Wake Island

Wake Island, formerly Halcyon Island, coral atoll, territory of the United States, central Pacific Ocean. It is a group of three islets (Wake, Peale, and Wilkes) that enclose a shallow lagoon. First sighted by Spanish explorers in 1568, the island was visited by the British in 1796. Wake Island was formally occupied by the U.S. in 1898. In 1934 it was placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Navy, and in 1935 a commercial air base was established on the atoll to serve planes on flights between the U.S. and the Orient. Construction of a naval air base and a submarine base on Wake Island was begun in 1939.

On December 7, 1941, during World War II, immediately after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese air and naval forces attacked Wake Island. After a heroic defense against overwhelming odds, the small garrison surrendered on December 23. The U.S. flag was again raised over Wake Island in September 1945, following the Japanese surrender. The U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command took over administration of Wake Island from the U.S. Air Force in October 1994. Area, 8 sq km (3.09 sq mi); population (1997) 126.