Dog Plus Eight

Eight days after the initial landing on the island and four days after the American flag had been raised on Mount Suribachi, the 3rd Marine Division found itself dug in on the barren stone plateau north of the airfields. The …

1945-02-27

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Eight days after the initial landing on the island and four days after the American flag had been raised on Mount Suribachi, the 3rd Marine Division found itself dug in on the barren stone plateau north of the airfields. The Marines outnumbered the Japanese defenders by at least three to one, but the Japanese avoided the immense firepower of the American forces by going underground. General Tadamishi Kuribayashi concentrated his remaining forces in the central and northern sections of the island. Their miles of interlocking caves, pillboxes and concrete blockhouses would prove to be one of the most impenetrable defenses the Marines would encounter in the Pacific. Repulsed in their attack on the three hills overlooking Motoyama Airfield No. 2 the previous day, the 23rd Marine Regiment had regrouped for another assault on the morning of February 27th. The advance was immediately held up by determined Resistance from numerous Japanese caves and bunkers. A second artillery barrage was called in at midday and small gains were made in the afternoon of 100-150 yards along the entire front. By late afternoon, elements of the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines were engaged in fierce close combat near the crest of Hill 382, fighting for possession of the radar station at the hill’s summit.

Hill 382, Iwo Jima, Japan

The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps and Navy landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. The American invasion, designated Operation Detachment, had the purpose of capturing the island with its two airfields: South Field and Central Field was twofold. The first was to provide for B-29s unable to make it back to Tinian. The second was to have air fields for shorter ranged fighters to be staged to extend fighter coverage to the bombers. The island could also serve as a staging point for attacks on the Japanese main islands. The five-week battle was some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the Pacific War.

Wikipedia: Battle of Iwo Jima

Japanese

U.S.