Transcript Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima Februrary 19 - March 26, 1945 Background • The United States wanted to capture Iwo Jima to use its airfields • The distance of b-29 raids wold be cut in half • The United States started routine bombing of the island on June 4, 1944 Japan’s Comander General Kuribayashi An aristocrat Educated in Canada and toured the US One of few soldiers granted an audience by Emperor Hirohito America’s Commander Holland Smith • Nicnamed “Father of Amphibious” • Commanded the V Amphibous Corps • Commanded task force 66 Japan’s Strategy • The Japanesse wouldn’t ever fight above ground • They fought the battle entirely from beneath the ground. They dug 1,500 rooms into the rock. These were connected with 16 miles of tunnels. • Japanese strategy called for "no Japanese survivors." They planned not to survive. • Another Japanese strategy was for each soldier to kill 10 Americans before they themselves are killed. US Invasion • American air forces pounded Iwo in the longest sustained aerial offensive of the war. • At 8:59 AM the first wave of marines landed on Iwo Jima • The marines weren’t attacked until they moved further into the island • The marines were fighting above ground and the Japanese were below ground and in bunkers Land Battle • D-Day February 19, 1945 Shortly before 2am on Feb. 19, 1945, the Navy's big guns opened up on Iwo Jima again, signaling the beginning of D-Day. • After an hour of punishment, the fire was lifted, leaving Iwo smoking as if the entire island were on fire. • One-hundred-ten bombers screamed out of the sky to drop more bombs. After the planes left, the big guns of the Navy opened up again. • At 8:30am, the order, "Land the Landing Force," sent the first wave of Marines towards the deadly shores. Once ashore, the Marines were bedeviled by the loose volcanic ash. Unable to dig foxholes, they were sitting ducks for the hidden Japanese gunners. • Heavy fire made it impossible to land men in an orderly manner. Confusion reigned on the beaches. • Liquid gas, napalm and hand grenades were more useful against the underground Japanese • One hundred thousand men fighting on a tiny island one-third the size of Manhattan. • For 36 days Iwo Jima was one of the most populated 7.5 miles on earth. Losses USA Japan • 6,812 Killed/Missing 21,844 Killed • 2 Captured 216 Captured • 19,217 Wounded Impact on the War • The United States won the battle and captured the island • The Marines' effort provided a vital link in the U.S.chain of bomber bases. By war's end, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewman had made emergency landings on Iwo Jima.