81 Days of Hell – The Battle of Okinawa in 25 Photos You May not Have Seen Before

The battle on the Island of Okinawa commenced just a few weeks before Germany’s surrender. This was the last major battle of World War II on the Pacific front. Okinawa was to be the last stop of the Allied forces before the attack on Japan. This event, on April 1st, 1945, would set the stage for the Pacific Theater’s largest amphibious battle.

The plan was to capture the Kadena airbase at Okinawa from where Operation Downfall would be launched at Japanese home islands. When the American troops landed on the Island of Okinawa, aided by the Navy’s 5th fleet, they were divided into divisions.

The soldiers who went towards the Southern part of the Island were unaware of the Japanese defense troops lying in wait for them. As they moved inland into a part of the Okinawa Island called “Shuri,” they encountered a defense triangle set up by the commander, General Ushijima. This defense was to later be known as the “Shuri defense Line.”

General Mitsuru Ushijima
General Mitsuru Ushijima

When the Japanese troops finally launched their attack on the American troops, a fierce battle ensued which resulted in the loss of thousands of soldiers on both sides. The Americans finally captured Shuri in late May.

After Shuri was captured, US troops proceeded to take over Kakazu ridge and break down all of Shuri’s outer defenses permanently. The Japanese proved their tenacity and put up a huge fight for what seemed at the time to be their last line of defense. It was not an easy fight and both sides incurred many casualties.

American ships landing troops and supplies on a beach on Okinawa, Japan, 13 April 1945.
American ships landing troops and supplies on a beach on Okinawa, Japan, 13 April 1945.

Japanese soldiers resorted to hiding in fortified caves and sending civilians out for supplies. This made it harder for the Americans to fight the soldiers and also resulted in high civilian casualties, but the US troops were relentless. On three occasions, the Japanese went on the offensive and attacked the Allied troops. But after the third attack, the Japanese concluded they were no match for US firepower and retreated to their defensive position.

Marine Rifleman Looks over Ruins of Naha Okinawa
Marine Rifleman Looks over Ruins of Naha Okinawa

On the northern side of the island, the Kadena and Yomitan airbases were captured within hours after the landing. This was a great feat for the American troops. As a result of this success, the second stage of the operation was initiated and Northern Okinawa was immediately captured. The Motobu peninsula, which was the center of Japan’s defense, was seized by Allied forces.

Marines pour onto the beaches of Okinawa.
Marines pour onto the beaches of Okinawa.

The Japanese put up a heavy fight at Yaedake, but by the 18th of April, even Yaedake was cleared. On May 24th, a group of Japanese commandos was sent to Yomitan to recapture the air base. They were eventually killed, but not before the loss of 2 Americans, about 70,000 gallons of fuel, and nine aircraft.

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On the 4th of April, Kamikaze attacks were ordered on US forces causing tremendous damage to the Fifth Fleet. The fleet lost 36 ships, 4,900 men, and 763 aircraft. There was also a significant number of damaged ships and additional wounded men from the attacks.

A Japanese kamikaze suicide plane (Yokosuka D4Y “Judy”?) attacks the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) off Okinawa, 11 Apr 1945. It was shot down and crashed aft of the ship.
A Japanese kamikaze suicide plane (Yokosuka D4Y “Judy”?) attacks the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) off Okinawa, 11 Apr 1945. It was shot down and crashed aft of the ship.

On the 7th of April, the Japanese battleship Yamato launched it’s own suicide attack intended to cripple the Fifth Fleet and eliminate the American troops at the Shuri defense line. The fleet was alerted by submarines and it went on the offensive. Battleship Yamato sank, along with most of its crew.

The battle lasted eighty-one days, and by the time it ended, it was the bloodiest battle of the War at the Pacific Front. It is difficult to ascertain an accurate number of deaths at the battle of Okinawa. However, the peace monument which stands at the commemorative museum in Okinawa lists over 500,000 deaths total.

