10-069 Garand Picture of the Day - Okinawa -Typhoon of Steel

Ryukyu Islands-Action-Okinawa W.E.Smith
Date taken: 1945
Photographer: W Eugene Smith


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Landings

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The Battle of Okinawa, was a great battle of World War II that took place on the island of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands (south of the four big islands of Japan), between the military forces of the Empire of Japan and the Allies. It was the second biggest amphibious battle (from sea to land) of World War II, after the Battle of Normandy. It was also one of the longest battles in history, from April to June, 1945. The Allies won the battle and occupied Okinawa. Today, Okinawa is Japanese territory, but there are still American military bases there.

Nobody thought it was to be the last great battle of the war, but it was. The Americans were planning Operation Downfall, the invasion of the four great islands of Japan. This never happened, because the Japanese surrendered

It was a campaign where Navy manpower losses were just as threatening to the success as land forces losses, due to a coordinated Japanese Kamikaze campaign against the invasion fleets.

Bob