After the airfields were cleared of Japanese resistance the end of the bitterly long battle was in sight for the U.S. Marines. Now all they had to do was to search out the remaining pockets of Japanese soldiers hidden on the island and either capture or, in most cases, kill them.

The price of this battle was extremely high for both sides. By the end of the six-week battle, one third of all marines who fought were either injured, killed, or battle fatigued. This is more than any other battle in marine history. In addition, of the over 20,000 Japanese soldiers on the island, almost all were killed (a small number were taken prisoner).

Results:

The airfields taken in the Battle of Iwo Jima came at a great cost of human life but also saved many more as a result of their new uses. They became emergency landing points for B-29 bombers on return runs from bombing Japan, as well as take off points for bombers on runs to Japan. These new airfields also made these bombers safer because, since Iwo Jima is so close to Japan, the bombers could take escort planes with them on the bombing runs for support and protection. Lastly, the airfields were used by the Japanese for kamikaze missions against U.S. Navy ships, so the capture of these airfields also helped save American lives.

This website is dedicated to my grandfather, Col. James C. Bradford, and all those soldiers who fought in WWII to preserve our freedom and way of life in the wonderful country we call the United States of America.

This exhibit was researched and designed by Brad Smith.