| Operation codename: Detachment |
One american soldier said after stay on Iwo Jima that after God finished creating the world collected all left waste and dirt and created of it this island. Iwo Jima actually far from being reminded beautiful Pacific Islands. Its overall importance to the Allies as the Japanese consisted only of its strategic location halfway between the Marianas archipelago, strictly speaking, the island of Saipan, and the largest Japanese island of Honshu with the capital city Tokyo. Just because this small, ugly and inhospitable island became the scene of one of the most famous landing World War II operations and after four weeks there have been seducing the hard fighting, killing the vast majority of defenders and suffered heavy losses of the attacking troops. (Miloš Hubáèek - Válka konèí v Pacifiku (I) - Pevnost Iwodžima, Paseka 2000)
Article on Czech Wikipedia
Article on English Wikipedia| Scenario in dates: |
| August 14, 1932: |
United States - a first lieutenant Takeichi Nishi participates in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, winning a gold medal in show jumping individual on horse Uranus. He will be a tank unit commander at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 and will killed in action during the defense of the island. |
| August 25, 1943: |
In the United States - In Camp Elliot, California, the V Amphibious Corps is formed, the core of which is the three Divisions of the Marine Corps (3rd, 4th, and 5th), and becomes the striking amphibious force of the 5th Fleet. Headed by one of the most competent, General Holland McTyeire Smith. It is the commander who since the outbreak of war directed extensive training of the US Army, Navy and Marines in amphibious combat, which subsequently became the main factor of successful American landings in the Pacific and Atlantic. The corps under his leadership will gradually conquer the Gilbert, Marshall and Marian Islands, eventually Iwo Jima and General Smith will retire after the war, recognized a the "father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare. |
| July 4, 1944: |
In the Bonin Islands, In the Volcano Islands - US Task Force 58 attacks Chichi Jima Island and Iwo Jima Island with carrier aircraft. |
| July 18, 1944: |
Bonin Islands - US submarine USS Cobia (SS-245) sinks a Japanese transport ship Nisshu Maru transporting the 26th Tank Regiment of the Japanese 109th Division to Iwo Jima. Although the casualties are small, all 28 tanks of the regiment end to the bottom of the sea. The submarine will become a floating museum after the war and its well-maintained SJ radar remains the oldest functional radar set in the world. |
| August 4, 1944: |
In the Bonin Islands - A group from Task Force 38 (Admiral Clark) attacks Japanese positions on the islands of Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima causing substantial damage. |
| August 31, 1944: |
In the Bonin Islands - US Task Group 38.4 (Admiral Davison) attacks Japanese positions on Iwo Jima and on Chichi Jima with carrier aircraft from 3 carriers, USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Franklin (CV-13). |
| September 2, 1944: |
The Bonin Islands - above the island of Chichijima, during the air strike, the TBF Avenger bomber is severely damaged by Japanese anti-aircraft fire. The pilot rescues himself by abandoning the airplane over the sea on a parachute and subsequently is rescued by the US submarine USS Finback (SS-230). He briefly returns to service on the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), where he serves until the end of the year and then moves to the US to train new pilots. He soon becomes married and his first son is born. Several decades later he and his son become the 41st and 43rd President of the United States. Their names are George Bush. |
| November 11, 1944: |
In the Bonin Islands - An American cruiser and destroyer task force, commanded by Admiral Smith, shells the island of Iwo Jima during the night (November 11-12). |
| November 27, 1944: |
Mariana Islands - In the early morning hours, Isley Field on Saipan Island is attacked by Japanese bombers from Iwo Jima. Despite the big losses, the Japanese have managed to destroy 5 parked B-29 Superfortress bombers and 13 more damage. The event leads to a strengthening of Marian´s defense and intensifying preparations for invasion of Iwo Jima. |
| December 8, 1944: |
In the Volcano Islands - An American naval force, commanded by Admiral Smith and consisting of 3 heavy cruisers and a destroyer escort, bombard Iwo Jima. |
| January 5, 1945: |
In the Bonin Islands - Admiral Smith leads a force of cruisers and destroyers to shell Iwo Jima, Haha Jima and Chichi Jima. There is a simultaneous attack by USAAF B-29 Superfortress bombers. |
| January 25, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - Iwo Jima is bombarded by the battleship USS Indiana (BB-58) and a force of cruisers and destroyers. There are also air attacks by B-24 and B-29 bombers. This is the first step in the preparation for the US landings in February. |
| February 1, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - American USAAF B-24 and B-29 bombers raid Iwo Jima in preparation for the landings later in the month. They drop a daily average of 450 tons of bombs over the course of 15 days (6800 tons). |
| February 16, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - US Task Force 54 (Admiral Rodgers), with 5 cruisers and 16 destroyers, as well as the 10 escort carriers of TF52 begin the preliminary bombardment of Iwo Jima. Poor weather limits the effectiveness of the activity. |
