Three days later, ten bombers flew from Umnak airfield, to attack Kiska for the first time. One day after their landing, June 8, 1942, an American patrol plane discovered the enemy's ships in Kiska Harbor. During the fourteen-month occupation, the Japanese came under increasing American air and naval attacks. Despite this sizeable force, it was not sufficient to construct an airfield, roads, living quarters, and defenses, all at the same time. Over the next few months, additional units arrived and the occupation force eventually grew to about 5,640 military and 1,170 civilians. The initial Japanese landing took place on June 7, 1942, when the Third Special Landing Force (550 Japanese naval men) stormed ashore.
By taking and establishing bases on Midway and in the Aleutians they believed that they could prevent further attacks and establish control over the north and central Pacific. Japanese military leaders mistakenly believed that the ApDoolittle Raid was launched either from Midway or the Aleutians.
Pacific Fleet at Midway, along with the Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska in June 1942 marked the peak of Japan's military expansion in the Pacific.
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