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Iwo Jima - worth it?

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  • Message 1.Β 

    Posted by Terry-Mcdermot (U10838851) on Friday, 16th October 2009

    i always thought that the purpose of Iwo Jima was to get the airfields for use as a base for bomber raids on Japan as before then it was out of reach. However, reading Wikipedia it appears as though this wasnt the case and that the whole thing was considered a bit of a waste.

    so could the Americans simply have "simply" attacked from teh air left a small blockade and then left it alone?

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  • Message 2

    , in reply to message 1.

    Posted by giraffe47 (U4048491) on Friday, 16th October 2009

    I think it was used as an emergency landing strip for damaged planes coming back from raids on Japan. Half way back to Saipan, etc, and a very welcome sight to many, I am sure!

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  • Message 3

    , in reply to message 1.

    Posted by Mutatis_Mutandis (U8620894) on Saturday, 17th October 2009

    As far as I know, the USAAF originally wanted Iwo Jima as a based for fighters, not bombers. B-29 bombers could reach Japan from Saipan, but escort fighters were a different story.

    However, the need for escort fighters was much reduced when LeMay changed bomber tactics to area-bombing at night, targeting Japanese cities with heavy loads of fire bombs.

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