Okinawa

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10th Army Soldiers Carry Wounded Native on Okinawa

10th Army Soldiers Carry Wounded Native on Okinawa

10th Army Troops Move into Yonabaru on Okinawa

10th Army Troops Move into Yonabaru on Okinawa

1878th Aviation Engineers Use Bulldozers to Build Road on Okinawa June 1945

1878th Aviation Engineers Use Bulldozers to Build Road on Okinawa June 1945

1945 Okinawa Wrecked Japanese Truck

1945 Okinawa Wrecked Japanese Truck

1945 Okinawa1st Div. Marine firing tommy gun

1945 Okinawa1st Div. Marine firing tommy gun

1st Aid Station Set Up for 24th Army Corps on Okinawa

1st Aid Station Set Up for 24th Army Corps on Okinawa

1st Marine Division Fights Japanese On Okinawa

1st Marine Division Fights Japanese On Okinawa

22nd Marine Regiment Prepares for Advance on Naha Okinawa

22nd Marine Regiment Prepares for Advance on Naha Okinawa

27th Division Troops Clear Japanese Caves on Okinawa

27th Division Troops Clear Japanese Caves on Okinawa

27th Division Troops Clear Japanese Caves on Okinawa 1945

27th Division Troops Clear Japanese Caves on Okinawa 1945

5th Marine Regiment Gunners Sleep in Foxhole on Okinawa

5th Marine Regiment Gunners Sleep in Foxhole on Okinawa

6th Division Marine with Japanese soldier on Okinawa

6th Division Marine with Japanese soldier on Okinawa

6th Division Marines Pull Wounded Japanese from Cave on Okinawa

6th Division Marines Pull Wounded Japanese from Cave on Okinawa

6th Division Marines Resting in Suburbs of Naha Okinawa

6th Division Marines Resting in Suburbs of Naha Okinawa

6th Marine Division blasts Japanese Position on Okinawa

6th Marine Division blasts Japanese Position on Okinawa

6th Marine Division Flame Throwing Tank in action Okinawa May 1945

6th Marine Division Flame Throwing Tank in action Okinawa May 1945

6th Marine Division Tanks Advance on Naha Okinawa

6th Marine Division Tanks Advance on Naha Okinawa

75mm Recoiless Rifle in Action Okinawa 1945

75mm Recoiless Rifle in Action Okinawa 1945

77th Infantry Division Soldier Saving Okinawan Children Next to LVT Buffalo 1945

77th Infantry Division Soldier Saving Okinawan Children Next to LVT Buffalo 1945

7th Air Force Soldiers Make Home in Cave on Okinawa 1945

7th Air Force Soldiers Make Home in Cave on Okinawa 1945

7th infantry division landing on Okinawa in LVT Amtrac

7th infantry division landing on Okinawa in LVT Amtrac

7th Infantry Division soldiers of the US 10th Army swarm into Yonabaru on the coast of Okinawa

7th Infantry Division soldiers of the US 10th Army swarm into Yonabaru on the coast of Okinawa

