This work is a detailed historical study of the Aleutians Campaign conducted by U.S. Armed Forces from 3 June 1942 through 18 August 1943 to gain control of the North Pacific and eject the Japanese from Attu and Kiska Islands. The campaign, characterized by combined and joint operations, involved an extended air battle, a brutal fight for control of the waters of the western Aleutians, and two major combat amphibious operations. The Aleutians Campaign, of major significance at the time, quickly became over-shadowed by later naval, air, and amphibious operations conducted in the Pacific. Though studied extensively after August 1943 to apply lessons learned to other operations, the Aleutians Campaign attracted little attention by military scholars in the years after World War II. This study details the conduct of the campaign and applies tactical, operational, and strategic aspects to the current U.S. Army model for campaign planning. There is significant parallel with current U.S. doctrine for conducting a regional campaign, especially in an austere theater, with that used to conduct the Aleutians Campaign in the North Pacific theater of operations.

ADA 258520 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)