U.S., as it showed the strengths and weaknesses of the Zero's design. The following day, Admiral Kakuta received orders to break off further attacks and head for the central Pacific to support the Combined Fleet which was retreating after being defeated at Midway. Two days later, a small Japanese invasion force landed and occupied two of the Aleutian islands, Attu and Kiska, without further incident. The bombing of Dutch Harbor and the subsequent occupations of Kiska and Attu by the Japanese helped trigger an impression among Americans that they were going to launch a full-scale attack along the United States West Coast. As a result, military and commandeered civilian aircraft flew nearly 2,300 troops to Nome, along with artillery and antiaircraft guns and several tons of other equipment and supplies to deter a possible Japanese landing in mainland Alaska. Fearing a Japanese attack on other Aleutian Islands and mainland Alaska, the U.S. government evacuated hundreds more Aleuts from the western chain and the Pribilofs, placing them in internment camps in southeast Alaska, where many died of measles, influenza and other infectious diseases which spread quickly in the overcrowded dormitories. In total, about 75 died in American internment and 19 as a result of Japanese occupation. The Aleut Restitution Act of 1988 was an attempt by Congress to compensate the survivors. On June 17, 2017, the U.S. government formally apologized for the internment of the Unangan people and their treatment in the camps. Aleuts on Kiska and Attu were imprisoned on the Japanese mainland. Notes References Further reading Symonds, Craig L. The Battle of Midway (Pivotal Moments in American History) Oxford University Press, USA October 2011 pp 193–200 External links Air Raid on Dutch Harbor & Fort Mears – photos & documents Logistics Problems on Attu by Robert E. Burks. Aleutian Islands Chronology Aleutian Islands War Red White Black & Blue – feature documentary about The Battle of Attu in the Aleutians during World War II 1942 in Alaska Dutch Harbor Aleutian Islands campaign American Theater of World War II Amaknak Island Dutch Harbor Dutch Harbor Dutch Harbor Pacific theatre of World War II June 1942 events Attacks on military installations in the 1940s