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Period: to
Navy Bombards
U.S. Navy task force bombards the Volcano and Bonin Islands, including Iwo Jima -
JCS Gives Orders
JCS directive orders occupation of one or more positions in the Nanpo Shoto (Volcano- Bonin Islands) -
Iwo Jima is Target
Admiral Nimitz informs General Smith that Iwo Jima is to be the objective -
Period: to
Iwo Bombardments
On several occasions, U.S. Navy surface ships bombard Iwo Jima -
Iwo Jima Bombardment Starts
Beginning of 74 straight days of aerial bombings of islands in the Volcano and Bonin Islands, including Iwo Jima -
Period: to
Marines Depart
V Amphibious Corps landing force departs the Marianas for Iwo Jima -
Distraction
Fast Carrier Task Force (TF 58) mounts air strikes against Honshu to distract Japanese attention from Iwo Jima. -
Period: to
Iwo Jima Bombardment
Air and surface bombardment of Iwo Jima by Amphibious Support Force (TF 52) -
D Day
The Fourth and Fifth Marine Divisions land on Iwo Jima, gaining a foothold. -
Marines Committed and Kamikaze
The 21 st Marines (VAC Reserve) are committed in the Fourth Division zone. Kamikaze aircraft assault the ships providing support off-shore. -
Flag Raising
The 28 th Marines plant flag on Mt. Suribachi. A picture is taken of it bu Joe Rosenthal -
Marines Committed Again
The Third Marine Division (less the 21 st Marines) is committed to the battle. -
Airfield Taken
Third Division takes Airfield no.2, Hills Peter and 199- OBOE -
Marines Move Ford
Fifth Division takes Hill 362A -
Airfield 3 Taken
Third Marine Division clears Airfield No. 3 Fifth Marine Division captures Hill 362B -
Planes
First B-29s land on Iwo Jima -
Marines arrive
15th Fighter Group, USAAF, arrives on Iwo Jima -
Hill 362C
Third Marine Division captures Hill 362C -
Night Attack
Fourth Division repulses a Japanese night attack. -
Patrols
Third Division patrols reach northeast coast of Iwo Jima -
Marines Punch Through
Fourth Division breaks out to east coast, pinching out a Japanese salient -
Escort Carriers leave
Last escort carriers depart, leaving Iwo Jima- based Army fighters responsible for air defense and ground support -
Ending of the Fighting
U.S. Navy Military Government proclaimed in the Volcano Islands, marked by official flag raising. Marine units commence boarding for departure from Iwo Jima 16 March Last Japanese resistance in the Third Division area, “Cushman’s Pocket” is crushed. Last opposition end in the Fourth Division area. -
Island Almost Under Controll
U.S. Army 147 th Infantry Regiment arrives for garrison duty Fifth Division crushes last pocket of organized resistance -
Last Attack by Japanese
Japanese survivors launch a final departure desperate early-morning attack against Marine and Army bivouac areas -
Iwo Jima Under U.S. Controll
The capture and occupation phase of the battle is declared complete at 0800 -
Bombing Runs
In first flights of the U.S. land based fighter aircraft over Japan, 80 P-51’s from Iwo Jima escort B-29’s on bombing mission -
Marines Leave Iwo Jima
The last U.S. Marines leave Iwo Jima