Battle of Okinawa (1945)

90

U.S. Navy Department (April 24, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 342

The XXIV Army Corps continued the attack against enemy lines in the southern sector of Okinawa on April 23 (East Longitude Date). Elements of the 7th Infantry Division captured an important enemy position on high ground west of Ishin Village. Enemy opposition was heavy along the entire front.

Marines of the III Amphibious Corps were engaged in mopping up remnants of the enemy on Yagachi Island north of Motobu Peninsula on April 23. On the same date, III Corps troops occupied Heanza Island east of Katchin Peninsula and Kouri Island, north of Motobu Peninsula, finding no opposition.

On April 24, ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet delivered heavy gunfire in support of the attacking troops in the XXIV Corps sector. Numerous caves were closed and blockhouses, pillboxes, trenches and gun emplacements were destroyed. Adverse weather reduced air operations and there was no enemy aircraft activity over the area during the day.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank two small cargo ships and one motor torpedo boat and damaged two torpedo boats east of the Ryukyus on April 23. On the following day, search planes of the same Wing strafed building and radio installations in the northern Ryukyus and damaged a num­ber of small craft.

Carrier aircraft from units of the British Pacific Fleet strafed and bombed runways, airfield structures, barracks and other installations on islands of the Sakishima group on April 20 encountering no enemy air opposition.

On April 23, Liberators of the Strategic Air Force bombed installations on Marcus Island. Iwo based Mustangs of the same force bombed and strafed storage dumps on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on April 24.

91

The Pittsburgh Press (April 24, 1945)

All but fourth of Okinawa seized

Yanks converting isle into key base

GUAM (UP) – U.S. forces have captured three-quarters of Okinawa and have been converting it into a key base for the next stage of the American march on Japan and the China coast, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said today.

Even as he spoke, U.S. B-29 Superfortresses were continuing their softening-up bombardment of Japan proper. A fleet of 150 from the Marianas hit the Hitachi aircraft factory at Tachikawa, 14 miles west of Tokyo, for the first time.

Adm. Nimitz revealed that development of Okinawa into a major American base was underway at a press conference on the island following an inspection tour.

He said:

The acquisition of Okinawa will permit us to project our sea and airpower to the China coast and Japanese homeland and will greatly facilitate and speed up operations in the future.

The operations here are going along as planned and development of the island already has started.

Adm. Nimitz said the remnants of the Jap surface fleet are still capable of attacking American shipping, but cannot be regarded as a “serious threat.” He said they would be hunted down as soon as the Okinawa airfields are ready to handle all the available planes.

The American ground offensive on Southern Okinawa appeared to have stalled temporarily in the powerful network of Jap defenses shielding Naha.

Superfortresses which bombed the Hitachi aircraft plant today were striking at the Tokyo area for the first time this week. They attacked from medium altitude and good results were expected.

The plant, which covers one million square feet, is only 19 miles from the Imperial Palace and one of the few aircraft engine factories not attacked previously by Maj. Gen. Curtis LeMay’s Marianas-based Superfortresses.

In the fighting on Okinawa, Adm. Nimitz announced that warships and carrier planes continued the heavy bombardment of Jap positions in the southern part of the island.

Three U.S. divisions of the XXIV Corps have been attacking the Japs since Thursday but the drive stalled temporarily 3½ miles north of Naha.

The communiqué disclosed that 28 Jap aircraft were destroyed by carrier planes and fighters throughout the Ryukyus Sunday and Monday.

92

Truman believed deciding where to go after Okinawa

Issue apparently is whether to invade Japan first or encircle enemy by drive in China
By Marshal McNeil, Scripps-Howard staff writer

WASHINGTON (SHS) – President Truman, as Commander-in-Chief, may now be in process of deciding what military steps shall be take in the Pacific after Okinawa is ours, some congressmen close to the armed forces believe.

The new President will have an important hand in the strategy decision because it involves not merely military matters in the Pacific but also problems that touch on the home front deeply.

The issue is apparently whether there shall be a headlong assault on the Jap home islands, or an encircling movement aimed at Japan through China.

