CINCPOA Communiqué No. 275
The V Amphibious Corps attacking northward on Iwo Island made limited gains against elaborate enemy defenses by 1800 on February 23 (East Longitude Date). On the right flank the 4th Marine Division advanced a maximum of 300 yards. In the center elements of the 3rd Marine Division occupied the southern tip of the Central Iwo airfield. There was no appreciable change in the positions of the 5th Marine Division on the left flank. In all sectors the enemy is resisting our advance from concrete pillboxes, entrenchments and caves.
In the area of Mount Suribachi, mopping-up operations are being carried out against blockhouses, and pillboxes on the slopes of the volcano. Similar defenses have been reported inside the crater. A total of 717 enemy dead have been counted in the Suribachi sector.
Throughout the day, our troops continued to receive close support from carrier aircraft and naval gunfire. Mortar fire directed at our positions from Kangoku Rock, west of Iwo, was eliminated by one of our destroyers. Several landing craft at the Rock were also destroyed.
The unloading of supplies is continuing and their rate of movement across the beaches is considerably improved in spite of the surf created by the recent southeasterly weather. The enemy continued to bring the northern beaches under fire during the afternoon of February 23.
Carrier aircraft conducted an offensive sweep over Chichi Jima in the Bonins on February 23.
Fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing accompanied by torpedo planes struck bivouac areas, destroyed a bridge and set a lumber yard afire in the Palaus on February 22. Fighter attacks were also carried out on Yap in the Western Carolines and on Sonsoral Island.
Army fighters strafed targets on Pagan in the Marianas on February 23.
Neutralizing attacks were made on enemy-held bases in the Marshalls by Navy search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two.