“Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
The 8 square mile volcanic island of Iwo Jima was under Japanese control in early 1945. The island lay approximately 700 miles south of Tokyo. The seemingly small island was strategically a giant; to both sides its capture meant the invasion of mainland Japan.
The Japanese spent many weeks digging 3 miles of tunnels throughout the island and building 800 machinegun positions, recognizing the importance of maintaining control of the island. Aware of the Japanese intense commitment to maintaining control of the island the United States began intensive bombardment of Iwo Jima and surrounding volcanic islands on December 8, 1944. The Japanese were so heavily entrenched this action did little to weaken their forces or resolve.
On February 16, 1945 the First Carrier Task Force mounted air strikes against Honshu to distract the Japanese from attack on Iwo Jima. From February 16 – 18 US air and naval forces attacked the island of Iwo Jima in preparation of the D-day landing.
On February 19, the Fourth and Fifth Marine Divisions landed on the beaches of Iwo Jima. Initially the landing seemed quiet, although difficult. Difficult because the soft sand made it laborious work for Marines and sailors to maintain good footing and move machinery up the beach. As the Navy’s protective gunfire subsided, the Japanese began to open fire on the US troops from hiding places throughout the island. Men, hugging the ground for protection, said they could hear the Japanese talking under them. At the end of this first day of fighting 566 Americans were killed and 1755 were wounded. Despite these conditions the Marines were able to gain a foothold on the island.
During the second day of battle the Marines had secured the southern end of the island and were preparing to take Mt. Suribachi. By the end of the day on February 20, 1945 the Marines had control of one-third of the island and one airfield. By February 23, the Marines reached the summit of Mt. Suribachi and raised the American Flag. This sight lifted the spirits of all Americans on the island.
On February 24, 1945 the Third Marine Division joined the battle. This division was set with the task of taking the middle of the island. By this time the Japanese knew that capture of the island was imminent but continued to fight valiantly, in order to save honor.
The Marines fought fiercely for every inch of ground. The miles of interlocking caves and reinforcements were among the most difficult challenges the Marines faced in the Pacific Theatre. By the end of the day on March 9 the Marines successfully separated the Japanese defenses by reaching the northeast beaches of the island.
The battle of Iwo Jima entered the final stages on March 11. The Japanese had been reduced to small pockets of resistance. Finally, on March 26, 1945 the island of Iwo Jima was declared secure. Twenty-seven men were awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima; more than any other battle during the war.
The Battle of Coral Sea was the first of six Pacific War battles fought between aircraft carriers. It was indeed the first naval battle in history where the opposing ships never saw or fired upon each other.
By May 1942, the Japanese had enjoyed five months of great success in the Pacific Theatre. Determined to continue the offensive, the Japanese sought to capture Port Moresby, on New Guinea’s southeastern coast. This gain would allow the Japanese to run an airbase there, which would allow for further conquests in the South Pacific. Additionally, the Japanese hoped to “draw out” the US carriers and destroy them.
The Japanese fleet, under command of Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi and Rear Admiral Tadaichi Hara, committed two seaborne invasion forces to the effort. These were supported by land-based airpower as well as gunboats, cruisers, seaplane tenders and a small aircraft carrier. The United States communications intelligence was aware of the Japanese plans and prepared the US Navy accordingly. The Navy, under command of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, prepared for battle with two aircraft carriers, submarines, destroyers, patrol seaplanes, cruisers, and land-based bombers. The Australian Navy also committed two cruisers to the battle.
May 7, 1942 was the first day of battle in the Coral Sea. The Americans and Japanese began the day looking for enemy carriers in the area. The Japanese scouts discovered the U.S. oiler Neosho and her escort, as well as the destroyer USS Sims early in the morning. Unaware that these were minor players in the United States defense, the Japanese launched a series of attacks on the American vessels. The USS Sims was sunk and the Neosha was reduced to driftwood. The attack caused heavy casualties; however, the main US forces in the area remained untouched.
The Americans found themselves in a similar situation around noon the same day. Misinterpreted scouting reports sent a massive attack against the Japanese light carrier Shoho. The Shoho was sunk, however the majority of the Japanese fleet remained intact. In the evening of May 7, the Japanese sent out more scouts to determine the location of Admiral Fletcher’s main fleet. Most of these planes were either shot down or crashed while attempting to land at night. This greatly decreased the Japanese power. Both sides retired for the remainder of the night determined to resume battle in the morning.
Before dawn on May 8, 1942 both the Japanese and Americans sent scouts to locate what they now realized was the main fleet of their opponent. Having found their targets each side attacked the other at approximately 11 am. Planes from the USS Yorktown and Lexington attacked the Japanese carrier Shokaku, leaving her unable to launch planes. The Japanese torpedoed and bombed the USS Lexington. Fire spread throughout the ship and she was abandoned. The USS Yorktown was badly damaged but remained operational. With damages including the loss of a light carrier, a destroyer and 1,074killed, the Japanese called of their Port Moresby Operation.
In November of 1940 the Italian Fleet was poised at Taranto, in Southern Italy, in an attempt to threaten the British naval lifeline to Africa. The Italians were practicing “Fleet in Being”; A military strategy that runs on the premise that the mere presence of a military of significant size will deter the enemy, without having to ever engage in battle. Therefore, the Italians stayed in port at Taranto, rather than risk their fleet in battle with the British. The British, however, did not choose to avoid battle in fear. Rather they planned Operation Judgment; a surprise attack on Taranto. Winston Churchill was determined to reduce the Italian Fleet before the Germans could arrive and reinforce them.
The Battle of Taranto took place on November 11 and 12, 1940. A British task force launched Operation Judgment from the British carrier the HMS Illustrious. The plan called for British planes to attack the Italian Fleet in two waves. Twenty-one Swordfish torpedo bombers were poised on the Illustrious to take off on the night of November 11. Eleven of the planes were armed with torpedoes, the remainder carried flares and bombs. The first wave of fighters arrived at Taranto Harbor at approximately 10:58 pm. The second wave arrived at approximately midnight. The Italians were surprised and the British succeeded in halving the Italian Fleet. The Italian Battleship Conte Di Cavour was sunk and two other battleships were damaged. The British lost only two Swordfish to anti-aircraft fire. The Italians withdrew the remainder of their sea worthy vessels to harbors on Italy’s west coast.
The success of the British in the Battle of Taranto changed the way military experts viewed aircraft carrier attacks. It had been military practice to attempt torpedo attacks against ships only at water depths of 100 ft or over. The port at Taranto had a shallow depth of 40ft. The British compensated for the shallow water by designing special torpedoes and dropping them from a very low altitude. This method was studied by the Japanese and subsequently used in the attack on Pearle Harbor.