Hermit Islands

The Hermit Islands are a group of 17 islands within the Western Islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Their coordinates are.

History

The first sighting of Wuvulu Island by a European was by the Spanish navigator Ynigo [Ortiz de Retez|Iñigo Órtiz de Retes] on 27 July 1545, while on board the carrack San Juan and returning from Tidore to New Spain. He charted them as La Caimana. Órtiz de Retes reported that as they were passing by, some natives got near the ship who flung arrows by hand with tips made of flint suitable for striking fire.

World War II

On 17 June 1944, after returning from a bombing mission, 11 aircrew were bailed out from the B-24 Liberator Dropsnoot over the Hermit Islands and landed in rough seas approximately two miles from the southeast of Jalun Island. Four drowned, while the other seven were cared for by natives until being rescued.