National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Allied Invasion of Kiska, August 15-24, 1943

Codename:  Operation Cottage

Following the Battle of Attu, May 11-29, 1943, Allied forces began preparing to invade Kiska Island.   Unbeknownst to U.S. Army 7th Division and Canadian 13th Infantry Brigade, the Japanese escaped on July 29 under deep fog and darknness.   On August 15, the Allied troops landed, expecting a large force of Japanese to meet them.  During the eight-day search, 28 Allied servicemen were killed by friendly fire, along with an additional four killed by Japanese booby traps.   When USS Abner Read (DD-526) struck a floating mine on August 17,  seventy-one men further died.  The island was declared secure on August 24.  

Image:  LC-Lot-803-9:  Allied landing on Kiska Island, August 15, 1943.   The barges are the familiar LCTs, LCMs, and LCVPs, landing unopposed on the island.  Official U.S. Navy Photograph.  Courtesy of the Library of Congress.