THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA
The Pacific War was nearing its close. The Japanese were now being defeated on every front and rapidly falling back to the
Japanese home islands. The IJF's last stand to avert the inevitable invasion of the home island of Japan was Okinawa. The
Japanese would put every available man and boy into the battle to buy time before the final invasion.
The Japanese were opposed by the formidable US Industrial juggernaut, the United States Navy Pacific Fleet Task Force 50.
By itself, the US Fleet was composed of 7 fleet carriers, 6 light carriers, 18 escort carriers, 8 fast battleships, 10 old battleships,
14 heavy cruisers, 17 light cruisers, 132 destroyers, 45 destroyer escorts. The number of aircraft available for operations to
the fleet was between 500 and 1,100 offensive aircraft. The Americans had the capability of sending out 175 aircraft to one
objective.
But as had been throughout the war, the Japanese would not go quietly into the night in defeat. The Japanese Divine Wind
would save Japan as it did against the Mongols and Kublai Khan in 1274. The volunteer pilots of the two Typhoons would
destroy the spirit of the Americans and send them into retreat for their lives. Whereas the Kamikazes did not avert the fall
of Japan, they did account for a list of 147 ships damaged, destroyed, or sunk, including the deaths of 4582 combatant sailors.
The effort was admirable, but it was also too late.
Join the FSO community for the fast-paced, hard-hitting battle of agony and defeat in the Battle of Okinawa.
Event Write-upFrame Dates:July 11, 2025
July 18, 2025
July 25, 2025
