PART I: Background |
Chapter |
Page |
1. |
Introduction |
3 |
PART II: Fleet Marine Force, Pacific |
1. |
The Development of FMFPac |
13 |
2. |
Administration and Aviation |
33 |
PART III: The Palaus: Gateway to the Philippines |
1. |
Strategic Situation |
51 |
2. |
Pre-Assault Preparations |
77 |
3. |
D-Day on Peleliu |
106 |
4. |
The Drive Inland: 16-22 September |
132 |
5. |
Angaur and Ulithi |
162 |
6. |
Securing the North: 23-30 September |
185 |
7. |
The Umurbrogol Pocket: 29 September-15 October |
219 |
8. |
To the Bitter End |
254 |
PART IV: Marines in the Philippines |
1. |
Background and Planning |
291 |
2. |
The Leyte Landings |
309 |
3. |
The Luzon Campaign |
334 |
4. |
Southern Philippines Operations |
358 |
PART V: Marine Aviation in the Western Pacific |
1. |
Mounting the Offensive |
393 |
2. |
Marine Aviation in the Marianas, Carolines, and at Iwo Jima |
422 |
PART VI: Iwo Jima |
1. |
Background to DETACHMENT |
443 |
2. |
Offensive Plans and Preparations |
462 |
3. |
The Preliminaries |
482 |
4. |
D-Day on Iwo Jima |
502 |
5. |
The Struggle for Suribachi |
528 |
6. |
Drive to the North |
547 |
7. |
3d Marine Division Operations on Iwo Jima |
571 |
8. |
Airfield Development and Activities Behind the Lines |
594 |
9. |
The 5th Marine Division Drive on the Left |
616 |
10. |
The 4th Marine Division Drive on the Right |
645 |
11. |
Final Operations on Iwo Jima |
684 |
12. |
Summary |
713 |
13. |
Conclusions |
729 |
APPENDICES |
A. |
Bibliographical Notes |
739 |
B. |
Guide to Abbreviations |
752 |
C. |
Military Map Symbols |
758 |
D. |
Chronology |
759 |
E. |
Fleet Marine Force Status--31 August 1944 |
765 |
F. |
Table of Organization F-100 Marine Division |
780 |
G. |
Marine Task Organization and Command List |
782 |
H. |
Marine Casualties |
797 |
I. |
Unit COmmendations |
798 |
|
Index |
813 |
ILLUSTRATIONS |
Amphibious Exercises, Puerto Rico |
18 |
Testing Higgins Boat |
18 |
Landing Exercise, New River, N.C. |
37 |
Change of Command, FMFPac, 1945 |
37 |
Assault Troops off Peleliu |
107 |
Peleliu Beach on D-Day |
107 |
Abortive Enemy Tank Attack, Peleliu |
125 |
Machine Gun In Action, Peleliu |
125 |
Artillery in Firing Position |
140 |
Marine Tanks at Peleliu Airfield |
140 |
Close Fighting Near Airfield |
149 |
Casualty Evacuation |
149 |
U.S. Army Troops Assault Angaur |
167 |
Closing in on the Enemy, Angaur |
167 |
Men and Supplies Crossing Peleliu Reef |
188 |
U.S. Army Troops Arrive at Peleliu |
188 |
Marine Aircraft Preparing for Napalm Attack |
194 |
Bombing of Japanese Ridge Positions, Peleliu |
194 |
Assault on Ngesebus |
213 |
Advance Inland, Ngesebus |
213 |
Battle of the Ridges, Peleliu |
243 |
Final Operations on Peleliu |
243 |
Navy Planes at Dulag Airfield, Leyte |
313 |
Marine Night Fighters, Leyte |
313 |
Close Air Support for U.S. Army Troops, Luzon |
355 |
Marine Dive Bombers on Luzon Returning from Mission |
355 |
New Dive Bombers for Marine Aviation in the Philippines |
360 |
Filipino Guerrillas On Mindanao |
360 |
LSTs Unloading at Zamboanga |
369 |
U.S. Army Ceremony Honors Marine Aviation |
369 |
Marine Dive Bombers En Route to Bypassed Islands |
419 |
U.S. Personnel Touring Mille Island, Marshalls |
419 |
Bombs Away at Iwo Jima |
488 |
Amphibious Assault, Iwo Jima |
488 |
