1 May 1943

Japan
  • Irako arrived at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Irako | Iwo Jima | CPC]
15 Apr 1944

Japan
16 Jun 1944

Japan
24 Jun 1944

Japan
2 Jul 1944

Photo(s) dated 2 Jul 1944
Fires and explosions on Iwo Jima
4 Jul 1944

Japan
14 Jul 1944

Japan
  • Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima, and Haha Jima were the targets of land-based aircraft for the first time as US Navy Bombing Squadron 109 PB4Y Liberator bombers based at Isley Field, Saipan, Mariana Islands dropped bombed on their airfields. In the United States, USAAF chief General Hap Arnold warned the Joint Planning Staff about the new Japanese Ki-84 fighters. As a precaution, he recommended seizing Iwo Jima to provide emergency airfields for bombers that might be damaged by new Japanese fighters such as the Ki-84. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
4 Aug 1944

Japan
4 Oct 1944

Japan
  • Landing ship No. 134 was scuttled at Iwo Jima, Japan after being damaged by stormy weather. ww2dbase [No. 101/103-class | Iwo Jima | CPC]
24 Nov 1944

Japan
5 Dec 1944

Japan
  • Submarine USS Spearfish completed her secret mission to conduct close reconnaissance surveys of Iwo Jima and Minami Jima in the Bonin Islands and set a course for Saipan. ww2dbase [Spearfish | Iwo Jima | DS]
27 Dec 1944

Japan
1 Jan 1945

Japan
  • 19 American B-24 bombers based in Saipan, Mariana Islands struck Japanese positions at Iwo Jima. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | TH]
5 Jan 1945

Japan
  • American cruisers, destroyers, and carrier aircraft attacked the Bonin Islands. At Iwo Jima, a Japanese landing ship was sunk by destroyer fire. At Chichi Jima, destroyer USS Fanning sank a Japanese freighter by gunfire and a torpedo, while destroyer USS David W. Taylor was damaged by a mine. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
23 Jan 1945

Photo(s) dated 23 Jan 1945
Battleship Indiana and Cruiser Division 5 bombarded Iwo Jima, 23 Jan 1945, photo 1 of 2Battleship Indiana and Cruiser Division 5 bombarded Iwo Jima, 23 Jan 1945, photo 2 of 2
29 Jan 1945

Japan
  • 19 American B-24 bombers based in Guam, Mariana Islands attacked Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
0 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 0 Feb 1945
Thirteen SB2C Helldiver dive-bomber from Bombing Squadron VB-3 from USS Yorktown (Essex-class) flying to strike Iwo Jima, 22 Feb 1945.
1 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 1 Feb 1945
B-24J Liberator “Vera L” and other aircraft from the 27th Bomb Squadron drop 55-gallon drums filled with gasoline on Iwo Jima to burn off the plant growth in advance of the landings to come two weeks later, Feb 1 1945.
16 Feb 1945

Japan Photo(s) dated 16 Feb 1945
Battleship New York bombarding Iwo Jima, 16 Feb 1945; view looked aft, on the starboard side
17 Feb 1945

Japan
  • USS Wisconsin arrived off Iwo Jima, Japan and bombarded Japanese positions on the island. ww2dbase [Wisconsin | Iwo Jima | CPC]
  • Aircraft from escort carrier USS Steamer Bay provided smoke over the beaches of Iwo Jima to conceal Underwater Demolition Teams scouting the beaches. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Steamer Bay | Iwo Jima | DS]
Photo(s) dated 17 Feb 1945
Shells exploded ashore during the pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima, 17 Feb 1945Minesweepers worked the waters off Iwo Jima before the invasion, 17-18 Feb 1945; note the anti-aircraft bursts above the island and a burning aircraft close to the ground on the rightNaval gun shells exploded on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, 17-19 Feb 1945Pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima
See all photos dated 17 Feb 1945
18 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 18 Feb 1945
A column of landing craft support vessels passing by Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, 18 Feb 1945US Coast Guardsmen assisting a wounded Marine into an LCVP after the Marine’s LVT sustained a direct hit while heading to the landing beaches on Iwo Jima, Feb 18, 1945.
19 Feb 1945

