With Germany and Italy defeated, the focus switched to ending the war with Japan…

With Germany and Italy defeated, the focus switched to ending the war with Japan…

End to the Island Hopping Campaign

…and bringing an…

Iwo Jima & Okinawa

1. Bomb

2. Invade

3. Build an airfield to bomb the next island

How to Island Hop with General Douglas MacArthur:

Mt. Suribachi

Island Hopping on Iwo Jima

1. Bomb:

Island Hopping on Iwo Jima

3. Build an airfield:

2. Invade:

1. Bomb: 74 days in a row

Island Hopping on Iwo Jima

3. Build an airfield:

2. Invade:

1. Bomb: 74 days in a row

Island Hopping on Iwo Jima

3. Build an airfield:

2. Invade: 110,000 US vs. 22,000 Japanese

1. Bomb: 74 days in a row

Island Hopping on Iwo Jima

3. Build an airfield: Already there, used for bombers and fighters to destroy Japanese cities.

2. Invade: 110,000 US vs. 22,000 Japanese

Link to Iwo Jima Clip

Iwo Jima Casualties

6,821 US Dead

20,000 US Wounded

Nearly all 22,000 Japanese fought to the death.

Iwo Jima was used to support the bombing of Japanese cities, and as a staging area for hopping to the next island, Okinawa.

Okinawa was going to be the stepping stone into Japan.

Okinawa Facts

500,000 Civilians living there before the battle

150,000 Civilians killed during the ugly battle

97,000 Japanese soldiers before the battle

7,000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle

Hundreds of Japanese “Kamikaze” pilots trained to pilots crash into US Navy boats, killing 5,000

Americans

US invasion force of 200,000 soldiers

US casualties, 12,513 dead, 55,000 wounded

Link to Okinawa Clip

Okinawa Facts

500,000 Civilians living there before the battle

150,000 Civilians killed during the ugly battle

97,000 Japanese soldiers before the battle

7,000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle

Hundreds of Japanese “Kamikaze” pilots trained to pilots crash into US Navy boats, killing 5,000

Americans

US invasion force of 200,000 soldiers

US casualties, 12,513 dead, 55,000 wounded

Okinawa Facts

500,000 Civilians living there before the battle

150,000 Civilians killed during the ugly battle

97,000 Japanese soldiers before the battle

7,000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle

Hundreds of Japanese “Kamikaze” pilots trained to pilots crash into US Navy boats, killing 5,000

Americans

US invasion force of 200,000 soldiers

US casualties, 12,513 dead, 55,000 wounded

Iwo Jima was used to support the bombing of Japanese cities, and as a staging area for hopping to the next island, Okinawa.

Okinawa was going to be the stepping stone into Japan…

Iwo Jima was used to support the bombing of Japanese cities, and as a staging area for hopping to the next island, Okinawa.

Okinawa was going to be the stepping stone into Japan…but the atomic bombings forced a surrender before the invasion began.