|
|
Article: Battleships take first big hits in fight for Iwo Jima. (Originated from Knight-Ridder Tribune News Service)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- January 27, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The island of Iwo Jima is halfway between Saipan and Tokyo. Though only about eight miles square, the pork-chop-shaped island had two airfields with a third under construction in February 1945. From these airfields, Japanese fighters were intercepting B-29 ``Superfortress'' raids flying from Saipan against Japan and providing the defenses with advanced warnings.
U.S. bomber raids were being flown without fighter escort because the U.S. had no base within fighter range of Japan. The strategic value of capturing Iwo Jima was to deny its use to enemy fighters while providing a base from which American fighters could fly escort missions. The island would also give ...