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How did Iwo Jima and Okinawa impact ww2?
It is believed that Iwo Jima and Okinawa were of great importance to the victory in the Pacific War. They were said to be the areas in which they could use as landing strips for the atomic bombs that would later destroy the Japanese homeland.
How did the battle of Iwo Jima impact the outcome of the war?
The island was finally declared secured on March 26, 1945. It had been one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history. After the battle, Iwo Jima served as an emergency landing site for more than 2,200 B-29 bombers, saving the lives of 24,000 U.S. airmen.
What were the effects of the Battle of Okinawa?
Both sides suffered enormous losses in the Battle of Okinawa. The Americans bore over 49,000 casualties including 12,520 killed. General Buckner was killed in action on June 18, just days before the battle ended. Japanese losses were even greater—about 110,000 Japanese soldiers lost their lives.
Why was Iwo Jima strategically important for the US?
Iwo Jima was considered strategically important since it provided an air base for Japanese fighter planes to intercept long-range B-29 Superfortress bombers. In addition, it was used by the Japanese to stage nuisance air attacks on the Mariana Islands from November 1944 to January 1945.
How did the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa influence the atomic bomb?
Iwo Jima and Okinawa… The battles of Iwo Jima, along with other similar battles like that on Saipan, influenced the US decision to drop the atomic bombs because they convinced the Americans that an invasion of the Japanese home islands would be horrifically costly in terms of human life.
Why did the US want to capture Iwo Jima?
Because of the distance between mainland Japan and U.S. bases in the Mariana Islands, the capture of Iwo Jima would provide an emergency landing strip for crippled B-29s returning from bombing runs.
How many Americans died in the Battle of Iwo Jima?
American aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill burns after being hit by two kamikaze planes during the Battle of Okinawa. By the end of the Iwo Jima engagement – which was fought from 19 February to 26 March – US casualties stood at 26,000, including 6,800 dead.
What was the death toll of the Battle of Okinawa?
The Battle for Okinawa, which took place between 1 April and 22 June, resulted in an even higher number of US casualties – 82,000, of whom more than 12,500 were killed or missing. Were the battles necessary? Ultimately, the significance of these bloody battles is hard to gauge.