43.Photograph. Aerial view of Kwajalein before it was taken by US forces. 'File No. 213594 For Rotogravure Sections: Sunday, April 30, 1944 Kwajalein Classic in invasions . Less then three months after Tarawa fell, a giant and complex task force composed of U. S. Navy warships and transports, Marines and Army troops smashed down on Kwajalein atoll in the heart of the Marshalls. First of the mandated Japanese islands to be conquered, Kwajalein had been regarded as potentially much stronger than Tarawa. The stronghold was conquered in less time than the Gilbert's base, however, and with fewer casualties our losses being 286 killed, 82 missing and 1,148 wounded against 8,122 Jap dead and 264 prisoners. An unprecedented aerial and ship bombardment devastated the island before the troops set foot ashore. This was augmented in the opening stages of the landing by field artillery which was landed on atolls flanking the main objective. These official U. S. Navy photographs tell better tha words the epic story of the capture of Kwajalein, January 31- February 4, 1944. 1. Objective Aerial reconnaissance view of part of the Jap stronghold on Kwajalein atoll as it looked on January 30, 1944 the day before the opening of the thunderous barrage. The hammer-head crane and dock were smashed and all the buildings leveled in the bombardment.' 3 April 1944