| February 17, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - US Task Force 54 and TF52 continue the preliminary bombardment of Iwo Jima. The battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43), a heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24), a destroyer USS Leutze (DD-481) as well as several smaller ships are damaged by Japanese coastal batteries return fire. The wounded commander of Leutze is replaced by 27-year-old Lieutenant Leon Grabowsky, who becomes the youngest destroyer commander in the modern US Navy. Meanwhile, a USAAF raid by B-24 bombers is also conducted. |
| February 18, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - US Task Force 54 and TF52 continue the preliminary bombardment of Iwo Jima. |
| February 18, 1945: |
In the Bonin Islands - While most of US Task Force 58 is replenishing, one group of four carriers commanded by Admiral Radford attacks Haha Jima and Chichi Jima. |
| February 19, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, 2 divisions of the US V Amphibious Corps are landed in Operation Detachment. Before the landing the bombardment groups already deployed are joined by 2 battleships, several cruisers and destroyers from US Task Force 58. The initial assault forces are from US 4th and 5th Marine Divisions with 3rd Marines in reserve. They are carried transported by TF53 (Admiral Hill) and land on the southeast of the island. About 30,000 men go ashore on the first day. The Japanese garrison of about 21,000 troops, commanded by General Kuribayashi, have prepared exceptionally elaborate and tough defenses so that the eight square miles of the island is completely fortified. In the first hours of furious fighting, John Basilone, the hero of Battle of Guadalcanal and the holder of the Medal of Honor, is killed in action. The Americans realize that the island is well defended since it is part of metropolitan Japan. However, the island is strategically important because it is within fighter range of Tokyo. By controlling the airfields here, American B-29 bombers flying from the Mariana Islands can be escorted. |
| February 20, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - The naval bombardment groups (US TF54 and TF52), now joined by US Task Force 58, continue to provide support to the US V Amphibious Corps fighting on shore. American troops make slow progress toward Mount Suribachi in the south and the first airfield to the north of the beachhead. It is at the entrance to the airport where comes the finest hour of the private first class Jacklyn "Jack" Lucas, a boy (he celebrated his 17th birthday on a ship on February 14, five days before landing in Iwo Jima, he lied about his age at the conscription), who places himself on a thrown enemy grenade in the trench without hesitation to save his comrades-in-arms with his body. Severe injuries he will miraculously survive, although he will have to undergo a total of 21 operations and will carry around 200 metal fragments by the end of his life (2008). For this act, he became the youngest member of the United States Armed Forces in World War II awarded the Medal of Honor. There are Japanese counterattacks and infiltration attempts during the night. |
| February 21, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - The naval gun and air bombardment (by US Task Forces 52, 54 and 58) continues. The escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) is sunk and the fleet carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), an escort carrier and other ships are damaged by Kamikaze attacks. Elements of the US V Amphibious Corps continue to make slow progress toward Mount Suribachi to the south and the airfield to the north. There are Japanese counterattacks and infiltration attempts during the night. |
| February 22, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - The naval gun and air bombardment (by US Task Forces 52, 54 and 58) continues. Elements of the US V Amphibious Corps continue to make slow progress toward Mount Suribachi to the south and the airfield to the north (most of which has now been captured). There are Japanese counterattacks and infiltration attempts during the night. |
| February 23, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, most of Mount Suribachi, on the southern tip of the island, is taken by the American forces (of the US V Amphibious Corps) during the day and the US flag is hoisted on the summit. Photo of this event shot by Joe Rosenthal became the most famous picture of the Pacific war. To the north of the beachhead, the pattern of slow US advance after much effort is maintained. It features the extraordinary heroism of Marine Hershel "Woody" Williams, who repeatedly returns to refill his flamethrower and explosives under fire that blocks the progress of his unit and destroys one dangerous Japanese bunker after another. He would later be awarded the Medal of Honor for the action (see October 5, 1945). |
| February 24, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, forces of US V Amphibious Corps continue to advance northward and capture part of the island´s second airfield. |
| February 25, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, the advance of US V Amphibious Corps continues but there are heavy losses in the area around the second airfield (Motoyama # 2). The US 3rd Marine Division is committed to the battle. |
| February 26, 1945: |
Iwo Jima - During the battle for Hill 382 (which the Japanese calls Nidan Iwa), the highest point in the northern part of the island, 19-year-old private first class Douglas T. Jacobson acts an incredible heroic performance, for which he will later be rewarded with a Medal of Honor from President Truman. He grabs a bazooka and an explosive bag from one of the fallen Marines and sets off on his own. He blows up a 20mm manned anti-aircraft cannon and continues to advance under heavy fire, destroying one enemy position after another - several bunkers, machine gun nests and even a Japanese tank. In 30 minutes, it destroys a total of 16 enemy positions and eliminates approximately 75 Japanese defenders. |
