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Crashed B-29 at Iwo Jima
Crashed B-29 on Iwo Jima
bigpigeon.us webpage  WWII Japan > Iwo Jima-Okinawa > Iwo Jima, © 2025 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 6 Nov 2025

The Battle of Iwo Jima, 15 February–15 March 1945
The Iwo Jima Landing

After capturing the Mariana Islands in the summer of 1944, US forces constructed massive air bases capable of accommodating the new B-29 Superfortress long range bomber. The strategic bombing of the Japanese Home Islands from these bases began in November 1944.

The US invaded Iwo Jima to support this bombing campaign. Japanese aircraft had used Iwo for small raids on the Mariana Islands installations. Iwo also provided a base both for escort fighters and an emergency landing field for crippled B-29 bombers. 

Elements of two Marine divisions landed on the southeast coast of Iwo Jima on 15 February 1945. This photo shows the first wave approaching the shore. Mt. Suribachi is on the left. (An additional Marine division began landing on 24 February.)
The First Wave at Iwo Jima
The First Wave at Iwo Jima
Combat on Iwo Jima
​
6,800 Americans from the three Marine Corps divisions died fighting over the tiny volcanic island of Iwo Jima in February and March 1945.

23 February 1945 witnessed one of the most iconic events in World War II history, the flag raisings on Mt. Suribachi. You can view photos of both flag raisings in one of the slide shows at WWII Dead > Roster Photos.

The high casualties on Iwo Jima and in the subsequent Okinawa Campaign strengthened military planners' conclusion that an invasion of the Japanese Home Islands might cause loss of life unprecedented in American military history.
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
The Naval War at Iwo Jima

The last American aircraft carrier lost in World War II, the Casablanca class escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea, was sunk by kamikaze off Iwo Jima on 21 Feb 1945, taking 318 men to their deaths.

The same day, a larger carrier, the USS Saratoga, was almost lost due to multiple kamikaze hits.
USS Bismarck Sea
USS Bismarck Sea
Sources for Big Pigeon's WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima webpage:
  • The First Wave at Iwo Jima photo is courtesy of WWII Today.
  • The header photo Crashed B-29 on Iwo Jima is courtesy of the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Base, Dayton, OH.
  • The Pacific Theater - mid-January 1945 map is courtesy of bookmice.net.
  • The Iwo Jima map - https://www.quartoknows.com/blog/quartoexplores/this-day-in-history-iwo-jima
  • The USS Bismarck Sea photo is courtesy of taraross.com

​Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima:  09-01 - WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima (11 dead, updated 6 Nov 2025)
† Bryson, Robert D., SN 988,708, US Marine Corps, Montgomery Co.
  • Temporarily assigned at Hilo, Hawaii to a USMC unit on the USS Athene (AKA-22) cargo ship to load and unload cargo for the Iwo Jima invasion; after completing Athene unloading on 28 Feb 1945, assigned to Co. I, 26th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 13 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Cooper, Guy Raymond, SN 621-92-97, US Navy, Monona Co.
  • Navy corpsman assigned to Hq., 26th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; DOW 6 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Deputy, Charles Dean, SN 940,539, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co.
  • Co. I, 21st Marine Regt.; 3rd Marine Div.; DOW 24 Feb 1945, Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Dicks, Russell Elwood, SN 912-591, US Marine Corps, Adams Co.​
  • 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; KIA 10 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Longmeyer, Frank Herman Jr., SN 504,952, US Marine Corps, Harrison Co.
  • Weapons Co., 27th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 12 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† McCracken, James Newton, SN 533,228, US Marine Corps, Crawford & Shelby Cos.
  • Co. E or F, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; KIA 25 Feb 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Schuelzky, Robert Eugene, SN O-32072, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • Machine Gun Platoon Leader, Co. E., 28th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 17 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima.
† Soar, Ernest Martin, SN 970,147, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co.
  • Co. F, 23rd Marine Regt., 4th Marine Div.; KIA 28 Feb 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Widden, Leroy, SN 285,435, US Marine Corps, Lackawanna Co., PA & Cass Co.
  • Battery A, 13th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; DOW 20 Feb 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Wold, Leslie Wayne, SN 560,533, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co.
  • 26th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 3 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima
† Woods, Duane Lavern, SN 989,388, US Marine Corps, Montgomery Co.
  • Co. K, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; wounded on Iwo Jima; DOW early 11 Mar 1945 on Hospital Ship USS Solace (AK-5) en route from Iwo Jima to Guam, Mariana Is.
  • WWII Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima