bigpigeon.us webpage  WW II -  Japan > Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Iwo Jima, updated by RAC 11 Sep 1920.

The Battle of Iwo Jima
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 the 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 on which crippled B-29 bombers could land. 

Elements of two Marine divisions landed on the southeast coast of Iwo Jima on February 15, 1945. This photo shows the first wave approaching the shore. Mt. Suribachi is on the left.
The First Wave at Iwo Jima
The First Wave at Iwo Jima
Combat on Iwo Jima
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Six thousand, eight hundred Americans from three USMC divisions died fighting over the tiny volcanic island of Iwo Jima in Febrary and March 1945.

23 February 1945 witnessed one of the most iconic events in World War II history, the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. You can view photos of both flag raisings in one of the slide shows at WW II Dead > 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 the 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 County, Iowa Area WW II Dead - Iwo Jima: 
Taken from the bigpigeon.us WW II Dead webarea.
10-01 - Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima (six dead, updated updated 23 Oct 2021)
† Deputy, Charles Dean, SN 940539, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • Co. I, 21st Marine Regt.; 3rd Marine Div.; DOW 24 Feb 1945, Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.
† Longmeyer, Frank Herman Jr., SN 504-952, USMC, Harrison Co.
  • Weapons Co., 27th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 12 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.
† McCracken, James Newton, SN 533-228, USMC, Crawford & Shelby Cos.
  • Co. E or F, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; KIA 25 Feb 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.
† Schuelzky, Robert Eugene, SN O-32072, USMC, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • Machine Gun Platoon Leader, Co. E., 28th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 17 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.
† Soar, Ernest Martin, SN 970147, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • Co. F, 23rd Marine Regt., 4th Marine Div.; KIA 28 Feb 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.
† Wold, Leslie Wayne, SN 560533, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • 26th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 3 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.
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