Invasion of Japan costly

About two weeks ago, these same congressional sources said that our military experts had not then decided upon which way to move after Okinawa is captured.

A frontal assault on the Jap home islands might cost dearly, but it would end the Pacific war more quickly. An encircling movement toward the China coast probably would be less costly but mean a longer war. This was said to be the view of military experts two weeks ago, despite the fact that months ago Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz indicated that the China coast was one of our important goals.

Involves home front

Today, according to the congressional sources, President Truman is probably facing the decision as to which course should be taken. This would involve the question not only of home front production of military goods, but of home front morale in the face of heavy casualties, or less heavy casualties and a prolonged conflict.

In connection with Mr. Truman’s problem, it was the new President himself, who, in his first address to Congress last week, pointed out how important a role President Roosevelt played in our European planning.

Cites commanders

Mr. Truman said:

The grand strategy of a United Nations’ war has been determined – due in no small measure to the vision of our departed Commander-in-Chief. We are now carrying out our part of that strategy under the able direction of Adm. Leahy, Gen. Marshall, Adm. King, Gen. Arnold, Gen. Eisenhower, Adm. Nimitz and Gen. MacArthur… This direction must and will remain unchanged and unhampered.

Some feeling is developing among some of our military experts, these same congressional sources say, that after victory in Europe, Japan may fold up more quickly than has heretofore been expected.

They point out:

When victory day comes in Europe, the whole world will be arrayed against Japan, and this will finally be so impressed upon the Japs that they cannot help but be more ready for unconditional surrender.`

93

With machine-gun on hip, Yank rakes banzaiing Japs

Doughboy fires until barrel burns his hand as troops turn back attack on Okinawa
By Edward Thomas, United Press staff writer

WITH THE 96TH DIVISION, Okinawa (UP) – One Doughboy yanked a heavy machine-gun from its tripod and, with a belt of .50 caliber shells behind him, shot from the hip at the advancing Japs until the barrel burned his hand.

The Japs were trying another Banzai charge.

Thirty minutes later it was over, and 150 of the 250 enemy soldiers who had charged the 382nd Infantry Regiment were dead. The others 100 fled in confusion.

The Yanks were pretty busy during those 30 minutes.

Toss grenades chain style

They buried one of their comrades quickly on the ridge because they thought they were going to have to retreat, and didn’t want to leave his body behind.

They tossed grenades chain style from one man to another from the bottom to the top of the ridge, where the last soldier pulled the safety pin and hurled them at the oncoming Japs.

Scout mortars fired until the Japs had advanced so far that they seemed like they were firing straight up in the air, and had to cease for fear of hitting their own troops.

Fire 569 shells

A Marine battalion of 75s sent 569 projectiles crashing into advancing Japs in less than 10 minutes.

Men ducked back across open fields under enemy fire stole precious ammunition from other units and staggered back up the ridge loaded down “like pack mules.”

The company didn’t move an inch, and when it was over they recovered the body of the Doughboy they had buried, and he was brought back for decent burial with the others who died.

94

Marine trades ear for life of Jap lieutenant

ABOARD A USCG ATTACK TRANSPORT AT OKINAWA (UP) – Coast Guard correspondent John Walker McCain Jr. told today a story of a Marine who traded his left ear for the life of a Jap lieutenant.

The Jap leaped into the Leatherneck’s foxhole one dark night on Okinawa and sank his teeth into the Marine’s ear. The Marine plunged his knife into the intruder’s belly. The Marine won the ensuing death struggle but in his dying throes the Jap tore off his ear.

Aboard a hospital ship, the Marine displayed two souvenirs of his experience, a Jap sword and a silver cigarette case. The latter bore the name and emblem of a British bombardier. The Japanese had probably taken it from a British flier in a previous Pacific engagement.

95

Oberdonau-Zeitung (April 25, 1945)

In Frontmeldungen aus Ostasien muss die amerikanische Presse eingestehen, dass die amerikanischen Angriffe bei Okinawa keine Fortschritte machen. Es gelang den Japanern, einige Ortschaften und eine Stadt zurückzuerobern. Die Berichte sprechen davon, dass der Vormarsch im Süden Okinawas auf große Schwierigkeiten stößt.

