U.S. Navy Department (March 12, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 296
The 5th Marine Division continued its advance on Iwo Island on March 12 (East Longitude Date) and further reduced the area held by the enemy on the northern end of the island. Remnants of the enemy garrison in this sector continued to offer stiff resistance. Mopping up operations were in progress in the 3rd and 4th Divisions zones of action, but one enemy pocket continued to hold out at 1800 on March 12. Naval gunfire and Army fighters supported the troops in the fighting on the northern end of the island.
Army fighters bombed and strafed targets on Chichi Jima in the Bonins through intense antiaircraft fire on the same date.
Liberators of the 11th Army Air Force bombed installations at Suribachi on Paramushiru and Kataoka on Shumushu in the Northern Kurils on March 11. Columns of smoke rising to 15,000 feet were observed after the attacks.
Army Thunderbolts strafed and bombed installations on Maug Island in the Marianas on the same date.
Two buildings were destroyed and fires were started on Babelthuap in the Palaus by Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing on March 11.
Neutralizing attacks on enemy-held bases in the Marshalls were continued by Marine aircraft on the same date.