| February 27, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, the carriers of TF53 again add their support to the ships aiding the attacks of US V Amphibious Corps. The American objective is the elimination of three Japanese positions overlooking the second airfield on the island, however, the marines fail to dislodge the Japanese defenders. |
| March 1, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, forces of US V Amphibious Corps now hold both the first and second of the island´s airfields and have a foothold at the southern end of the third. There is intensive fighting all along the line. After being hit by shrapnel from an American ship, Michael Strank, a marine originally from Czechoslovakia, who a few days earlier was an actor in the famous photograph of raising the flag on the top of Mount Suribaèi, dies unfortunately. |
| March 3, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands, On Iwo Jima - an area of the island which has become known as "the Mincer" is cleared by the marines of US V Amphibious Corps. The third airfield is completely occupied by the American. |
| March 4, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, the first damaged B-29 uses the landing field. |
| March 8, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, the forces of US V Amphibious Corps continue pushing northward with heavy fire support. Japanese forces are now all within one mile of the north end of the island. Nineteen-year-old Marine Private First Class James D. La Belle is rescuing his two comrades when, in the midst of a fierce battle, an enemy hand grenade suddenly lands in their foxhole, and he decides to sacrifice his life by leaning on it. He will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for this act. |
| March 15, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, US V Amphibious Corps continues to engage the Japanese forces which are now confined a small area in the northwest of the island. |
| March 17, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, sixteen-year-old private James Joseph O´Connor is killed by Japanese fire during a brave one-man flamethrower assault against Japanese strongpoint blocking advance of his platoon. He will be posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his courage and inspiring coolness as the youngest Marine to die in WWII. |
| March 25, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, three hundred Japanese troops perform a counterattack that is not conducted in banzai style, but as a surprise silent attack. It becomes the latest Japanese success of the Battle of Iwo Jima, as the US underestimates the risk of such an action, the Japanese manage to penetrate Airfield No. 2 area and kill more difficult-to-replace pilots, engineers and other airfield personnel. All attackers are wiped out by elements of the 5th Marine Division, which have been assigned the task of reducing the last pockets of resistance. |
| March 26, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, the island is officially declared secure at 09:00. About 200 of the Japanese garrison of 20,700 remain alive as prisoners of the marines of US V Amphibious Corps. American casualties have been almost 6,000 dead and 17,200 wounded. Due to genius ingenuity of General Kuribayashi and the tenacity of his troops, the fighting for Iwo Jima became the only battle in the Pacific War, where American losses outnumbered the Japanese. |
| June 9, 1945: |
In The United States - General Patton and general Doolittle speaks to a crowd of 100,000 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It is the same stadium at which the Baron Takeichi Nishi won gold medal for Japan during 1932 Olympic Games on the horse Uranus in equestrian show jumping. Nishi was a tank unit commander at the Battle of Iwo Jima and was killed in action during the defense of the island at the beginning of the year. |
| July 20, 1945: |
Over Japan - About 80 P-51 Mustang fighters, flying from Iwo Jima, strike targets in central Honshu. |
| October 5, 1945: |
United States - 14 American servicemen are awarded the highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, by President Truman at the White House. Among them Hershel "Woody" Williams for his heroism in the battle for Iwo Jima (see February 23, 1945). Williams will live to the respectable age of 98 and will die in 2022 as the last recipient of the Medal of Honor for action during World War II. (Last living WWII Medal of Honor recipient dies) |
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| Literature sources: |  | Jordan, David, Wiest Andrew: Atlas Of World War II., Ottovo nakladatelství, 2006, Praha |  | Moskin, J. Robert: The U.S. marine corps story, Laser - books, 1997, Plzeò |  | Bradley, James: Flyboys. A True Story of Courage, Mladá fronta, 2009, Praha |  . | Swanston, Alexander & Malcolm: The Historical Atlas of World War II, Columbus, 2007, Praha | | . | Kakehaši, Kumiko: So Sad to Fall in Battle, Baronet, 2007, Praha |  | Lamont-Brown, Raymond: Kamikaze, Pavel Dobrovský - BETA, 2004, Praha |  | Hyams, Joe: Flight of the Avenger, ÁKA Èejkovo nakladatelství, 1992, Praha | | . | Šnajdr, Miroslav: Flying Marines, Akcent, 2015, Tøebíè | | . | Dolejší, Josef: Marines, X-Egem, 1999, Praha |  | Hubáèek, Miloš: Válka konèí v Pacifiku I (War ends in Pacific I: Fortress Iwojima), Paseka, 2000, Praha, Litomyšl |  | Hrbek, Jaroslav, Hrbek Ivan: Vítìzství pøichází z moøe (Victory comes from sea), Naše vojsko, 1999, Praha |  | Sakai, Saburo: Oozora no Samurai, Naše vojsko, 1994, Praha | Pejèoch, Ivo: Bitevní loï Texas (Battleship Texas), HPM No. 1/2002
Pejèoch, Ivo: DUKW, HPM No. 1 a 2/2003
Tesárek, Bohuslav: Japonské tankové síly do roku 1945 (Japanese Armored Forces up to 1945), HPM No. 5 a 6/1997
Bobek, Jan: Kaneyoshi "Kinsuke" Mutó, HPM No. 12/1996
Bobek, Jan: Saburo Sakai, HPM No. 7 a 8/1995
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