15 Apr 1944
Japan
Japan
- USS Yorktown (Essex-class) launched a raid on Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. ww2dbase [Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot | Yorktown (Essex-class) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands | DS]
16 Jun 1944
Japan
Japan
- USS Yorktown (Essex-class) launched a raid on Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands before heading back to the Mariana Islands and joining in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. ww2dbase [Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot | Yorktown (Essex-class) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands | DS]
24 Jun 1944
Japan
Japan
- USS Yorktown (Essex-class) launched raids on Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. ww2dbase [Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot | Yorktown (Essex-class) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands | DS]
4 Jul 1944
Japan
Japan
- USS Yorktown (Essex-class) continued combat operations with attacks on Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima in the Bonin Islands. ww2dbase [Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot | Yorktown (Essex-class) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands | DS]
14 Jul 1944
Japan
Japan
- Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima, and Haha Jima were the targets of land-based aircraft for the first time as US Navy Bombing Squadron 109 PB4Y Liberator bombers based at Isley Field, Saipan, Mariana Islands dropped bombed on their airfields. In the United States, USAAF chief General Hap Arnold warned the Joint Planning Staff about the new Japanese Ki-84 fighters. As a precaution, he recommended seizing Iwo Jima to provide emergency airfields for bombers that might be damaged by new Japanese fighters such as the Ki-84. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
4 Aug 1944
Japan
Japan
- Landing ship No. 152 was sunk by US aircraft at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [No. 101/103-class | Iwo Jima | CPC]
4 Oct 1944
Japan
Japan
- Landing ship No. 134 was scuttled at Iwo Jima, Japan after being damaged by stormy weather. ww2dbase [No. 101/103-class | Iwo Jima | CPC]
27 Dec 1944
Japan
Japan
- Landing ship No. 132 was sunk by a US destroyer at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [No. 101/103-class | Iwo Jima | CPC]
1 Jan 1945
Japan
Japan
- 19 American B-24 bombers based in Saipan, Mariana Islands struck Japanese positions at Iwo Jima. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | TH]
5 Jan 1945
Japan
Japan
- American cruisers, destroyers, and carrier aircraft attacked the Bonin Islands. At Iwo Jima, a Japanese landing ship was sunk by destroyer fire. At Chichi Jima, destroyer USS Fanning sank a Japanese freighter by gunfire and a torpedo, while destroyer USS David W. Taylor was damaged by a mine. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
29 Jan 1945
Japan
Japan
- 19 American B-24 bombers based in Guam, Mariana Islands attacked Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
16 Feb 1945
Japan
![Battleship New York bombarding Iwo Jima, 16 Feb 1945; view looked aft, on the starboard side](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_newyork4.jpg)
Japan
- Aircraft from USS Sargent Bay made their first attack of Japanese positions on Iwo Jima on Day D -3. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Sargent Bay | Iwo Jima | DS]
![Battleship New York bombarding Iwo Jima, 16 Feb 1945; view looked aft, on the starboard side](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_newyork4.jpg)
17 Feb 1945
Japan
![Shells exploded ashore during the pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima, 17 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima53.jpg)
![Minesweepers worked the waters off Iwo Jima before the invasion, 17-18 Feb 1945; note the anti-aircraft bursts above the island and a burning aircraft close to the ground on the right](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima55.jpg)
![Naval gun shells exploded on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, 17-19 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima58.jpg)
![Pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima60.jpg)
See all photos dated 17 Feb 1945
Japan
- USS Wisconsin arrived off Iwo Jima, Japan and bombarded Japanese positions on the island. ww2dbase [Wisconsin | Iwo Jima | CPC]
- Aircraft from escort carrier USS Steamer Bay provided smoke over the beaches of Iwo Jima to conceal Underwater Demolition Teams scouting the beaches. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Steamer Bay | Iwo Jima | DS]
![Shells exploded ashore during the pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima, 17 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima53.jpg)
![Minesweepers worked the waters off Iwo Jima before the invasion, 17-18 Feb 1945; note the anti-aircraft bursts above the island and a burning aircraft close to the ground on the right](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima55.jpg)