7th Infantry Division Troops Mopping Up on Okinawa

7th Infantry Division Troops Mopping Up on Okinawa

7th Infantry Rifleman on Okinawa pacific

7th Infantry Rifleman on Okinawa pacific

834th Anti Aircraft Artillery 37mm Halftrack and Thompson Gunner Okinawa

834th Anti Aircraft Artillery 37mm Halftrack and Thompson Gunner Okinawa

96th Division Troops Flush Out Japanese Troops on Okinawa

96th Division Troops Flush Out Japanese Troops on Okinawa

96th Division Troops Sleep after Capturing Big Apple Hill Okinawa

96th Division Troops Sleep after Capturing Big Apple Hill Okinawa

96th infantry division LVT Amtrac against seawall Okinawa 1945

96th infantry division LVT Amtrac against seawall Okinawa 1945

Aerial view invasion in Kerama Retto Battle of Okinawa 1945

Aerial view invasion in Kerama Retto Battle of Okinawa 1945

aerial view of beachhead Okinawa

aerial view of beachhead Okinawa

aerial view of during D Day April 1945 Okinawa

aerial view of during D Day April 1945 Okinawa

Aerial View of Leveled City of Naha Capital of Okinawa

Aerial View of Leveled City of Naha Capital of Okinawa

Amphibious approach Okinawa beach 1945

Amphibious approach Okinawa beach 1945

Battleship fires at Japanese Plane 1 April 1945 Okinawa

Battleship fires at Japanese Plane 1 April 1945 Okinawa

Battleship Fires on Japanese Suicide Plane off Okinawa pacific

Battleship Fires on Japanese Suicide Plane off Okinawa pacific

Battleship USS West Virginia BB-48 bombarding Okinawa

Battleship USS West Virginia BB-48 bombarding Okinawa

Beach Crowded with US Landing Craft during Okinawa Invasion

Beach Crowded with US Landing Craft during Okinawa Invasion

Burning Okinoyamo Maru Okinawa

Burning Okinoyamo Maru Okinawa

Cabbage Booby Trapped with Type 97 grenade by Japanese on Okinawa

Cabbage Booby Trapped with Type 97 grenade by Japanese on Okinawa

Captured Japanese AA Gun Okinawa pacific

Captured Japanese AA Gun Okinawa pacific

Chaplain Leads Service for 184th Regiment on Okinawa

Chaplain Leads Service for 184th Regiment on Okinawa

Destroyed Japanese ships Okinawa 1945

Destroyed Japanese ships Okinawa 1945

DUKW Amphibious Truck Loaded With Supplies Okinawa 1945

DUKW Amphibious Truck Loaded With Supplies Okinawa 1945

1st Division Marine Advance to Dakeshi on Okinawa

First Division Marine Advance to Dakeshi on Okinawa

Fleet Ready to Invade Okinawa

Fleet Ready to Invade Okinawa

Food and Water Parachuted to Marines at Shuri Okinawa

Food and Water Parachuted to Marines at Shuri Okinawa

Gen. Shepherd and Gen. Buckner Watch Battle on Okinawa

Gen. Shepherd and Gen. Buckner Watch Battle on Okinawa

General Stilwell and Col. Pachler on Okinawa 1945

General Stilwell and Col. Pachler on Okinawa 1945

Group of Japanese Soldiers to Surrender on Okinawa 1945

Group of Japanese Soldiers to Surrender on Okinawa 1945

Helicopter Landing On Okinawa Pacific

Helicopter Landing On Okinawa Pacific

Ie Shima beach jeeps and LST 1945

Ie Shima beach jeeps and LST 1945

Japanese Dummy Planes on Katena Airstrip on Okinawa

Japanese Dummy Planes on Katena Airstrip on Okinawa

Japanese Planes Shot Down In Attack On Okinawa Invasion Fleet

Japanese Planes Shot Down In Attack On Okinawa Invasion Fleet

Japanese Prisoner Pow On Okinawa 1945

Japanese Prisoner Pow On Okinawa 1945

Japanese Prisoners Get Soup Ration at Camp near Kadena Okinawa

Japanese Prisoners Get Soup Ration at Camp near Kadena Okinawa

Japanese prisoners of war captured by Marines of the 6th Division in POW stockade at Okuku Okinawa

Japanese prisoners of war captured by Marines of the 6th Division in POW stockade at Okuku Okinawa

