Strategic Position
- Iwo Jima was a strategic position for both sides.
- Allowed Japanese bombing missions on Mariana Islands.
- U.S. bombers were constantly being shot down by planes sent from Iwo Jima.
- Japanese had radar installations at each airfield on the island.
- Air Force realized that the island must be taken because of its strategic position and three airfields.
- Of the three airfields, two were operational.
- Iwo Jima would allow B-29 bombers to refuel and repair quicker.
- The island was situated closer to U.S. targets than the Mariana Islands, where the bombers refueled before.
- 2,200 bombers would refuel on Iwo Jima, saving the lives of 24,000 airmen.
- Because of the island, B-29 bombers were constantly able to go on bombing missions around the Pacific
- This paved the way for the final island invasion at Okinawa.
"The battle of Iwo Island has been won. The United States Marines by their individual and collective courage have conquered a base which is as necessary to us in our continuing forward movement toward final victory as it was vital to the enemy in staving off ultimate defeat."
- Admiral Nimitz
“Japanese fighters on Iwo Jima made almost nightly raids on the Marianas airfields [where downed U.S. bombers were], destroying many B-29s on the ground. As long as Japan controlled Iwo Jima, it posed a threat to the success of the bombing campaign.”
Iwo Jima was a strategic island for the Japanese and the Americans. On both sides, the three airfields that were situated across the island were deemed important in defeating the other side. For the Japanese, radar was used at the airfields and Japanese fighters were able to easily attack American bombers because of how close they were to American refueling sites in the Mariana Islands. This is the reason why the island was so heavily defended and why the Japanese tried so hard to protect it. For the Americans, the airfields would allow more B-29 to be in the air because it was a closer refueling site to American targets than where they were currently situated in the Mariana Islands. However, the American public was distraught and could not understand the reasoning for wasting so much American life for a tiny island. They wanted to know why another island could've been taking with less risk. The statistics of the number of bombers and men that were saved out way the loss of life attempting to take the island. 2,200 bombers were saved accounting for around 24,000 airmen compared to the 7,000 brave Marines that lost their life during battle.
- Allowed Japanese bombing missions on Mariana Islands.
- U.S. bombers were constantly being shot down by planes sent from Iwo Jima.
- Japanese had radar installations at each airfield on the island.
- Air Force realized that the island must be taken because of its strategic position and three airfields.
- Of the three airfields, two were operational.
- Iwo Jima would allow B-29 bombers to refuel and repair quicker.
- The island was situated closer to U.S. targets than the Mariana Islands, where the bombers refueled before.
- 2,200 bombers would refuel on Iwo Jima, saving the lives of 24,000 airmen.
- Because of the island, B-29 bombers were constantly able to go on bombing missions around the Pacific
- This paved the way for the final island invasion at Okinawa.
"The battle of Iwo Island has been won. The United States Marines by their individual and collective courage have conquered a base which is as necessary to us in our continuing forward movement toward final victory as it was vital to the enemy in staving off ultimate defeat."
- Admiral Nimitz
“Japanese fighters on Iwo Jima made almost nightly raids on the Marianas airfields [where downed U.S. bombers were], destroying many B-29s on the ground. As long as Japan controlled Iwo Jima, it posed a threat to the success of the bombing campaign.”
Iwo Jima was a strategic island for the Japanese and the Americans. On both sides, the three airfields that were situated across the island were deemed important in defeating the other side. For the Japanese, radar was used at the airfields and Japanese fighters were able to easily attack American bombers because of how close they were to American refueling sites in the Mariana Islands. This is the reason why the island was so heavily defended and why the Japanese tried so hard to protect it. For the Americans, the airfields would allow more B-29 to be in the air because it was a closer refueling site to American targets than where they were currently situated in the Mariana Islands. However, the American public was distraught and could not understand the reasoning for wasting so much American life for a tiny island. They wanted to know why another island could've been taking with less risk. The statistics of the number of bombers and men that were saved out way the loss of life attempting to take the island. 2,200 bombers were saved accounting for around 24,000 airmen compared to the 7,000 brave Marines that lost their life during battle.
"The Battle of Iwo Jima." Article Myriad. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
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