Iwo Jima and Okinawa
Two of Japan's home islands
From these bases Americans could return with planes to bomb Tokyo
Japanese forces were dwindling
Men fought to the death as Kamikazes were active
From these bases Americans could return with planes to bomb Tokyo
Japanese forces were dwindling
Men fought to the death as Kamikazes were active
Summary
The United States approached Iwo Jima and Okinawa through the island hopping strategies used to secure the Pacific atolls previously acquired by Japan. These bases were crucial to America, for from these locations it was possible to regularly drop bombs on Tokyo. At the time, Japanese forces were lacking, and as a result soldiers fought in combat to the death as kamikaze's were active.