U.S. Navy Department (February 25, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 279
After preliminary bombardment by Marine artillery and heavy units of the Pacific Fleet, troops of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions launched an attack northward on Iwo Island on February 25 (East Longitude Date). Fighting was heavy throughout the day and at nightfall our forces were in positions of the East‑West runway of the Central Iwo field and about two‑thirds of the North‑South runway.
Carrier aircraft and Seventh Army Air Force Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, supported the attack.
A total of 2,827 enemy dead had been counted by noon of February 25.
Shortly before midnight of February 24, a small group of enemy aircraft attacked our forces on and around Iwo Island causing no damage. Part of their bombs were dropped in enemy territory on the Island. One of our night fighters shot down an enemy plane over Chichi Jima in the Bonins and three others were destroyed on the ground in the Bonins by our aircraft on February 24.
Beach conditions continued to show marked improvement.
StrAirPoa Army Liberators bombed the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins causing a large explosion near the runways on February 23. On the following day an attack was made on Omura Town on the same Island.
The airfield on Marcus Island was bombed by StrAirPoa Army Liberators on February 24.
Neutralizing raids were continued on enemy-held bases in the Marshalls by Navy search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two on February 24.