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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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  • Marine Corps-USMC
  • Theater of Operations--Pacific
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  • World War II 1939-1945
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Battle of Okinawa

1 April–22 June 1945


Tennessee (BB-43) bombarding Okinawa

Tennessee (BB-43) bombarding Okinawa with her 14/50 main battery guns, as LVTs in the foreground carry troops to the invasion beaches, 1 April 1945. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 42390.


On the very day Iwo Jima was declared secured, Fifth Fleet Commander Admiral Raymond Spruance was on his flagship USS Indianapolis (CA-35) steaming to the Ryukyus in company with Admiral Marc Mitscher’s Task Force 58. In the following weeks, more than 1,600 ships and 350,000 naval personnel would assemble to form the largest amphibious assault force of World War II.  

On 1 April 1945, U.S. ground forces began the Battle of Okinawa. The objective was to secure the island, thus removing the last barrier standing between U.S. forces and Imperial Japan. With Okinawa firmly in hand, the U.S. military could finally bring its full might upon the Japanese, conducting unchecked strategic air strikes against the Japanese mainland, blockading its logistical lifeline, and establishing forward bases for the final invasion of Japan (Operation Olympic), scheduled for the fall of 1945.

The battle, which went into the month of June, was one of the most ferocious of the war with American casualties reaching a staggering 49,151, of which 12,520 were killed or missing. On an individual basis, 24 service members received the Medal of Honor for actions performed during the Battle of Okinawa. Thirteen went to the Marines and Navy corpsmen, nine to Army troops, and one to a Navy officer.

For more on the battle, read Battle of Okinawa: Historic Overview & Importance, an essay by NHHC historians Richard Hulver, Ph.D. and Martin R. Waldman, Ph.D. 

Infographics

An infographic of the Battle of Okinawa, which for today's Navy, is a stark reminder of the importance of integrated American naval power, the necessity of conducting effective joint operations, and the value of being able to learn in real time.

Brave, Bold, and Fearless Firsts: The Wartime Experiences of Two Women at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. An infographic on Barbara Miller Finch and U.S. Navy flight nurse Ensign Jane "Candy" Kendeigh. 

Artifacts

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Imagery

Published: Tue May 03 14:40:10 EDT 2022