![Naval gun shells exploded on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, 17-19 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima58.jpg)
![Pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima60.jpg)
See all photos dated 17 Feb 1945
19 Feb 1945
Japan
![Fifth Division Marines moving inland off the beach, after coming ashore on Iwo Jima, 19 Feb 1945; note Mount Suribachi in background](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima10.jpg)
![Killed US Marines on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Japan, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima11.jpg)
![US Marine M4A3 Sherman flame tank, also known as](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima16.jpg)
![Men of USMC 5th Division advancing through the volcanic ash hills of Red Beach No. 1 at Iwo Jima, Japan, 19 Feb 1945, photo 1 of 2](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima3.jpg)
See all photos dated 19 Feb 1945
Japan
- At 0905 hours, the first of 30,000 US Marines landed on Iwo Jima, Japan after heavy naval bombardment. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
- USS Wasp's aircraft provided aerial cover for the Iwo Jima, Japan invasion. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![Fifth Division Marines moving inland off the beach, after coming ashore on Iwo Jima, 19 Feb 1945; note Mount Suribachi in background](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima10.jpg)
![Killed US Marines on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Japan, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima11.jpg)
![US Marine M4A3 Sherman flame tank, also known as](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima16.jpg)
![Men of USMC 5th Division advancing through the volcanic ash hills of Red Beach No. 1 at Iwo Jima, Japan, 19 Feb 1945, photo 1 of 2](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima3.jpg)
See all photos dated 19 Feb 1945
20 Feb 1945
Japan
![Man of US 9th Marines with flamethrower, Motoyama Airfield (Airfield Number 2), Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima12.jpg)
![Pfc Reg P. Hester, 7th War Dog Platoon, 25th Regiment, United States Marine Corps took a nap while Dutch, his war dog, stood guard, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima28.jpg)
![US Coast Guard and Navy personnel unloading supplies on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Japan, 19-20 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima30.jpg)
![A US Marine used a flamethrower against a Japanese pillbox as he was covered by two riflemen, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima41.jpg)
See all photos dated 20 Feb 1945
Japan
- USS Yorktown (Essex-class) launched 3 days of support missions over Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Yorktown (Essex-class) | Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands | DS]
![Man of US 9th Marines with flamethrower, Motoyama Airfield (Airfield Number 2), Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima12.jpg)
![Pfc Reg P. Hester, 7th War Dog Platoon, 25th Regiment, United States Marine Corps took a nap while Dutch, his war dog, stood guard, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima28.jpg)
![US Coast Guard and Navy personnel unloading supplies on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Japan, 19-20 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima30.jpg)
![A US Marine used a flamethrower against a Japanese pillbox as he was covered by two riflemen, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima41.jpg)
See all photos dated 20 Feb 1945
21 Feb 1945
Japan
![US Marine on Mount Suribachi, with landing craft in the background, Iwo Jima, Japan, 19-23 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima13.jpg)
![Officers of the US Fifth Marine Division directed the operations from a sandbagged position, Iwo Jima, 21 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima44.jpg)
![Aerial photograph of Mount Suribachi with Iwo Jima](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima65.jpg)
![LSM-140 unloading on a southeastern Iwo Jima beach, circa 21-22 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima2.jpg)
See all photos dated 21 Feb 1945
Japan
- The Japanese Army and Navy launched a combined tokko attack, dispatching 4 and 21 suicide aircraft, respectively. The fleet carrier USS Saratoga and escort carrier USS Lunga Point were hit and damaged, while escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea was sunk. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Saratoga | Iwo Jima | AC]
- USS Astoria provided naval gunfire support at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Astoria (Cleveland-class) | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![US Marine on Mount Suribachi, with landing craft in the background, Iwo Jima, Japan, 19-23 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima13.jpg)