Japan
  • At 0905 hours, the first of 30,000 US Marines landed on Iwo Jima, Japan after heavy naval bombardment. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
  • USS Wasp's aircraft provided aerial cover for the Iwo Jima, Japan invasion. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Iwo Jima | CPC]
  • Ira Hayes landed on the southern beach on Iwo Jima, Japan via Haskell-class attack transport USS Talladega. ww2dbase [Ira Hayes | Iwo Jima | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 19 Feb 1945
Fifth Division Marines moving inland off the beach, after coming ashore on Iwo Jima, 19 Feb 1945; note Mount Suribachi in backgroundUS Marine M4A3 Sherman flame tank, also known as Men of USMC 5th Division advancing through the volcanic ash hills of Red Beach No. 1 at Iwo Jima, Japan, 19 Feb 1945, photo 1 of 2Men of US Marine Corps 4th Division shelling Japanese positions from the beach, Iwo Jima, Japan, Feb 1945
See all photos dated 19 Feb 1945
20 Feb 1945

Japan Photo(s) dated 20 Feb 1945
Man of US 9th Marines with flamethrower, Motoyama Airfield (Airfield Number 2), Iwo Jima, Feb 1945Pfc Reg P. Hester, 7th War Dog Platoon, 25th Regiment, United States Marine Corps took a nap while Dutch, his war dog, stood guard, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945US Coast Guard and Navy personnel unloading supplies on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Japan, 19-20 Feb 1945A US Marine used a flamethrower against a Japanese pillbox as he was covered by two riflemen, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945
See all photos dated 20 Feb 1945
21 Feb 1945

Japan
  • The Japanese Army and Navy launched a combined tokko attack, dispatching 4 and 21 suicide aircraft, respectively. The fleet carrier USS Saratoga and escort carrier USS Lunga Point were hit and damaged, while escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea was sunk. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Saratoga | Iwo Jima | AC]
  • USS Astoria provided naval gunfire support at Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Astoria (Cleveland-class) | Iwo Jima | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 21 Feb 1945
US Marine on Mount Suribachi, with landing craft in the background, Iwo Jima, Japan, 19-23 Feb 1945Officers of the US Fifth Marine Division directed the operations from a sandbagged position, Iwo Jima, 21 Feb 1945Aerial photograph of Mount Suribachi with Iwo JimaLSM-140 unloading on a southeastern Iwo Jima beach, circa 21-22 Feb 1945
See all photos dated 21 Feb 1945
22 Feb 1945

Japan Photo(s) dated 22 Feb 1945
Wrecked tank and LVTs on Blue Beach No. 1, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945Landing craft underway off Iwo Jima, circa Feb 1945, photo 1 of 2Landing craft underway off Iwo Jima, circa Feb 1945, photo 2 of 2Scene on an eastern Iwo Jima beach, February 1945
See all photos dated 22 Feb 1945
23 Feb 1945

Japan Photo(s) dated 23 Feb 1945
Raising the US flag atop Mount Suribachi by Joe Rosenthal, Iwo Jima, Japan, 23 Feb 1945American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, Feb 1945Men of 28th Regiment, US 5th Marine Division putting up the first flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, at 1020 hours on 23 Feb 1945; note M1 CarbineLSM-238 unloading on an Iwo Jima Beach, Japan, circa 21-25 Feb 1945
See all photos dated 23 Feb 1945
24 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 24 Feb 1945
Piles of supplies for US 3rd and 5th Marine Divisions, Iwo Jima, Japan, 1945US Marine Corps Major General Keller Rockey at his command post, Iwo Jima, Japan, 1945Aerial view of Iwo Jima and Mt Suribachi looking across the southern point and the landing beeches to the supply ship staging area, 24 Feb 1945, five days after the initial landings.
25 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 25 Feb 1945
Supplies being unloaded onto Beach Red One from LSM-141, LSM-43, and LSM-47, Iwo Jima, 25 Feb 1945Landing ships and craft unloading on Iwo JimaLCVPs from USS Sanborn underway off Iwo Jima, in mid or late Feb 1945, photo 1 of 2LCVPs from USS Sanborn underway off Iwo Jima, in mid or late Feb 1945, photo 2 of 2
See all photos dated 25 Feb 1945
26 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 26 Feb 1945
US Fifth Marine Division riflemen waited while a fellow Marine burned out a Japanese-held cave with flame thrower, Iwo Jima, 26 Feb 1945A captured Japanese soldier, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945American Marines fed Japanese POWs K rations, Iwo Jima, Feb 1945Two Americans walked by a temporary grave of a fellow Marine made of the fallen
27 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 27 Feb 1945
M4 Sherman
28 Feb 1945

Photo(s) dated 28 Feb 1945
Destroyed American amtracs and other vehicles on beach of Iwo Jima, Japan, Feb-Mar 1945US naval transports off Iwo Jima, late Feb 1945Aerial photograph of Iwo JimaLST-764 unloading on an Iwo Jima beach, circa late Feb 1945
See all photos dated 28 Feb 1945


