Tarawa Atoll is located in the central Pacific Ocean. It is composed of a chain of coral islets with an area of 23 sq km (about 9 square miles) and a population of 28,802 (in 1990). The capital is located on the islets of Bairiki. Tarawa atoll is shaped like a triangle with it's base running pretty much E-W. The base is a chain of islands and so is the eastern side right to the tip. The western side is a reef all the way with a big passage just north of the western corner. Betio is the first island on the left (W) separated by about two miles to Bairiki. Pronounced 'Bes-she-o'
HistoryJapanese forces occupied the island on December 9, 1941. On November 20, 1943, US forces arrived to secure the island. A heavy naval and aerial bombardment of Betio preceded the landing of 5,000 men of the 2nd Marine Division. Due to the Coral Reefs around the islands, American landing craft could not reach the shore. Close to 1,000 Americans were killed, and over 2,000 wounded during the operation. The war relics on Betio are a reminder of the thousands of American and Japanese soldiers killed there in WWII.
American Missions Against Tarawa (Betio)January 26, 1943 - November 19, 1943
TodayBetio Island, probably the most populous in Kiribati, has the port, shipyard and main power station. Betio has a large number of war relics, after fierce fighting during the major marine assault.arawa is one of the most densely populated areas in the Pacific, and it's estimated that by the year 2000 it could have a similar population density to Hong Kong. The locals have made a mess of their island, particularly in the invasion beach areas. If you go there you will be shocked to see the vast rubbish dump they have made out of red beach two to the west side of the original jetty of which only the outline can/could be seen at low tide.
Betio Lagoon (Tarawa Lagoon)Jetty, Reef and lagoon area important in the landing.
US Marine War MemorialLocated at the Prince Philip Park, to honor the USMC veterans of the Red Beach Nov 1943Dennis Letourneau
The end of the stone breakwater marks the end of Red Beach 1 and the beginning of Red Beach 2 on the lagoon side of Betio Island. The curved inlet of Red Beach 1 is visible in the distance. Today, bits of rusted wreckage still litter the reef at low tide.
Stan Gajda reports:"When I first had a look at the lagoon floor near the jetty opposite Red Beach 3, the place was just littered with junk. It was like an untouched battlefield. Once I found three boxes of 30 06 ammo all encrusted outside. Inside the ammo was like new. I even took some apart here and used the powder to load up some 7.7 rounds for the Carlson gun which we then fired. It burnt just fine! I have even found land mines in the lagoon which were not fused."
HistoryJapanese forces occupied the island on December 9, 1941. On November 20, 1943, US forces arrived to secure the island. A heavy naval and aerial bombardment of Betio preceded the landing of 5,000 men of the 2nd Marine Division. Due to the Coral Reefs around the islands, American landing craft could not reach the shore. Close to 1,000 Americans were killed, and over 2,000 wounded during the operation. The war relics on Betio are a reminder of the thousands of American and Japanese soldiers killed there in WWII.
American Missions Against Tarawa (Betio)January 26, 1943 - November 19, 1943
TodayBetio Island, probably the most populous in Kiribati, has the port, shipyard and main power station. Betio has a large number of war relics, after fierce fighting during the major marine assault.arawa is one of the most densely populated areas in the Pacific, and it's estimated that by the year 2000 it could have a similar population density to Hong Kong. The locals have made a mess of their island, particularly in the invasion beach areas. If you go there you will be shocked to see the vast rubbish dump they have made out of red beach two to the west side of the original jetty of which only the outline can/could be seen at low tide.
Betio Lagoon (Tarawa Lagoon)Jetty, Reef and lagoon area important in the landing.
US Marine War MemorialLocated at the Prince Philip Park, to honor the USMC veterans of the Red Beach Nov 1943Dennis Letourneau
The end of the stone breakwater marks the end of Red Beach 1 and the beginning of Red Beach 2 on the lagoon side of Betio Island. The curved inlet of Red Beach 1 is visible in the distance. Today, bits of rusted wreckage still litter the reef at low tide.
Stan Gajda reports:"When I first had a look at the lagoon floor near the jetty opposite Red Beach 3, the place was just littered with junk. It was like an untouched battlefield. Once I found three boxes of 30 06 ammo all encrusted outside. Inside the ammo was like new. I even took some apart here and used the powder to load up some 7.7 rounds for the Carlson gun which we then fired. It burnt just fine! I have even found land mines in the lagoon which were not fused."
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