published on: 09/02/2022
Author:
Sonic
Starting on 15 June 1944, the US Navy and the US Army Air Forces began Naval bombardments and Air raids against Iwo Jima, which would become the longest and most intense in the Pacific theater.These would contain a combination of Naval artillery shellings and aerila bombings that went on for nine months.
On 17 February, the Destroyer USS Blessman sent Underwater Demolition Team 15 (UDT-15) toward Blue Beach for reconnaissance. The Japanese fired on them, killing one American diver. On the evening of 18 February, the Blessman was hit by a bomb from a Japanese aircraft, killing 40 sailors, including 15 members of her UDT.
Unaware of Kuribayashi's tunnel defense system, many of the Americans assumed the majority of the Japanese garrison were killed by the constant bombing raids.
On the 19th of February, one of the bloodiest battles ever fought has begun, and what seemed as a simple capture the island operation, turned out to be a bloodbath for both the American forces and the Japanese army.
