The Battle of Iwo Jima: Raising the Flag, February-March 1945

Just eight square miles in size, the Japanese island of Iwo Jima lies some 750 miles due south of Tokyo. Following a preparatory air and naval bombardment which lasted for many weeks, it was there, on the morning of Monday, 19 February 1945, that U.S. Marines launched Operation Detachment, their aim being the capture of the entire island and the three airfields that had been constructed on it.The Japanese defenders, however, were prepared. The enemy garrison had heavily fortified Iwo Jima w...