Today was a work day while the last test was being given.
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Okinawa was the last and largest campaign of the Pacific War. Okinawa was the key to Japan’s sea lines for communications, and a place that the Allies could cut Japan’s resource supplies. The attack on the island was to consist of 40 aircraft carriers, 18 battleships, 200 destroyers and many smaller ships with an estimated total of 1300 ships. Over 180,000 troops were to land on the island.
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Firstly they had about 200 bombers bomb the capital city of Naha which nearly completely destroyed it on October 10 1944. In March 1945 the naval bombardment began from all sides of the island. On April 1st 60,000 troops landed with little opposition. They fired 3,800 tons of shells in the first 24 hours called the tetsu no bow, storm of steel, by the locals. There were about 100,000 Japanese troops on the island but they were dug into caves in the mountains to avoid the naval bombardment which was very effective and they were also safe from aircraft attack missions.
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The Japanese sent their biggest warship to help but it was sunk within hours of the island and it was the last naval action of the war. American forces were still trying with little success to get the Japanese in the caves. While they were assaulting points on the defensive line they were informed of the death of FDR and the surrender of Germany.
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They eventually got the Japanese to retreat by this time killing about 63,000 Japs, who gave lethal injections of morphine to the wounded that couldn’t travel. They fought mop up operations while many of the Japanese simply committed suicide including their commanding General. On September 7 1945 the battle was officially over.
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