1. The “Island Hopping” Campaign
War in the Pacific
The “Island Hopping” Campaign

2. War in the Pacific
By 1942 Japan controls every island in the Pacific south to Australia and east to Hawaii
U.S. has to fight their way west across the Pacific Ocean towards Japan

3. War in the Pacific

4. War in the Pacific What is the strategy?
The Island Hopping Campaign: The U.S. would only invade weaker held islands, and go around the stronger fortified islands

5. War in the Pacific
General Douglas McArthur runs the Pacific side of the war for the U.S.
Each island victory took months and cost thousands of U.S. lives

6. War in the Pacific
The biggest advantage for the U.S. was our airforce, as it would dominate the Pacific campaign
To soften up each island, our navy would carry out a massive bombardment of artillery shells

7. War in the Pacific
The turning point: June 1942 on the island of Midway
4 Japanese air craft carriers are sunk crippling their navy; Japan changes their style of fighting
This restores American faith in war

8. War in the Pacific

9. War in the Pacific
the U.S. continues to push north and west, island by island towards Japan
The Japanese are relentless in fighting; they would rather die than surrender to the U.S. as that was considered a disgrace

10. War in the Pacific
As we get closer to Japan, battles at Leyte Gulf, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima slow the U.S. progress and cause more deaths than any previous island battles
This was the last stand of the Japanese before they are pushed back to their own home island

11. War in the Pacific

12. War in the Pacific By June 1945 the only island left to take is Japan
This would be the biggest invasion yet and cost an estimated, one million lives
Or would it?