U.S. Navy Department (July 4, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 71
Garapan and Tanapag Towns on Saipan Island have been captured by our forces in a general advance along the entire front. Our line now extends inland from Tanapag on the west coast of the island, skirts the mountain village of Atchugau in the center, and is anchored on the east coast at a point within four miles of Inagsa Point at the northeast tip of Saipan. During the night of July 2‑3 (West Longitude Date), a small force of Japanese attacked our lines from the rear. Twenty‑five enemy troops were killed. We suffered no losses. Our troops have buried 7,312 enemy dead.
Carrier aircraft of a fast carrier task group attacked Iwo Jima Island on July 2 (West Longitude Date). Thirty‑nine enemy fighters which attempted to intercept our force were shot down, and 16 were probably shot down. Incomplete reports indicate 24 enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged on the ground. Two small vessels were strafed, and bomb hits were obtained on a fuel dump.
Rota Island was bombed by carrier aircraft and shelled by light naval surface units on July 2. Runways and revetments were hit. A huge explosion was caused by a hit apparently in an ammunition dump.
Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force bombed Truk Atoll during daylight on July 1 and at night on July 2. In the attack on July 1, seven enemy fighters intercepted our force. Four enemy aircraft and two Liberators were damaged. All our planes returned. No effective opposition was encountered on July 2. Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing attacked enemy positions in the Marshall Islands on July 1 and 2.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 72
Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands and Hahajima in the Bonin Islands were heavily attacked by carrier aircraft of a fast carrier task group on July 3 (West Longitude Date). Iwo Jima, in addition to being severely bombed and strafed, was shelled by cruisers and destroyers. Rocket fire from carrier aircraft was extensively employed at both objectives.
Preliminary reports indicate the following damage to the enemy:
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Three destroyers sunk or beached.
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One large cargo ship sunk.
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One medium oiler sunk.
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One destroyer, dead in the water and burning.
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Several small cargo ships damaged.
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Harbor installations and warehouses at Haha Jima were set afire by bombs, rockets, and machine-gun fire.
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Twenty‑five enemy planes were shot down by our aircraft, and an undetermined number damaged on the ground. We lost six planes.
There was no damage to any of our surface craft.