It was the site of conflict between Japanese and the Allied forces during World War II, and was a major airbase for both sides.

[2] The first sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra on 24 June 1528 when he was trying to return from Tidore to New Spain.

Another sighting was later reported in 1545 by Spanish navigator Íñigo Ortiz de Retes on board of galleon San Juan when also attempting the return to New Spain[3] The Tidore Sultanate had tributary ties with the island.

[5] The indigenous population at the time numbered about 5,000 people, most of whom lived a subsistence lifestyle in coastal villages.

[5][8] Bombing of the island by United States and Australian aircraft began as early as April 1944.

[9][10] Although the island is surrounded by "an almost solid ring" of coral, newspapers reported "almost no loss" of troops in reaching the shore.

[12] In the words of the US Navy official history: "Japanese encountered around the airfield were so stunned from the effects of the bombardment that all the fight was taken out of them.

"[11][13] The following day, as a precaution against Japanese resistance elsewhere, 2,000 US paratroopers from the 503 Parachute Infantry Regiment were dropped onto the island.

Three more raids in October were escorted by P-38 Lightning and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters flying from new bases at Morotai and Sansapor.