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Old photos of Betio

5 photographs of Betio, from 1943 to 2005 — each pinned to the exact place it was taken.

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What the photos show

The 5 photographs of Betio on PlaceWas span 2 decades, from 1943 to 2005. 4 of them were taken before 1980; the other 1 are recent views of the same streets and landmarks.1 spot was photographed more than once, so you can compare the same street, square or building across the years.5 of the photos carry a written caption explaining what is in the frame. Every picture is pinned to the place it was taken, so the map below shows where the photographers stood.

Pick a decade to filter the photos below and the map above. Open full map ↗

Places in Betio through time

Spots photographed more than once — compare the same place across the years.

Tarawa aerial view, Betio — photos through time
Tarawa aerial view 5 photos · 1943–2005

Stories from Betio

What contributors wrote about these photographs.

US Base tents Betio Tarawa, Betio, 1943
US Base tents Betio Tarawa 1943 Rows of tents mark a US military encampment on Betio, part of Tarawa Atoll, photographed in 1943. The islet had just been the site of one of the costliest amphibious battles of the Pacific War, after which American…
Tarawa Atoll aerial photo, Betio, 1943
Tarawa Atoll aerial photo 1943 This aerial photograph of Tarawa Atoll was taken in September 1943, showing the islet of Betio in what is now Kiribati. Within weeks, Betio would become the scene of a major and bloody amphibious battle between US…
Tarawa aerial view, Betio, 1943
Tarawa aerial view 1943 Dated 24 November 1943, this aerial view captures Tarawa Atoll during the height of the battle fought there between United States Marines and Japanese forces, one of the fiercest engagements of the early Pacific…
Hawkins Field Betio Tarawa March, Betio, 1944
Hawkins Field Betio Tarawa March 1944 By March 1944, the captured airstrip on Betio in Tarawa Atoll had been renamed Hawkins Field. This photograph shows the base several months after the 1943 battle, as US forces expanded it into an operational airfield for…
Loading copra at Betio port, Kiribati, Betio, 2005
Loading copra at Betio port, Kiribati 2005 Workers load copra, dried coconut kernel, at the port of Betio in Kiribati, photographed in 2005. Copra has long been one of the few export commodities available to the small Pacific nation's economy.
1940s · 4 photos
US Base tents Betio Tarawa, Betio, 1943
US Base tents Betio Tarawa 1943
Tarawa Atoll aerial photo, Betio, 1943
Tarawa Atoll aerial photo 1943
Tarawa aerial view, Betio, 1943
Tarawa aerial view 1943
Hawkins Field Betio Tarawa March, Betio, 1944
Hawkins Field Betio Tarawa March 1944
2000s · 1 photo
Loading copra at Betio port, Kiribati, Betio, 2005
Loading copra at Betio port, Kiribati 2005