Truk in flames - but still Japan's 'Pearl Harbor'. Hard on the heels of the smashing U.S.

Truk in flames - but still Japan's 'Pearl Harbor'. Hard on the heels of the smashing U.S. victory at Kwajalein came the devastating tri-hammer blow at Japan's proud naval bastion of Truk. Known as the Nipponese 'Pearl Harbor', the Carolines' base had long been considered nearly invulnerable. The U.S. Navy Task Force assault of February 16 and 17 ended this legend. But Truk had not been invaded by land forces. Some idea of the terrain of the Jap base and the extent of its formidable installations can be gathered from these Official U.S. Navy photographs taken during the great raid. Forty ships were sunk, probably sunk or damaged, and 201 planes were destroyed. But still remaining are the extensive airfields, troop concentrations and installations portrayed in these pictures. The airstrip on Param Island stands out vividly from the lofty vantage point of the Navy plane which took this photograph. At the right is tiny Tarik Island in the Tuk group.