Photo(s) dated
US Marine hauling an ammunition cart on Iwo Jima invasion beach, Japan, 19 Feb 1945
1 Mar 1945

Japan
  • Tony Stein was killed by a sniper while leading a 19-man patrol to reconnoiter a Japanese machine gun emplacement on Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Tony Stein | Iwo Jima | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Mar 1945
Contour map of Iwo Jima, showing Japanese defense installations as observed from ground study during the period of 19 Feb-19 Mar 1945, map 1 of 2Bulldozer, Jeep, and other vehicles on an Iwo Jima beach, circa late Feb or early Mar 1945Post office of the US 4th Marine Division, Iwo Jima, 1945Contour map of Iwo Jima, showing Japanese defense installations as observed from ground study during the period of 19 Feb-19 Mar 1945, map 2 of 2
2 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 2 Mar 1945
LSM-264 unloading on Red Beach One, Iwo Jima, Japan, 2 Mar 1945
3 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 3 Mar 1945
A US Marine ran past a dead Japanese soldier, Iwo Jima, Japan, 3 Mar 1945Two US Marines with an empty stretcher ran past a dead Japanese soldier, Iwo Jima, 3 Mar 1945
4 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 4 Mar 1945
B-29 Superfortress bomber Two US Marines attacking with flamethrowers on Iwo Jima, Japan, 4 Mar 1945B-29 Superfortress bomber Overlooking Motoyama Airfield, Iwo Jima, Japan, 4 Mar 1945; note US Marine with M1 Carbine, Type 96 anti-aircraft mount, and the first B-29 to land on Iwo Jima
6 Mar 1945

Japan
  • 28 American P-51 Mustang and 12 P-61 Black Widow aircraft landed on Iwo Jima, Japan. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 6 Mar 1945
AlaskaGunnerCrew of a 40mm quad anti-aircraft machine gun mount of Alaska loaded clips into the loaders of the left pair of guns, off Iwo Jima, 6 Mar 1945One of the Alaska
See all photos dated 6 Mar 1945
7 Mar 1945

Japan
  • After two-and-a-half weeks of support for the Iwo Jima landings, escort carrier USS Steamer Bay departed the aera bound for Leyte in the Philippines. ww2dbase [Steamer Bay | Iwo Jima | DS]
Photo(s) dated 7 Mar 1945
P-51 Mustangs of the 45th Fighter Squadron lined up on South Field, Iwo Jima, Mar 7, 1945. Fire is from a P-51 from the 78th Fighter Squadron that crashed on landing and struck two parked 45th Fighter Squadron P-51s.View of the southwestern face of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS AnzioView of the northern face of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS AnzioView of an airfield on Iwo Jima, Japan, 7 Mar 1945; photo taken from an aircraft of USS Anzio
See all photos dated 7 Mar 1945
9 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 9 Mar 1945
M4 Sherman tank fitted with a bulldozer blade supporting US Marine infantry on Iwo Jima, 9 Mar 1945.
10 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 10 Mar 1945
B-29 crash-landed on Motoyama Airfield, Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, after fighters disabled two engines on a bombing run over Osaka, 10 Mar 1945. Photo 1 of 2.A US Marine forward base nestled into the few pieces of foliage left on the island, Iwo Jima, Mar 10, 1945Columns of vehicles transferring supplies up from the beach on Iwo Jima, Mar 10, 1945.A Bulldozer with the US Marines 32nd Sea Bees cutting a road to the summit of Mt Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Mar 10, 1945. In 50 years of occupation, the Japanese had never built a road to the top of Suribachi.
See all photos dated 10 Mar 1945
11 Mar 1945

Japan Photo(s) dated 11 Mar 1945
The sextet of US Army African-American soldiers who risked their lives to save a near-drowning US Marine at Iwo Jima, 11 Mar 1945
14 Mar 1945

Japan
  • The island of Iwo Jima was declared conquered by Chester Nimitz, noting that "all powers of government of the Japanese Empire in these islands are hereby suspended", but fighting would continue. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Iwo Jima | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 14 Mar 1945
The official flag raising at the American Headquarters on Iwo Jima immediately after Nimitz
15 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 15 Mar 1945
Private First Class H. L. Miles and Corporal C. V. Corley of US Marines rested during a lull in battle, Iwo Jima, Japan, 15 Mar 1945A wrecked M4 Sherman tank showing a shell hit on its outer wooden timbers, Iwo Jima, 15 Mar 1945.North American P-51D Mustangs of the 47th Fighter Squadron on Iwo Jima prepare for raid on Chichi Jima, Mar 15, 1945. Note Mt Suribachi in the background.
16 Mar 1945