4th Marine Division Troops on Iwo Beach |
507 |
Landing of 2/27, Iwo Jima |
507 |
Japanese Painting of Iwo Invasion |
511 |
War Dog and Handler Approach Enemy Cave |
511 |
37mm Gun in Action |
529 |
Debris of Battle, D+2 |
529 |
Flamethrowers in Action |
532 |
Marine on Mt. Suribachi and View of Landing Beaches |
532 |
First Flag Raising on Iwo Jima |
541 |
Second Flag Goes Up on Suribachi |
544 |
Marines at Mass |
596 |
First "Grasshopper" Lands on Iwo |
596 |
B-29 Superfortress After Emergency Landing |
599 |
4th Marine Division Observation Post |
599 |
155mm Gun in Action |
606 |
Rocket Fire Support |
606 |
Birdseye View of Iwo Beachhead |
609 |
Shore Parties Hauling Supplies |
609 |
Captured Japanese Tank |
619 |
Combat Patrol in Northern Iwo |
619 |
Enemy Positions near Nishi Village |
696 |
Japanese Prisoner and Escort |
696 |
Air Force Bivouac Area on Iwo After Banzai |
709 |
Motoyama Airfield No. 1 After Restoration |
709 |
MAPS |
1. |
Strategic Situation, Central and Western Pacific |
53 |
2. |
Palau Islands |
56 |
3. |
Japanese Defense Plan, Peleliu |
75 |
4. |
D-Day, Peleliu |
111 |
5. |
Peleliu, Second Operational Phase |
133 |
6. |
Angaur Island |
164 |
7. |
Ulithi Atoll |
182 |
8. |
Commitment of the U.S. Army 321st Infantry Regiment, Peleliu |
191 |
9. |
Isolation of Umurbrogol |
196 |
10. |
North Peleliu and Ngesebus |
203 |
11. |
Securing the North |
215 |
12. |
Umurbrogol Pocket |
220 |
13. |
Drive from the North |
239 |
14. |
Final Marine Action, Peleliu |
247 |
15. |
Final 81st Infantry Division Operations, Peleliu |
255 |
16. |
Philippine Islands |
295 |
17. |
Sixth Army Area of Operations |
311 |
18. |
Lingayen Gulf Landing |
338 |
19. |
Luzon |
341 |
20. |
Route to Manila and XI Corps Landings |
|
21. |
Main U.S. Drives in the VICTOR V Operation |
|
22. |
Area of Responsibility, Commander Aircraft, Northern Solomons |
|
23. |
Marshall Islands--MAG-22 Operations, 1944 |
|
24. |
Iwo Jima--Sulphur Island |
446 |
25. |
Japanese Defense Sectors |
460 |
26. |
Landing Plan, Iwo Jima |
470 |
27. |
Naval Gunfire Areas of Responsibility, D-3 and D-2 |
494 |
28. |
VAC Front Lines D-Day, 19 February 1945 |
524 |
|
I. |
Scene of Battle, 1944-1945 |
Map Section |
II. |
Progress of the Attack, VAC Front Lines, D-Day--D+5 |
Map Section |
III. |
3d Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 25 February-1 March 1945 |
Map Section |
IV. |
3d Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 1-10 March 1945 |
Map Section |
V. |
5th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 24 February-2 March 1945 |
Map Section |
VI. |
5th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 2-10 March 1945 |
Map Section |
VII. |
4th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 24-28 February 1945 |
Map Section |
VIII. |
4th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 5-7 March 1945 |
Map Section |
IX. |
3d Marine Division, Final Operations |
Map Section |
X. |
4th Marine Division, Final Operations |
Map Section |
XI. |
5th Marine Division, Final Operations |
Map Section |
CHARTS |
1. |
Genealogy of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific |
22 |
2. |
Japanese Command Organization-of the Philippines |
299 |
3. |
Organization of Air Command, Southwest Pacific Area |
302 |