Editing Maloelap Atoll (section)

==History==
Maloelap Atoll was claimed by the [[German Empire]] along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1885.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Churchill |first1=William |author-link1=William Churchill (ethnologist) |date=1920 |title=Germany's Lost Pacific Empire |jstor=207706 |journal=Geographical Review |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=84–90|doi=10.2307/207706 |bibcode=1920GeoRv..10...84C }}</ref> After World War I, the island came under the [[South Seas Mandate]] of the [[Empire of Japan]].

In 1939, the Japanese built a seaplane base and landplane [[Taroa Airfield]] with two runways (4800' + 4100') and support buildings and facilities, including a [[radar]] station. During World War II the Japanese garrison of 2,940 navy men and 389 army men was commanded by Rear Admiral Shoichi Kamada.<ref name=Takizawa>{{cite web|first1=Akira |last1=Takizawa |first2=Allan |last2=Alsleben |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/japan_garrison.html |title=Japanese garrisons on the by-passed Pacific Islands 1944-1945 |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106231303/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/japan_garrison.html |archivedate=2016-01-06 }}</ref> The perimeter of the island was heavily fortified with 12 heavy coastal artillery and 10 heavy anti-aircraft guns.<ref name=Takizawa/> The island was attacked by the [[United States Navy]] beginning in February 1942 starting with carrier-based aircraft and shelling by warships. The attacks grew in frequency and severity after [[Majuro]] and [[Kwajalein]] had fallen to the Americans. Of the 3097-man Japanese garrison (1772 [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], 368 [[Imperial Japanese Army]], and 957 civilians) only 1041 (34%) survived the war. Several Marshallese were also killed. A large number of war relics, including plane wrecks, mainly [[Mitsubishi A6M]] Zero fighters and [[Mitsubishi G4M]] Betty bombers remain scattered about.

Following the end of World War II, the island came under the control of the United States as part of the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986. Maloelap Atoll was the first to ratify the [[Marshall Islands]]' constitution.