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Why did the US capture the Japanese Islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
The basic reason the US needed to capture any Pacific island was to put airfields on it from which land-based aircraft could operate and dominate the surrounding area, and to deny the use of the island to the enemy for that same purpose. The Navy had aircraft carriers, but these were very expensive, took several years to build, and could be swiftly sunk by a submarine firing torpedoes, or lost in battle. At the time Pacific islands were sometimes referred to as "unsinkable aircraft carriers". As soon as enough of the island was secured to begin, construction was started on an airfield, and as soon as that was far enough along combat planes began operating from it, to relieve the necessity of the Navy risking its precious carriers in the area of the battle to provide air support. The first island campaign was on Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands. This operation had to be launched in a hurry because the Japanese were building an airfield on it, from which, when it was completed, they could interrupt the flow of supply ships from the US to Australia. In the case of Iwo Jima, the Japanese had airfields on Iwo, and the US had massive bomber airfields they had built in the Mariana Islands, from which B-29s flew to bomb the Home Islands of Japan. These B-29s passed close enough to Iwo coming and going that Japanese fighter planes from Iwo could harass the bombers, and also the radio based on Iwo could send an early warning to Japan of an impending raid. Once captured Iwo served as an emergency landing field for B-29s shot up over Japan or experiencing mechanical trouble, aircraft which would have otherwise been forced to ditch in the vast, trackless expanse of the Pacific. Around 700 planes made use of Iwo for emergency landings. Iwo also provided a base for US fighter planes, whch had a shorter operational range than the bombers. From Iwo they could escort the B-29s to Japan and protect them from Japanese fighter attacks. Okinawa was valuable for among other reasons it was a large island, capable of holding many airfields, and was well within range of Japan's Home Islands for land-based aircraft, which could be used to support the eventual invasion of Japan.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThe US Army Air Corps needed emergency landing strips on Iwo Jima for the B-29s that were bombarding Japan, so they would not have to ditch in the ocean on the way back to their bases in the Marianas. Okinawa cut off Japan from its maritime shipping lanes, essentially cementing the blockade. Okinawa was to serve as a staging area for the planned invasion of the Japanese Mainland.
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What did the Iwo Jima and Okinawa battles do?
These battles were very important to the U.S victory over Japan. BOth Iwo Jima and Okinawa where islands that held massive naval bases and airbases and severd as massive supply links to other Japanese islands. So when the U.S took them, it cut supply lanes to other unimportant, and important Japanese held islands.
How did the costly capture of iwo jima and okinawa hasten the end of the pacific war?
Te costly capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa did hasten the end of the Pacific War as the factions were forced to holding peace talks.
-what was significant about Americas capture of the marianna islands Guam saipan tinian -how did the costly capture of iwo jima and okinawa hasten the end of the pacific war?
The significant thing about Americas capture of the Marianna islands Guam Saipan Tinian helped them get raw materials for their industries.
Why was the battle of Iwo Jima and Okinawa so difficult?
Two islands under direct Japanese Empire before WWI & WWII. Many Japanese considered them part of the Japanese Homeland. A BLOODBATH because they were heavily manned and fortified. Quite a number of Japanese civilians committed SUPACU(sic) or suicide by any means, thinking the American troupes would commit atrocities.
The japanese impressed americans at Iwo Jima and okinawa primarily with?
The Japanese impressed Americans with their resolve to fight to the last man even when defeat was certain.
When did the US capture the Japanese Islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
Iwo Jima and Okinawa were captured in early 1945.
What two islands off the coast of Japan did the US capture?
Iwo Jima and Okinawa
What islands did the allies capture by islands hopping?
Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, Okinawa, Tinian, Iwo Jima
The last two heavily defended Japanese islands conquered?
Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Why was it critical for the Allies to the Japanese-held islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
Because the Japanese hookers we're becoming over powering
Where did the US attack the Japanese?
Guadal Canal, Guam, Midway, The Mariannas Islands, The US Soloman Islands, Alaska, Iwo Jima, The Phillipines, Okinawa.
What did the Iwo Jima and Okinawa battles do?
These battles were very important to the U.S victory over Japan. BOth Iwo Jima and Okinawa where islands that held massive naval bases and airbases and severd as massive supply links to other Japanese islands. So when the U.S took them, it cut supply lanes to other unimportant, and important Japanese held islands.
Who seized the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
US Marines .
How did the costly capture of iwo jima and okinawa hasten the end of the pacific war?
Te costly capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa did hasten the end of the Pacific War as the factions were forced to holding peace talks.
-what was significant about Americas capture of the marianna islands Guam saipan tinian -how did the costly capture of iwo jima and okinawa hasten the end of the pacific war?
The significant thing about Americas capture of the Marianna islands Guam Saipan Tinian helped them get raw materials for their industries.
Why were the battles of two jima and okinawa important?
those locations were important to the Japanese, so when the US took those islands, it was a turning point in the war
What islands did the US take while island hopping?
Okinawa Iwo Jima
