A map describing the movement of troops in Okinawa.
The Battle of Okinawa was as many described "A bigger version of Iwo Jima." Okinawa was a 63 mile long island and was riddled with caves. 170,000 troops were given to General Simon Buckner for Operation Iceberg. This battle was the first that had seen the Kamikazee attacks, which were planes loaded with explosives and tried to blow up destroyers, battleships and aircraft carriers. Over 5,000 US Naval Personnel were killed by suicide missions. Japanese command put high faith in their suicide bombers. Suicide bombers sunk 21 American warships and 66 ships were badly damaged. The Japanese flagship Yamato was sent for a suicide mission, but was destroyed before even firing it's massive amounts of guns.
There was a two hour attack from US dive bombers on April 7th, 1945, followed by a land assault. Japanese resistance was fanatical-to-the-death hand-to-hand combat was quite frequent. After three months of battle, there were over 12,500 dead on the American side, but the Japanese casualties were even greater. 110,000 were dead, and 75,000 civilians had died jumping to their death to escape becoming prisoners. Japanese headquarters called Nola, and the leaders of Japanese forces in Okinawa were Ushiana and Sho, and both committed suicide on June 22nd, and the 10,000 surviving troops formed guerrilla troops made of 200 soldiers each. Most of the Japanese air, and naval force destroyed.
There was a two hour attack from US dive bombers on April 7th, 1945, followed by a land assault. Japanese resistance was fanatical-to-the-death hand-to-hand combat was quite frequent. After three months of battle, there were over 12,500 dead on the American side, but the Japanese casualties were even greater. 110,000 were dead, and 75,000 civilians had died jumping to their death to escape becoming prisoners. Japanese headquarters called Nola, and the leaders of Japanese forces in Okinawa were Ushiana and Sho, and both committed suicide on June 22nd, and the 10,000 surviving troops formed guerrilla troops made of 200 soldiers each. Most of the Japanese air, and naval force destroyed.