Tarawa Talk

Interesting find Jon. My guess, since the tank seems to be leaning to the right, would be CANNONBALL, which was removed from the enemy fuel drum pit where the right side and suspension was severely damaged by the explosion of her ammo lockers when the fuel drums caught fire. The tank, as well as COMMANDO, both burned out and were not 'backloaded' and returned to Hawaii with the rest of the company. I personally suspect that both ended up as fill for the new pier construction but have no proof. They had no value otherwise. Attached is a pic of CANNONBALL siting on the pierhead. Here is a pic of the fuel pit from which the tank was removed. Note the center runway airplane revetment in the background. Lens optics of course makes the revetment seem much closer to the fuel pit. Finally of the tank in the pit. A very much published pic.

Find and enlarge the aerial NH 95707 Jon. Under the tail of the aircraft you can see CANNONBALL resting in the fuel drum storage pit behind the log revetment. You can also see Marines in the nearby trenches and walking around the revetment area. The pic is too large on my PC to post here.

 Photo taken 28 June 1959
As u can see, to the left of the then modern pier and harbour, you can see the shadow of the 1940s pier and sea plane ramp, the large dark Y shape.