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The Early Pacific Battles April-June 1942

Japan & U.S. battling it out…. The Fall of the Philippines: Japan attacked the American airfields hours after Pearl Harbor American and Filipino forces retreated to the Bataan Peninsula Were only able to hold their position for three months Lacked supplies and suffered from diseases (malaria, scurvy, and dysentery)

Bataan Death March April 9, 1942: Defenders on Bataan Peninsula surrendered to the Japanese Almost 78,000 prisoners of war were forced to march to Japanese prison camp They were sick, exhausted, and starving Thousands died on the 65 mile march

The Doolittle Raid (April 1942) Lt. Colonel James Doolittle led the mission to help raise morale of the American people B-25 bombers were used to travel from the aircraft carriers to Japan April 18, 1942: American bombs fell on Japan for the first time Convinced Japanese to change their strategy Moved Indian Ocean aircraft carrier force to protect homeland Japan instead planned two different attacks to cripple the United States (Battle of Coral Sea and Midway Island)

Battle of Coral Sea (May 1942) Japan wanted to cut off American supply lines to Australia by capturing New Guinea American team of code breakers already knew what was coming Japanese were intercepted by Yorktown and Lexington air craft carriers Carriers were sunk and badly damaged but supply line was kept open

Battle of Midway (June 1942) Japanese headed into an ambush Four of Japan’s largest carriers were destroyed Battle was a turning point in the war The U.S. stopped the Japanese advance in the Pacific

Late Battles in the Pacific February- June 1945

Iwo Jima (Feb./Mar. 1945) Reasons for invasion Difficulties 3 airstrips that were being used for Kamikaze attacks Would provide emergency runway Airstrips could provide base for escort planes Location could assist with bombing raids Difficulties Volcanic ash Underground tunnels Japanese used landforms to their advantage

Outcomes 23,000 casualties out of 70,000 Over a 1/3rd of the total Marines were killed, wounded or suffered from battle fatigue

Battle of Okinawa (Apr./Jun. 1945) Largest amphibious & last major campaign of the Pacific More died in this battle than in the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima 38,000 Americans wounded; 12,000 killed or missing 107,000 Okinawan and Japanese killed 82 day campaign

America wanted to cut Japanese supply and communication lines Okinawa had harbors & airfields that can be used to prepare for an assault Japan had been using the sugarcane to convert into commercial alcohol for torpedoes and engines Monsoons led to WWI style fighting; garbage dump and dead bodies piling up on the rain sodden field