U.S. Navy Department (September 4, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 113
Chichijima and Hahajima in the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands were bombed and strafed by aircraft of a carrier task force on August 3 and 31 and on September 1 (West Longitude Dates). On August 30 and September 1, Chichijima and Iwo Jima were bombarded by cruisers and destroyers of the Pacific Fleet. Our aircraft dropped 196 tons of bombs in these operations and fired 490 rockets. The following damage was inflicted on the enemy:
SHIPS SUNK: Three small cargo ships and a landing barge at Iwo Jima. One small cargo ship southwest of Hahajima, damaged by bombing and later sunk by a destroyer. One small tanker and six barges at Chichijima. One small cargo ship northwest of Chichijima.
SHIPS PROBABLY SUNK: One small cargo ship and one sub chaser northwest of Iwo Jima. One sub chaser southwest of Chichijima. One sub chaser at Hahajima.
SHIPS DAMAGED: Two sub chasers at Iwo Jima. One sub chaser and a sampan near Chichijima.
AIRCRAFT DESTROYED OR DAMAGED: 10 enemy aircraft shot down near Iwo Jima. One twin‑engine bomber shot down over our task force. 33 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground, 29 probably destroyed, and 10 damaged at Iwo Jima. Two seaplanes destroyed at Chichijima.
DAMAGE TO GROUND INSTALLATIONS: Extensive damage was done to hangars, shops, warehouses, fuel dumps, and anti-aircraft positions by bombing and shelling during these attacks. Several anti-aircraft positions were destroyed at Iwo Jima, a large warehouse was destroyed at Hahajima, and at Chichijima the seaplane base was demolished.
OWN DAMAGE: In these operations we lost five aircraft in combat. Our personnel casualties were one pilot and three flight personnel. There was no damage to our ships.
Cruisers and destroyers bombarded Wake Island on September 3, and aircraft of a carrier task group bombed the island. Several coast defense guns and anti-aircraft emplacements were knocked out. Extensive damage was done to other gun positions and buildings. Three small craft in the lagoon were heavily damaged. There was no opposition from enemy aircraft, and return fire from shore batteries was ineffective. We lost no aircraft and there was no damage to our ships.
Iwo Jima was bombed by 7th Army Air Force Liberators on September 2. More than 95 tons of bombs were dropped on air facilities. A single enemy fighter attempted to use phosphorous bombs against our formation without effect. Intense to moderate anti-aircraft damaged three of our planes.
Pagan Island was the target of our planes in two attacks on September 1 and one attack on September 2. Rockets and strafing were employed in the later two attacks and little opposition was met.
Rota Island gun emplacements, bivouac areas and air installations were bombed on August 31, September 1 and September 2. Anti-aircraft fire was meager.
Maug Island was attacked by our fighters using rockets on September 2.
A single Liberator of the 11th Army Air Force bombed Paramushiru in the Kurils on August 31. No interception was encountered. A lone Mitchell bomber attacked southern Paramushiru later in the day, sinking a small cargo vessel at anchor and scoring a direct hit on docking facilities. The bomber returned undamaged.
Truk was hit with approximately 55 tons of bombs on September 1 by 7th Army Air Force Liberators. Anti-aircraft fire was meager and only one intercepting Zero was encountered.
Runways on Nauru airfields were bombed by 7th Army Air Force Mitchells on September 2 and three of our attacking planes were damaged by meager but accurate anti-aircraft fire.
Ponape Airfield was hit on September 1 by 7th Army Air Force Mitchell bombers. Anti-aircraft fire was meager.
In the Marshall Islands on September 1, gun positions, ammunition dumps, a radio station and personnel areas on Mille, Wotje and Maloelap Atolls were bombed and strafed by Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. Sixty‑three tons of bombs were dropped. Antiaircraft fire ranged from meager to moderate.