![](https://www.historynet.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Putnam_Wake_1.jpg)
In 1941 Wake Island was a work in progress; its location made it a good base for long-range aircraft but left it vulnerable to attacks. Aside from its Pan Am facility, the atoll was a desolate workplace for civilians laboring to convert it into a modern air station. (Map by Brian Walker with 1941 U.S. Navy Photo)
Map by Brian Walker with 1941 U.S. Navy Photo