Japanese Shinyo class Suicide Motorboat on Okinawa

Japanese Shinyo class Suicide Motorboat on Okinawa

Japanese Ship Under Attack during Third Fleet Raid on Okinawa October 10, 1944

Japanese Ship Under Attack during Third Fleet Raid on Okinawa October 10, 1944

Japanese soldier surrenders to Marines in Cane Field Okinawa

Japanese soldier surrenders to Marines in Cane Field Okinawa

Japanese Soldier Trying to Escape at Oroku Peninsula Okinawa

Japanese Soldier Trying to Escape at Oroku Peninsula Okinawa

Japanese Soldiers POW Carry Wounded Comrade on Okinawa

Japanese Soldiers POW Carry Wounded Comrade on Okinawa

LVT Amtrac amphibious lands 96th infantry division troops Okinawa 1945

LVT Amtrac amphibious lands 96th infantry division troops Okinawa 1945

LVT Amtrac and first Marine Casualty on Okinawa

LVT Amtrac and first Marine Casualty on Okinawa

LVT Buffalo 96th infantry division Chatan Okinawa 1945

LVT Buffalo 96th infantry division Chatan Okinawa 1945

LVT Buffalo Being Lowered into Water off Okinawa’s Orange Beach 1945

LVT Buffalo Being Lowered into Water off Okinawa's Orange Beach 1945

Marine 3rd Amphibious Corps in Action on Okinawa

Marine 3rd Amphibious Corps in Action on Okinawa

Marine Communication Crews Establish Phone Lines on Okinawa

Marine Communication Crews Establish Phone Lines on Okinawa

Marine Flame Thrower at Cave Okinawa

Marine Flame Thrower at Cave Okinawa

Marine Infantry with Thompson and M1 Carbine Okinawa April 15 1945

Marine Infantry with Thompson and M1 Carbine Okinawa April 15 1945

Marine Linemen Work on Communications on Okinawa

Marine Linemen Work on Communications on Okinawa

Marine LVT Amtracs Landing On Okinawa Beach 1945

Marine LVT Amtracs Landing On Okinawa Beach 1945

Marine Pilots at Dash Rite Inn Bomb Shelter on Okinawa

Marine Pilots at Dash Rite Inn Bomb Shelter on Okinawa

Marine Rifleman Looks over Ruins of Naha Okinawa

Marine Rifleman Looks over Ruins of Naha Okinawa

Marine Third Amphibious Corps 155 mm Long Tom Gun Crew on Okinawa

Marine Third Amphibious Corps 155 mm "Long Tom" Gun Crew on Okinawa

Marine Tosses Phosphorus Greanade at Sniper on Okinawa

Marine Tosses Phosphorus Greanade at Sniper on Okinawa

Marines 155mm Howitzer fire Okinawa

Marines 155mm Howitzer fire Okinawa

Marines and LVT on the beach of Iheya Jima Off Okinawa 16 July 45

Marines and LVT on the beach of Iheya Jima Off Okinawa 16 July 45

Marines board Transport for Invasion of Okinawa

Marines board Transport for Invasion of Okinawa

Marines Carry Children Found in Caves on Okinawa

Marines Carry Children Found in Caves on Okinawa

Marines Clear Japanese Cave with Flamethrower on Okinawa

Marines Clear Japanese Cave with Flamethrower on Okinawa

Marines Communication Platoon on Okinawa

Marines Communication Platoon on Okinawa

Marines Display Japanese Souvenirs on Okinawa

Marines Display Japanese Souvenirs on Okinawa

Marines Evacuate Wounded Comrade Under Fire on Okinawa

Marines Evacuate Wounded Comrade Under Fire on Okinawa

Marines Hit the beach from LVT 1945 Okinawa

Marines Hit the beach from LVT 1945 Okinawa

Marines Hunt Japanese Sniper Shuri Castle Okinawa 1945

Marines Hunt Japanese Sniper Shuri Castle Okinawa 1945

Marines Hunt Japanese Snipers amid Ruins of Naha Okinawa

Marines Hunt Japanese Snipers amid Ruins of Naha Okinawa

Marines Lvt Amtracs Amphibious Tractors On Okinawa 1945

Marines Lvt Amtracs Amphibious Tractors On Okinawa 1945

Marines Manning .30 Caliber Browing Machine Gun on Okinawa

Marines Manning .30 Caliber Browing Machine Gun on Okinawa

Marines March into Sobe during Invasion of Okinawa

Marines March into Sobe during Invasion of Okinawa

Marines on Okinawa

Marines on Okinawa

Marines Race for Foxholes as Shell Explodes on Okinawa

Marines Race for Foxholes as Shell Explodes on Okinawa

Marines Take Up Positions on Street in Naha Okinawa

Marines Take Up Positions on Street in Naha Okinawa

Marines Wade Ashore to Support Beachhead on Okinawa

Marines Wade Ashore to Support Beachhead on Okinawa

Naval gunfire support Okinawa 1945

Naval gunfire support Okinawa 1945

Okinawa April 1945

Okinawa April 1945

Okinawa dummy Japanese plane

Okinawa dummy Japanese plane

Okinawa Invasion 1 April 1945

Okinawa Invasion 1 April 1945

Okinawa Invasion 1945

Okinawa Invasion 1945

Okinawa Invasion aerial view

Okinawa Invasion aerial view

Okinawa Invasion beachhead

Okinawa Invasion beachhead

Okinawa Invasion fleet

Okinawa Invasion fleet

Okinawa Invasion landing forces

Okinawa Invasion landing forces

Okinawa Invasion LVT

Okinawa Invasion LVT

Planes Low Level Attack at Mouth of Bishi River pre invasion bombardment of Okinawa 1945

Planes Low Level Attack at Mouth of Bishi River pre invasion bombardment of Okinawa 1945