![Officers of the US Fifth Marine Division directed the operations from a sandbagged position, Iwo Jima, 21 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima44.jpg)
![Aerial photograph of Mount Suribachi with Iwo Jima](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima65.jpg)
![LSM-140 unloading on a southeastern Iwo Jima beach, circa 21-22 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima2.jpg)
See all photos dated 21 Feb 1945
22 Feb 1945
Japan
![Wrecked tank and LVTs on Blue Beach No. 1, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima79.jpg)
![Landing craft underway off Iwo Jima, circa Feb 1945, photo 1 of 2](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima96.jpg)
![Landing craft underway off Iwo Jima, circa Feb 1945, photo 2 of 2](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima97.jpg)
![Scene on an eastern Iwo Jima beach, February 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima101.jpg)
See all photos dated 22 Feb 1945
Japan
- USS Astoria provided naval gunfire support at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Astoria (Cleveland-class) | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![Wrecked tank and LVTs on Blue Beach No. 1, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima79.jpg)
![Landing craft underway off Iwo Jima, circa Feb 1945, photo 1 of 2](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima96.jpg)
![Landing craft underway off Iwo Jima, circa Feb 1945, photo 2 of 2](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima97.jpg)
![Scene on an eastern Iwo Jima beach, February 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima101.jpg)
See all photos dated 22 Feb 1945
23 Feb 1945
Japan
![Raising the US flag atop Mount Suribachi by Joe Rosenthal, Iwo Jima, Japan, 23 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima4.jpg)
![American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima33.jpg)
![Men of 28th Regiment, US 5th Marine Division putting up the first flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, at 1020 hours on 23 Feb 1945; note M1 Carbine](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima61.jpg)
![LSM-238 unloading on an Iwo Jima Beach, Japan, circa 21-25 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima9.jpg)
See all photos dated 23 Feb 1945
Japan
- US Marines and a Navy corpsman raised an American flag atop Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![Raising the US flag atop Mount Suribachi by Joe Rosenthal, Iwo Jima, Japan, 23 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima4.jpg)
![American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima33.jpg)
![Men of 28th Regiment, US 5th Marine Division putting up the first flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, at 1020 hours on 23 Feb 1945; note M1 Carbine](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima61.jpg)
![LSM-238 unloading on an Iwo Jima Beach, Japan, circa 21-25 Feb 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima9.jpg)
See all photos dated 23 Feb 1945
6 Mar 1945
Japan
![Alaska](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska21.jpg)
![Gunner](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska25.jpg)
![Crew of a 40mm quad anti-aircraft machine gun mount of Alaska loaded clips into the loaders of the left pair of guns, off Iwo Jima, 6 Mar 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska26.jpg)
![One of the Alaska](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska27.jpg)
See all photos dated 6 Mar 1945
Japan
- 28 American P-51 Mustang and 12 P-61 Black Widow aircraft landed on Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![Alaska](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska21.jpg)
![Gunner](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska25.jpg)
![Crew of a 40mm quad anti-aircraft machine gun mount of Alaska loaded clips into the loaders of the left pair of guns, off Iwo Jima, 6 Mar 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska26.jpg)
![One of the Alaska](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_alaska27.jpg)
See all photos dated 6 Mar 1945
7 Mar 1945
Japan
![P-51 Mustangs of the 45th Fighter Squadron lined up on South Field, Iwo Jima, Mar 7, 1945. Fire is from a P-51 from the 78th Fighter Squadron that crashed on landing and struck two parked 45th Fighter Squadron P-51s.](/images/imagemagick/tmb_52c2719b10a06.jpg)
![View of the southwestern face of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS Anzio](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima290.jpg)
![View of the northern face of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS Anzio](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima291.jpg)
![View of an airfield on Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS Anzio](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima292.jpg)
See all photos dated 7 Mar 1945
Japan
