Follow Up on Pagan Island-- Part 2: Many Bombing Attacks

After the war, Pagan island was under U.S. occupation and became part of the U.N. Trust territry of the Pacific before receiving U.S. Commonwealth status.  the U.S. Navy maintained a small presence for awhile.

From Pacific Wrecks site:

Pagan island came under near constant U.S. bombing and aerial attack near the end of the war.  Most missions were launched by the U.S. 7th Air Force.  The first attack took placeJune 23, 1944 and two HellCats were lost.  Those were the only losses recorded during the 79 attacks.

The last attack was made by USMC planes.

The Japanese troops on Pagan Island surrendered to Commodore Vernon F. Grant and the USS Rhind (DD-404) on September 2, 1945. The Rhind was named for Alexander Colden Rhind, a naval officer who commanded the USS Keokuk at Charleston which was hit by 90 Confederate shells and later sank during the Civil War.  He also commanded Gen. Butler's powdership Louisiana at the First Battle of Fort Fisher in December 1864.

--GreGen