Refugees Get Medical Treatment from US Troops on Okinawa

Refugees Get Medical Treatment from US Troops on Okinawa

Rocket attack from Navy LSM toward beach at Okinawa

Rocket attack from Navy LSM toward beach at Okinawa

Soldiers Advance on Japanese Cave on Okinawa

Soldiers Advance on Japanese Cave on Okinawa

Soldiers Warming Rations on Portable Stove on Okinawa

Soldiers Warming Rations on Portable Stove on Okinawa

Stinson L-5 Sentinel Carries Wounded Marine from Itoman near Okinawa Front

Stinson L-5 Sentinel Carries Wounded Marine from Itoman near Okinawa Front

Tractor Jeep and M7 Priest Stuck in Mud on Okinawa 1945

Tractor Jeep and M7 Priest Stuck in Mud on Okinawa 1945

Troops Establishing Beachhead on Okinawa 1945

Troops Establishing Beachhead on Okinawa 1945

Troops Leaving Landing Craft during Invasion of Okinawa

Troops Leaving Landing Craft during Invasion of Okinawa

Troops on Captured Japanese 150 mm gun Type 89 Cannon on Okinawa

Troops on Captured Japanese 150 mm gun Type 89 Cannon on Okinawa

Troops Operate Bulldozer on Okinawa Airfield

Troops Operate Bulldozer on Okinawa Airfield

US 10th Army rifleman with the 32nd Infantry 7th Division searches a Japanese prisoner who has just emerged from a cave on Okinawa

US 10th Army rifleman with the 32nd Infantry, 7th Division searches a Japanese prisoner who has just emerged from a cave on Okinawa

US Army 10th Infantry Outflank Important Shuri Castle Victory On Okinawa

US Army 10th Infantry Outflank Important Shuri Castle Victory On Okinawa

US Infantrymen Move Inland from Okinawa Beachhead

US Infantrymen Move Inland from Okinawa Beachhead

US Marine Gun Crew in Firefight near Naha Okinawa

US Marine Gun Crew in Firefight near Naha Okinawa

US Marines Closing in at old tomb Okinawa

US Marines Closing in at old tomb Okinawa

US Navy LST at Okinawa Beaches

US Navy LST at Okinawa Beaches

US Navy LSTs Lined up at Reef in Okinawa

US Navy LSTs Lined up at Reef in Okinawa

US Soldiers in Dugout Call Station on Okinawa 1945

US Soldiers in Dugout Call Station on Okinawa 1945

USS LSM-322 in the far background off Okinawa Beachhead on April 1st as a Coast Guard manned LST in the foreground launches a LVT-4 amphibious tractor

USS LSM-322 in the far background off Okinawa Beachhead on April 1st as a Coast Guard manned LST in the foreground launches a LVT-4 amphibious tractor

USS LSM(R)-197 Firing Rockets at Okinawa

USS LSM(R)-197 Firing Rockets at Okinawa

USS West Virginia BB-48 Covers Troops in LVT B111 Heading for Okinawa

USS West Virginia BB-48 Covers Troops in LVT B111 Heading for Okinawa

Wounded 5th Marines on Okinawa May 1945

Wounded 5th Marines on Okinawa May 1945

Wounded Marines on Okinawa 1945

Wounded Marines on Okinawa 1945

Wreck Okinawa 1945

Wreck Okinawa 1945

Wreck Okinawa 1945 2

Wreck Okinawa 1945 2

Wreck Okinawa 1945 3

Wreck Okinawa 1945 3

Wreck Okinawa 1945 4

Wreck Okinawa 1945 4

Wrecked Barrel of Camouflaged Japanese Gun Captured on Okinawa

Wrecked Barrel of Camouflaged Japanese Gun Captured on Okinawa

Battle of Okinawa: 1 April 1945 – 22 June 1945. The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War Two. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945. After a long campaign of island hopping, the Allies were approaching Japan, and planned to use Okinawa, a large island only 550 km away from mainland Japan, as a base for air operations on the planned invasion of Japanese mainland (coded Operation Downfall). Four divisions of the US 10th Army (7th, 27th, 77th, and 96th) and two USMC Divisions (1st and 6th) fought on the island. Their invasion was supported by naval, amphibious, and tactical air forces. The battle has been referred to as the “typhoon of steel” in English, and tetsu no ame (“rain of steel”) or tetsu no bōfū (“violent wind of steel”) in Japanese. The nicknames refer to the ferocity of the fighting, the intensity of kamikaze attacks from the Japanese defenders, and to the sheer numbers of Allied ships and armored vehicles that assaulted the island. The battle resulted in the highest number of casualties in the Pacific Theater during World War 2. Based on Okinawan government sources, mainland Japan lost 77 166 soldiers, who were either killed or committed suicide, and the Allies suffered 14 009 deaths (with an estimated total of more than 65 000 casualties of all kinds). Simultaneously, 42 000 – 150 000 local civilians were killed or committed suicide, a significant proportion of the local population. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki together with the Soviet invasion of Manchuria caused Japan to surrender less than two months after the end of the fighting on Okinawa.