- After two-and-a-half weeks of support for the Iwo Jima landings, escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed the aera bound for Leyte in the Philippines. ww2dbase [Steamer Bay | Iwo Jima | DS]
![P-51 Mustangs of the 45th Fighter Squadron lined up on South Field, Iwo Jima, Mar 7, 1945. Fire is from a P-51 from the 78th Fighter Squadron that crashed on landing and struck two parked 45th Fighter Squadron P-51s.](/images/imagemagick/tmb_52c2719b10a06.jpg)
![View of the southwestern face of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS Anzio](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima290.jpg)
![View of the northern face of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS Anzio](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima291.jpg)
![View of an airfield on Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS Anzio](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima292.jpg)
See all photos dated 7 Mar 1945
11 Mar 1945
Japan
![The sextet of US Army African-American soldiers who risked their lives to save a near-drowning US Marine at Iwo Jima, 11 Mar 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima235.jpg)
Japan
- American fighters began flying escort operations from Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![The sextet of US Army African-American soldiers who risked their lives to save a near-drowning US Marine at Iwo Jima, 11 Mar 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima235.jpg)
14 Mar 1945
Japan
![The official flag raising at the American Headquarters on Iwo Jima immediately after Nimitz](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima205.jpg)
Japan
- The island of Iwo Jima was declared conquered by Chester Nimitz, noting that "all powers of government of the Japanese Empire in these islands are hereby suspended", but fighting would continue. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![The official flag raising at the American Headquarters on Iwo Jima immediately after Nimitz](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima205.jpg)
16 Mar 1945
Japan
![This Japanese soldier played dead for almost two days half buried in a shell hole holding a live grenade. Promising no resistance, he was given a cigarette before being removed from the hole, Iwo Jima, Mar 16, 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_54f25f3b5c547.jpg)
Japan
- Americans declared Iwo Jima, Japan secure, but fighting continued. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![This Japanese soldier played dead for almost two days half buried in a shell hole holding a live grenade. Promising no resistance, he was given a cigarette before being removed from the hole, Iwo Jima, Mar 16, 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_54f25f3b5c547.jpg)
25 Mar 1945
Japan
![P-51D Mustangs of the 531st Fighter Squadron lined up at South Field, Iwo Jima, Mar 25, 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_54f25c056abf4.jpg)
![A Japanese tank wedged between banks of solid earth was very difficult for US Marines to see or attack from the front, Iwo Jima, Mar 25, 1945.](/images/imagemagick/tmb_54f263d97840c.jpg)
Japan
- Tadamichi Kuribayashi passed away on Iwo Jima, Japan. He reportedly committed ritual suicide, but his body was never found. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Tadamichi Kuribayashi | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![P-51D Mustangs of the 531st Fighter Squadron lined up at South Field, Iwo Jima, Mar 25, 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_54f25c056abf4.jpg)
![A Japanese tank wedged between banks of solid earth was very difficult for US Marines to see or attack from the front, Iwo Jima, Mar 25, 1945.](/images/imagemagick/tmb_54f263d97840c.jpg)
26 Mar 1945
Japan
Japan
- The Japanese mounted the final suicide charge with 200-300 men at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
27 Mar 1945
Japan
Japan
5 Apr 1945
Japan
![Three Japanese soldiers emerged from their hiding place to surrender, Iwo Jima, 5 Apr 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima213.jpg)
![Japanese troops being captured by Americans on Iwo Jima, Japan, 5 Apr 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima243.jpg)
Japan
- Americans established an advanced air base on Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
![Three Japanese soldiers emerged from their hiding place to surrender, Iwo Jima, 5 Apr 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima213.jpg)
![Japanese troops being captured by Americans on Iwo Jima, Japan, 5 Apr 1945](/images/imagemagick/tmb_battle_iwojima243.jpg)
31 Jul 1945
Japan
Japan
- A test bomb in the shape of the atomic bomb Little Boy, designated L-6, was dropped in the sea near Iwo Jima, Japan from B-29 bomber Enola Gay piloted by Paul Tibbets. ww2dbase [Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki | Paul Tibbets | Iwo Jima | CPC]
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
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