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April 1, 1945: U.S....

April 1, 1945: U.S. Troops Land in Okinawa

WWII-era Okinawa Videos
(Credit: PublicResource.org)

Sending rockets at the shores of Pokishi Okinaw days before invasion Credit — “Sending rockets at the shores of Pokishi Shima, near Okinawa, 5 days before invasion, ca. 03/1945.”
Credit: National Archives

Tank borne infantry moving up to take the town of Ghuta before the Japanese can occupy it — “Tank-borne infantry moving up to take the town of Ghuta before the Japanese can occupy it. The men are members of the 29th Marines. Okinawa, April 1, 1945.”
Credit: National Archives.

A formidable task force carves out a beachhead about miles from the Japanese mainland — “A formidable task force carves out a beachhead, about 350 miles from the Japanese mainland. Landing craft of all kinds blacken the sea out to the horizon, where stand the battlewagons, cruisers and destroyers. Okinawa, April 13, 1945.”
Credit: National Archives.

Marine Corporal Earl Brunitt and Private Genare Nuzzi share a foxhole — “Marine Corporal Earl Brunitt (left) and Private Genare Nuzzi share a foxhole and a couple of ponchos on Okinawa with a war orphan, 04/1945.”
Credit: National Archives.

Marine Charging Japanese Machine Guns on Okinawa — “Marine Charging Japanese Machine Guns on Okinawa, 05/10/1945.”
Credit: National Archives.

Japanese night raiders are greeted with a lacework of anti aircraft fire by the Marine defenders — “Japanese night raiders are greeted with a lacework of anti-aircraft fire by the Marine defenders of Yontan airfield, on Okinawa. In the foreground are Marine Corsair fighter planes of the Hell’s Belles squadron, 1945.”
Credit: National Archives.

Corsair fighter looses its load of rocket projectiles on a run against a Jap stronghold on Okinawa — “Corsair fighter looses its load of rocket projectiles on a run against a Jap stronghold on Okinawa. In the lower background is the smoke of battle as Marine units move in to follow up with a Sunday punch.”
Credit: National Archives.

CALLIE OETTINGER was Command Posts’ first managing editor. Her interest in military history, policy and fiction took root when she was a kid, traveling and living the life of an Army Brat, and continues today.