Japan
19 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 19 Mar 1945
Map of defensive installations on Iwo Jima, Japan, 19 Feb-19 Mar 1945
20 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 20 Mar 1945
Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith and Colonel Dudley S. Brown surveying wreckages at the Iwo Jima invasion beaches, circa Mar 1945
23 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 23 Mar 1945
Marines and Army ground crews look over the first Sikorsky R-4 helicopter to land in the fighter strip on Iwo Jima, Mar 23, 1945.
25 Mar 1945

Japan Photo(s) dated 25 Mar 1945
P-51D Mustangs of the 531st Fighter Squadron lined up at South Field, Iwo Jima, Mar 25, 1945A Japanese tank wedged between banks of solid earth was very difficult for US Marines to see or attack from the front, Iwo Jima, Mar 25, 1945.
26 Mar 1945

Japan
  • The Japanese mounted the final suicide charge with 200-300 men at Iwo Jima, Japan. Elsewhere on Iwo Jima, a memorial ceremony was held at the 5th Marine Division Cemetery; Ira Hayes was among the attendees. ww2dbase [Battle of Iwo Jima | Ira Hayes | Iwo Jima | CPC]
27 Mar 1945

Japan
  • The US 5th Marine Division departed from Iwo Jima, Japan (its only combat operation), bound for US Territory of Hawaii for resting. ww2dbase [Iwo Jima | AC]
  • Ira Hayes departed from Iwo Jima, Japan with his unit aboard La Salle-class transport USS Winged Arrow. ww2dbase [Ira Hayes | Iwo Jima | CPC]
30 Mar 1945

Photo(s) dated 30 Mar 1945
Japanese 120mm gun protuding from a cave opening, Iwo Jima, Japan, circa Mar 1945
5 Apr 1945

Japan Photo(s) dated 5 Apr 1945
Three Japanese soldiers emerged from their hiding place to surrender, Iwo Jima, 5 Apr 1945Japanese troops being captured by Americans on Iwo Jima, Japan, 5 Apr 1945
6 Apr 1945

Photo(s) dated 6 Apr 1945
Relief Map of Iwo Jima used to brief US carrier pilots; this photo was filed 6 Apr 1945
8 Apr 1945

Photo(s) dated 8 Apr 1945
Americans attacked Japanese snipers in a cave with bazooka and small arms, northern coast of Iwo Jima, during mop up operations, 8 Apr 1945Flame thrower in use against Japanese holding out in a cave along Iwo Jima
21 Apr 1945

Photo(s) dated 21 Apr 1945
Sandbag, rock and canvas shelter in the rugged terrain of northern Iwo Jima, 21 Apr 1945Scene along the rocky coast of northern Iwo Jima, 21 Apr 1945Vehicle path and combat-shattered vegetation in the rugged terrain of northern Iwo Jima, 21 Apr 1945, photo 1 of 2Vehicle path and combat-shattered vegetation in the rugged terrain of northern Iwo Jima, 21 Apr 1945, photo 2 of 2
See all photos dated 21 Apr 1945
24 Apr 1945

Photo(s) dated 24 Apr 1945
A B-29 Superfortress crashed during an attempted emergency landing on Iwo Jima Apr 24, 1945 and ran into nine P-51 Mustangs. Ground personnel wait behind a Jeep for all ammunition to cook off.A B-29 Superfortress crashed during an attempted emergency landing on Iwo Jima Apr 24, 1945 and ran into nine P-51 Mustangs.
26 May 1945

Photo(s) dated 26 May 1945
Aerial view looking southward over Iwo Jima
31 Jul 1945

Japan
31 Dec 1945

Photo(s) dated 31 Dec 1945
Diagram of Iwo Jima invasion beaches with lines of approach used by boats from APA Sanborn drawn by Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen after WW2
23 Mar 2003

Photo(s) dated 23 Mar 2003
US Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Terry Scott inspecting an old Japanese Type 96 25mm gun at Iwo Jima, Japan, 23 Mar 2003
21 Mar 2015

Photo(s) dated 21 Mar 2015
Beach used by the US invasion, Iwo Jima, Japan, 21 Mar 2015

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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While touring Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii, President Franklin Roosevelt (seated in car) listened to Col William Saffarans (in jungle suit) at the Army’s Jungle Training Unit at Kahana Bay, 28 July 1944. Photo 1 of 2.

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