U.S. Island Commanders
 4 Sep 1945 - 12 Sep 1945  Lawson H. Sanderson                (b. 1895 – d. 1979)
12 Sep 1945 -  9 Oct 1945  William Masek                      (b. 1922 – d. 1995)
 9 Oct 1945 - 1946?        Earl A. Junghans                   (b. 1907 - d. 1986)
1946? - 30 Jun 1947        ....
Wake Island Area Managers (of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, from 31 Dec 1958,
Federal Aviation Agency; vested with executive authority from 5 Feb 1962)
 1 Jul 1947 - Mar 1948     ....
Mar 1948 - c.1958          Thomas D. Musson                   (b. 1910 – d. 1972)
19.. - 24 Jun 1972         Allan Andrews
Governors (also General Counsels, Department of the Air Force; in Washington, D.C.)
25 Jun 1972 - 22 Mar 1977  Jack L. Stempler                   (b. l920 - d. 2009)
                             (general counsel from 6 Jan 1970)
 3 May 1977 - 31 Dec 1978  Peter B. Hamilton                  (b. 1946)
20 Nov 1978 - 10 Jun 1981  Stuart Richard Reichart            (b. 1924)
                             (acting to 22 Apr 1979)
10 Jun 1981 -  2 Mar 1984  David Elliott Place                (b. 1921 - d. 2012)
 2 Mar 1984 - 26 May 1986  Eugene Raymond Sullivan            (b. 1941)
                             (acting to 12 Mar 1984)
 1 Jun 1986 - 26 Oct 1987  Kathleen Ann Buck (f)              (b. 1948 - d. 2001)
 8 Nov 1987 - 26 Sep 1989  Anne Newman Foreman (f)            (b. 1947)
27 Sep 1989 -  1 Dec 1989  Roy G. Wuchitech (acting)          (b. 1946)
 4 Dec 1989 - 20 Jan 1993  Ann C. Peterson (f)                (b. 1950)
20 Jan 1993 - 10 Jul 1993  Myron H. Nordquist (acting)        (b. 1940)
10 Jul 1993 - 22 Nov 1993  Vacant?
22 Nov 1993 -  3 Oct 1994  Gilbert F. Casellas                (b. 1952)
 3 Oct 1994 - Oct 1998     Sheila Carol Cheston (f)           (b. 1958)
                             (acting to 7 Mar 1995)
15 Oct 1998 - 20 Jan 2001  Jeh Charles Johnson                (b. 1957)
Feb 2001 -  8 Nov 2001     John P. Janecek (acting)           (b. 1943)
 8 Nov 2001 - 15 Jan 2009  Mary L. Walker (f)                 (b. 1948)
15 Jan 2009 - Apr 2009     Robert T. Maguire (acting)
 1 May 2009 -  1 Jun 2009  Michael W. Zehner (acting)         (b. c.1955)
 1 Jun 2009 - Nov 2013     Charles Alan Blanchard             (b. 1959)
Nov 2013 - 16 Sep 2014     Joseph M. McDade, Jr. (1st time)   (b. 1962)
                             (acting)
16 Sep 2014 -  2 Jan 2017  Gordon Owen Tanner                 (b. 1948)
 2 Jan 2017 - 18 Feb 2018  Joseph M. McDade, Jr. (2nd time)   (s.a.)
                             (acting)
18 Feb 2018 - 20 Jan 2021  Thomas "Tom" E. Ayres              (b. 1962)
20 Jan 2021 - 18 Mar 2022  Craig A. Smith (acting)
18 Mar 2022 - 20 Jan 2025  Peter Justus Beshar                (b. 1961)
20 Jan 2025 - 11 Jan 2026  Shannon Ann McGuire (f) (acting)   (b. 1958)
11 Jan 2026 -              William K. Lane III                (b. 1990?)

U.S. Commanders, Wake Island (the commanders of U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command
Detachment 1 of 15th Logistics Group 15 ABW Group 1 Oct 1994 - 1 Oct 2002; U.S. Air Force
15th Wing 1 Oct 2002 - 1 Oct 2010; from 1 Oct 2010, 11th U.S. Air Force Detachment 1
Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center)
24 Jun 1972 - Jun 1974     ....
Jun 1974 – Jun 1975        Bruce R. Hoon                      (b. 1934 - d. 2008)
Jun 1975 - 1993            ....
c.May 1985                 James W. Westmoreland, Jr.
1993 - Aug 1994            James Andel
Aug 1994 - Jul 1995        Willis Alley
Jul 1995 - 2005?           ....
2005? - Jul 2006           Vinh Trinh
Jul 2006 - Jul 2007        Nathan "Nate" Harris
Jul 2007 - Jun 2010        ....
Jun 2010 - Jun 2011        Aaron Wilt
Jun 2011 - Jun 2012        Tammy E. Dotson (f)
Jun 2012 - Jul 2013        ....
Jul 2013 – Jun 2014        Charlie J. Taylor
Jun 2014 - Jun 2015        Jason Hardman
12 Jun 2015 - 10 Jun 2016  Ronald Dion
10 Jun 2016 - 2017         Allen J. Jaime
2017 - 201.                Marc P. Bleha
201. - 2019                William H.J. Miles
Nov 2019 - Feb 2021        Clayton D. Kitts
202. - 2024                Ashley N. Bacon

Territorial Dispute: In May 2016, the Marshall Islands filed a declaration of authority with the UN over Wake Island, which is currently a US territory, reaffirming that it considers Wake Island part of its territory; control over Wake Island would drastically increase the Marshall Islands’ exclusive economic zone.