A kamikaze plane about to hit Missouri 11 April 1945
A kamikaze plane about to hit Missouri 11 April 1945

The Americans lost Lt. General Simon B. Buckner who was killed by Japanese artillery fire. The day after that, Brigadier Gen. Claudius M. Easley was killed on Le Shima Island by a machine gun.

Due to the propaganda spread by the Americans and the rumor that Americans never took hostages, most Japanese soldiers took their own lives and the result was the surrender of Japan after the battle. Because the actual invasion of Japan never occurred, it is difficult for Allied forces to take credit for the surrender.

Japanese foreign affairs minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signs the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on board USS Missouri as General Richard K. Sutherland watches, September 2, 1945
Japanese foreign affairs minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signs the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on board USS Missouri as General Richard K. Sutherland watches, September 2, 1945

The Kadena air base remains the biggest US airbase in Asia to this day.

Aearial view of Kadena Air Base on Okinawa
Aearial view of Kadena Air Base on Okinawa

More photos

USS Bunker Hill following two successful kamkazi attacks at Okinawa.
USS Bunker Hill following two successful kamkazi attacks at Okinawa.

 

Planes Low Level Attack at Mouth of Bishi River pre invasion bombardment of Okinawa 1945
Planes Low Level Attack at Mouth of Bishi River pre invasion bombardment of Okinawa 1945

 

96th Division Troops Flush Out Japanese Troops on Okinawa
96th Division Troops Flush Out Japanese Troops on Okinawa

 

7th Infantry Division soldiers of the US 10th Army swarm into Yonabaru on the coast of Okinawa
7th Infantry Division soldiers of the US 10th Army swarm into Yonabaru on the coast of Okinawa

 

US Infantrymen Move Inland from Okinawa Beachhead
US Infantrymen Move Inland from Okinawa Beachhead

 

6th Marine Division blasts Japanese Position on Okinawa
6th Marine Division blasts Japanese Position on Okinawa

 

Wounded 5th Marines on Okinawa May 1945
Wounded 5th Marines on Okinawa May 1945

 

Japanese Shinyo class Suicide Motorboat on Okinawa
Japanese Shinyo class Suicide Motorboat on Okinawa

 

USS LSM-322 in the far background off Okinawa Beachhead on April 1st as a Coast Guard manned LST in the foreground launches a LVT-4 amphibious tractor
USS LSM-322 in the far background off Okinawa Beachhead on April 1st as a Coast Guard manned LST in the foreground launches a LVT-4 amphibious tractor

 

US Navy LST at Okinawa Beaches
US Navy LST at Okinawa Beaches

 

Marines and LVT on the beach of Iheya Jima Off Okinawa 16 July 45
Marines and LVT on the beach of Iheya Jima Off Okinawa 16 July 45

 

Marine Third Amphibious Corps 155 mm “Long Tom” Gun Crew on Okinawa
Marine Third Amphibious Corps 155 mm “Long Tom” Gun Crew on Okinawa

 

Marines Clear Japanese Cave with Flamethrower on Okinawa
Marines Clear Japanese Cave with Flamethrower on Okinawa

 

Troops Leaving Landing Craft during Invasion of Okinawa
Troops Leaving Landing Craft during Invasion of Okinawa

 

LVT Buffalo 96th infantry division Chatan Okinawa 1945
LVT Buffalo 96th infantry division Chatan Okinawa 1945

 

Battleship Fires on Japanese Suicide Plane off Okinawa Pacific
Battleship Fires on Japanese Suicide Plane off Okinawa Pacific

 

General Stilwell and Col. Pachler on Okinawa 1945
General Stilwell and Col. Pachler on Okinawa 1945

Read another story from us: Hi-Tech Survey of USS Emmons Wreck – Ship Fought at Omaha Beach and Okinawa

Amphibious approach Okinawa beach 1945
Amphibious approach Okinawa beach 1945