Aerial View of Okinawa

Landing on Okinawa

Absence of enemy opposition to the landings made the assault seem like a large-scale maneuver as troops left their craft and quickly consolidated.

Landing Craft of All Kinds

This photo shows some of the large Naval force used during the Battle of Okinawa Photo: National Arhchives

Marines Land on Okinawa

Marines of the US 10th Army in camouflage battle dress storm out of a landing craft to establish a beachhead, March 31, 1945 on Okinawa. Photo National Archives

US Marines Advancing

US Marines advancing up a hill, Okinawa, Japan, circa Apr-Jun 1945

Sherman Tanks

Sherman tanks of US 6th Marine Division at Naha, Okinawa, Japan, 27 May 1945

Unloading Supplies

American ships unloading supplies on the beach of Okinawa, Japan, 4 Apr 1945

Bombing of Japanese Submarine Base

Aerial photograph taken during bombing of a Japanese forward submarine base on Okinawa, Japan, Mar 1945

Marine Fighting Squadron 312

Ground crewmen arming an FG-1D Corsair of Marine Fighting Squadron 312, the "Checkerboarders," at Kadena airfield, Okinawa, Japan, Apr-Aug 1945.

Mushroom Cloud

A mushroom cloud hanging above battleship Yamato's exploding hull, 7 Apr 1945

Last Picture of LtGen Simon Buckner

This is the last photograph taken of LtGen Simon B. Buckner, Jr., USA, right, just before he was killed on 18 June, observing the 8th Marines in action on Okinawa for the first time since the regiment entered the lines in the drive to the south. Note the rock and coral outcropping to his left. The shell that exploded hit that outcropping, dispersing fragments into the general, killing him within a few minutes. The other two staff officers, were not seriously hurt.

Kamikaze

A Japanese Zero kamikaze fighter about to crash into the battleship Missouri off Okinawa, 11 April 1945

Loading Rockets

Armorers loading rockets under the wing of a F4U Corsair fighter, Okinawa, Japan, June 1945.

155mm Gun M1

155mm Gun M1 of US 420th Field Artillery Group set up on Keise Shima near Okinawa, Japan, Apr 1945

6th Marine Division on Okinawa

"Death Rattlers"

U.S. Marine Corps Goodyear FG-1D Corsairs of Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-323 "Death Rattlers" on a rocket strike against Japanese positions south of the front lines on Okinawa. U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1996.253.7158.002

Lieitenant General Simon B. Buckner

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMON B. BUCKNER, Commanding General, Expeditionary Troops (Tenth Army), in the Okinawa operation. US Army Photograph

1st Marine Division Okinawa

Marines from 1st Marine Division ford a muddy jungle steam in the South Pacific during World War II - Okinawa Photo from National Archives

US 6th Marine Divisioin

Men of the US 6th Marine Division observing shelling of a Japanese position near Yae Take Airfield, Okinawa, Japan, 14 Apr 1945

6th Marine Division

On the flank of a battle-wrecked alligator tank the Okinawa sun casts the shadows of 6th Division Marines as they move in to mop up the southern tip of the island. Photo from National Archives

Corsair Fighter

Corsair fighter looses its load of rocket projectiles. U.S. Marine Corps photo 127-GR-97-126420

Anti-aircraft fire

Japanese night raiders are met on 16 April with a spectacular network of antiaircraft fire by Marine defenders based at Yontan airfield. In the foreground, silhouetted against the interlaced pattern of tracer bullets, are Marine Corsairs. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 118775

6th Marine Division

This 6th Marine Division demolition crew, blows up a Japanese cave on Okinawa. Photo National Archives

Civilians on Okinawa

Within a short time after they came ashore, Marines encountered native Okinawans. This group of elderly civilians is escorted to the safety of a rear area by Marine PFC John F. Cassinelli, a veteran 1st Marine Division military policeman. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 117288

75mm pack howitzers

75mm pack howitzers of 1st Battalion, 10th Marine

Death Rattlers VMF-323

Yontan Airfield

Memorial

Memorial monument of Lieutenant General Simon B. Buckner on his KIA place in Okinawa. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

US Flag

US Flag raised over Shuri castle on Okinawa. National Park Service - (National Archives, FMC 42043)

Ryukyus Surrender

Japanese Surrender in the Ryukyu Islands, September 1945. Aerial photograph of the surrender scene, at Tenth Army Headquarters on Okinawa, 7 September 1945. US Naval Historical Center Photograph

Raising the Flag

Raising the american flag on Okinawa on 22 June denoted the end of organized resistance.

Japanese Surrender

Lieutenant General Toshiro Nomi, representing Japanese forces in the Sakishima Gunto, signs the surrender document during ceremonies held at Tenth Army Headquarters on Okinawa, 7 September 1945. Standing beside him are Colonel Philip H. Bethune, of the G-2 Section, and Major General Frank D. Merrill, Chief of Staff, Tenth Army. Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stilwell, Commanding General, Tenth Army, and interpreter T/4 Robert H. Oda are standing opposite the table, at right.