Colonial administration

The Ellice Islands were administered as a British Protectorate from 1892 to 1916, as part of the
British Western Pacific Territories (BWPT), by a Resident Commissioner based in the Gilbert
Islands. The administration of the BWTP ended in 1916, and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Colony was established, which existed until 1976.

Second World War

During the Pacific War, Funafuti was used as a base to prepare for the subsequent seaborne
attacks on the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) that were occupied by Japanese forces.[64] The United
States Marine Corps landed on Funafuti on 2 October 1942[65] and on Nanumea and Nukufetau
in August 1943. The Japanese had already occupied Tarawa and other islands in what is now
Kiribati, but were delayed by the losses at the Battle of the Coral Sea. The islanders assisted the
American forces to build airfields on Funafuti, Nanumea and Nukufetau and to unload supplies
from ships.[66] On Funafuti, the islanders shifted to the smaller islets so as to allow the American
forces to build the airfield and to build naval bases and port facilities on Fongafale.[67] A Naval
Construction Battalion (Seabees) built a seaplane ramp on the lagoon side of Fongafale islet, for
seaplane operations by both short- and long-range seaplanes, and a compacted coral runway was
also constructed on Fongafale,[68] with runways also constructed to create Nanumea Airfield[69]
and Nukufetau Airfield.[70] USN Patrol Torpedo Boats (PTs) were based at Funafuti from 2
November 1942 to 11 May 1944.[71]

The atolls of Tuvalu acted as staging posts during the preparation for the Battle of Tarawa and
the Battle of Makin that commenced on 20 November 1943, which were part of the
implementation of "Operation Galvanic".[72] After the war, the military airfield on Funafuti was
developed into Funafuti International Airport.