96

U.S. Navy Department (April 25, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 343

A general advance was made by troops of the XXIV Army Corps on Okinawa on April 24 (East Longitude Date) resulting in the capture of Kakazu Town in the center and an important strongpoint at Hill 178 on the left flank. Our ground forces were supported by heavy naval gunfire and low-level attacks by aircraft of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Enemy de­fenses at Tanabaru were in process of being reduced as Army troops continued to advance on April 25.

Marines of the III Amphibious Corps continued to patrol northern areas of the island on April 24 and 25.

As of 0600 on April 25, United States soldiers and Marines on Okinawa and surrounding islands had killed 21,269 of the enemy and had taken 399 prisoners of war. A total of 115,279 civilians have come under jurisdiction of U.S. Military Government authorities.

At the end of April 22, 889 soldiers of the XXIV Army Corps and 257 Marines of the III Amphibious Corps had been killed in action on Okinawa. A total of 4,879 officers and men of the XXIV Army Corps were wounded and 289 were missing. The III Amphibious Corps suffered 1,103 wounded and had 7 missing.

Carrier aircraft of the U.S. Pacific Fleet attacked airfield installations on islands of the Sakishima group on April 24.

Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One destroyed a small cargo ship, sank six fishing craft, sank a whaling vessel and damaged a small cargo ship in the water east of Kyushu on April 24.

On April 24 and 25, Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the 4th MarAirWing attacked targets in the Palau and Marine bombers and fighters struck runways and other installations on Yap in the Western Carolines.

The following are enemy killed and taken prisoner during mopping up operations on Iwo Island and islands of the Marianas and Palaus during the week of April 15 to April 21 (inclusive):

Killed Prisoners of war
Iwo 360 246
Saipan 4 7
Tinian 38
Guam 38 21
Peleliu 6
97

The Pittsburgh Press (April 25, 1945)

Stalemate broken on Okinawa

Yanks seize height north of Naha

GUAM (UP) – Troops of the 7th Infantry Division broke the stalemate of Southern Okinawa today in seizing a new height on the western sector north of the capital city of Naha.

Behind a pulverizing naval bombardment which blasted a path through strong Jap defenses, the Army troops hammered across the hilly terrain and captured an important high position west of Ishin village.

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz also disclosed that elements of the III Marine Amphibious Corps had landed on Henza Island, east of Okinawa’s Katchin Peninsula, and Kouri and Yagachi Islands, north of Motobu Peninsula. There was no opposition at Henza and Kouri, but some enemy remnants were still being mopped up on Yagachi.

Japs fear B-29s

The breakthrough in the southern line came as the Americans prepared the northern section of Okinawa for the next phase of the march on Japan and the Tokyo radio admitted that “nothing now seems possible to stop” the extermination of the Jap nation.

Tokyo said:

The enemy seems bent upon using them [B-29s] to utterly destroy the Yamato race in a manner far greater in fury than any bombings our Axis partners in Europe experienced.

In the carrying out of the enemy’s announced program for total extermination of the Japanese nation, nothing now seems possible to stop this vicious enemy.

3,130,000 homeless

The frank acknowledgment was made in a Tokyo report, disclosing that Superfortresses destroyed 770,000 homes and rendered 3,130,000 persons homeless at Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Nagoya.

Crewmen of the Superfortresses which raided the Hitachi aircraft plant at Tachikawa, 14 miles west of Tokyo, yesterday reported they “blew the factory all to hell” with several concentrations of bursts among buildings covering one million square feet.

The B-29s, four of which are missing, shot down 13 Jap fighters during the attack and probably destroyed 18 others. The crewmen said they saw one Jap plane strafing three parachuting Americans.

Hit nearby plant

Part of the fleet of some 150 Superfortresses which raided the Hitachi plant for the first time also hit the nearby Tachikawa aircraft factory.

Navy search planes ranged over the Ryukyu area and sank two small cargo ships and one motor torpedo boat and damaged two torpedo boats east of the islands.

