B-29 Superfortress Flying over Mount Suribachi Iwo Jima

Significance of Iwo Jima in the B-29 Bombing Campaign

The capture of Iwo Jima was crucial to the success of the B-29 bombing campaign against Japan for two main reasons:

Emergency Landing Site

Iwo Jima is located approximately halfway between the Mariana Islands, where B-29s were based, and mainland Japan.
Damaged B-29s returning from missions over Japan could make emergency landings at Iwo Jima.
Without Iwo Jima, these damaged aircraft would have been forced to ditch in the ocean, leading to much higher B-29 losses.
By the end of World War II, 2,251 B-29s had made emergency landings at Iwo Jima, potentially saving the lives of 25,000 B-29 crewmen.
The airfields on Iwo Jima were quickly repaired and transformed into functional air bases after the island was captured.
The first B-29 landed on Iwo Jima on March 4, 1945.
A B-29 support unit was established on the island, eventually growing to almost 2,000 men.

Fighter Escort Base

Iwo Jima’s capture also allowed for the establishment of a fighter base from which long-range escort fighters, like P-51 Mustangs, could operate.
These fighters could accompany B-29s on missions to Japan, providing protection from Japanese interceptors.
Prior to fighter escorts, Japanese fighters, particularly the Ki-44 “Tojo,” had some success against B-29 formations, often employing ramming tactics.
The P-51 escorts significantly reduced Japanese fighter opposition during daylight raids, allowing B-29s to operate more effectively.

In addition to these advantages, Iwo Jima’s capture also deprived Japan of a base from which to attack the Marianas.

The significance of Iwo Jima in the B-29 campaign is reflected in the high casualty rate suffered by US Marines during its capture. The island was fiercely defended by Japanese forces, but its strategic value made it a vital objective for the Allies. The ability to provide emergency landings for damaged B-29s and launch fighter escorts from Iwo Jima contributed to the effectiveness of the bombing campaign, which ultimately played a key role in Japan’s surrender.