-
The Battle of Okinawa Begins
The U.S Army attacked the island of Okinawa for a final push for Japan. It begin on April 1, which was also Easter Sunday. They landed along the southwest coast of Okinawa, with very few resistance and casualties. -
Kamikaze Planes
On April 4, Japan released hundreds of well-trained pilots. They were kamikaze pilots. American pilots desperately tried to shoot down these planes, but they were sitting ducks against pilots with nothing to lose. These planes came down at 500 mph. The Image shows the USS Bunker Hill after it was hit by two Kamikaze planes. There were 372 deaths, and 264 wounded. These kamikaze planes would last for the rest of the war. -
Period: to
Operation Ten-Go
Operation Ten-Go was a Japanese operation. It was a naval counter-attack. The strike force was made up of ten surface vessels, led by the battleship Yamato, the largest battleship in the world. The operation was a suicide mission, and it was a desperate attempt to slow down the powerful American navy. With no air cover, the whole strike force was taken out by American aircraft. -
Period: to
The Caputre of le Shima
On April 16, planes and ships fired rockets to soften the landing of the American troops on the beach. The area was defended by about 7,000 Japanese troops. Although the Japanese troops were surrounded by American troops, they managed to hold off their enemies for six days. The Americans finally secured le Shima after killing about 4,000 Japanese troops. -
Period: to
The Battle of Hacksaw Ridge
Hacksaw Ridge was a 400-foot vertical cliff. The American's attacked the ridge on April 26. It was a brutal battle for both sides.
Japanese troops were determined to hold the ridge. They took out some American platoons until just a few Japanese troops were left. Most of the fighting was hand-to-hand. The Americans eventually took Hacksaw Ridge on May 6, after 11 days of fighting. -
Period: to
The US Surround Shuri Castle
American troops began to take defensive strongholds surrounding Shuri Castle, which was the largest and most heavily fortified Japanese base. The US troops advanced from all sides, forcing Japanese troops into the center of the island, at Shuri Castle -
The Fall of Shuri Castle
The US finally took the crucial Shuri Castle towards the end of may. However, the majority of Japanese defenders had retreated away. Although the Japanese troops were able to run away, they were left with no official defense. The Shuri Castle was eventually in ruins after 200,000 rounds of naval and artillery gunfire. -
The Capture of Naha Air Base
The Naha Air Base was captured on June 6 by the Americans. This was important, because Japan now had planes that could be used to destroy ships. -
Proposing A Surrender
U.S Generals offered surrendering terms to Japan. Without a response from Japan, the Americans got more aggresive. -
The End of The Battle Of Okinawa
American forces overwhelmed the Japanese troops. Ushijima, the leading general, realized that the end was near. Japanese troops started to surrender by the hundreds. Ushijima and his chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Isamu Cho, committed ritual suicide on June 22, marking the end of The Battle of Okinawa.