98

U.S. Navy Department (April 26, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 344

On April 26 (East Longitude Date), the troops of the XXIV Army Corps moved forward and secured positions on the high ground East of Urasoe Mura. Battleships and cruisers of the U.S. Pacific Fleet continued to give close gunfire support to the troops. A number of batteries, emplacements, structures and caves were destroyed by ships’ guns. Aircraft from carriers and planes of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing attacked enemy installations in the southern sector of the island. During the early hours of April 26, a few enemy aircraft approached our forces in the area around Okinawa and one was shot down.

Carrier aircraft of the U.S. Pacific Fleet continued neutralizing attacks on airfield installations in the Sakishima Group on April 25.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One strafed and sank a number of fishing craft, a small picket boat and a torpedo boat and damaged a number of other small craft in the waters east of Kyushu on April 26.

Helldiver bombers of the 4th MarAirWing struck the airfield on Yap on April 26. On the same date, fighters of the same Wing bombed targets in the Palaus. On the previous day dive bombers of the same Wing continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls.

Search Privateers of FlAirWing Two bombed fuel and ammunition storage areas on Wake Island on April 25.

99

The Pittsburgh Press (April 26, 1945)

Southern Okinawa Jap line smashed

Yanks 3½ miles from capital city

GUAM (UP) – U.S. Army troops today had smashed the first major Jap defense line on southern Okinawa.

All key terrain on which the line was anchored was captured by the Americans as they pushed more than half a mile through the strong Jap defenses to less than three and a half miles from Naha, the island capital.

Superfortresses hit Japan

The developing Okinawa campaign brought a force of 200 to 250 Superfortresses ranging over Japan again today in new neutralization raids on airfields in Kyushu and Shikoku, two enemy home islands.

While the Japs staggered under the weight of the American land, naval and aerial blows, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announced that 21,269 enemy troops were killed on Okinawa and the surrounding islands up to yesterday.

Most of the Japs were killed on Okinawa and it was estimated the enemy had lost one-third of its original garrison in the bloody fighting on the island, 325 miles from Japan. Only 399 Japs were taken prisoner.

U.S. casualties listed

American casualties in the campaign as of April 22, were: Army: 889 dead, 4,879 wounded and 289 missing; Marines: 257 dead, 1,103 wounded and seven missing.

Adm. Nimitz also disclosed that the town of Kakuzu, in the center of the island, had been retaken by Army troops in the renewed drive through the Jap defense belt stretched across Okinawa above Naha.

Thousands of Japs were killed and wounded in the coordinated naval and artillery bombardment. The big guns of Americans warships and the greatest artillery concentration of the Pacific War have been pounding the strongly dug-in Japs continuously since last Thursday.

The Americans were forced to burn and blast the Japs from pillboxes, blockhouses and caves with flamethrowers and explosive shells.

The new Superfortress attack on southern Japan was concentrated on 11 airfields spread through Kyushu and Shikoku. It was the first time the big American bombers hit Shikoku, just south of the main home island of Honshu.

Tokyo radio reported that Superfortresses raided Borneo for the first time Monday when two of the big bombers struck the oil center of Balikpapan.

100

Oberdonau-Zeitung (April 27, 1945)

Weitere US-Landungen auf Okinawa

Zunehmende Erbitterung des Kampfes

Tokio, 26. April – Auf der pazifischen Insel Okinawa, dem letzten Sperrriegel vor dem japanischen Mutterland, sind seit Beginn der großen Schlacht weiter schwere Kämpfe zwischen den amerikanischen Landetruppen und der japanischen Verteidigung im Gange. Infolge ihrer hohen Ausfälle mussten die Amerikaner neue Verbände an Land setzen. Der Widerstand der Japaner wird mit äußerster Erbitterung geführt.

101

U.S. Navy Department (April 27, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 345

Troops of the XXIV Army Corps in the southern sector of Okinawa made a general advance during the afternoon of April 26 (East Longitude Date). By 1800 on that day, elements of the 27th Infantry Division had reached the vicinity of the Machinato Airfield near the West Coast after by passing enemy strong points in Nakama Village. In the central and eastern segments of the lines local gains were made against enemy mortar and machine gun fire. The ground troops were supported by Naval gunfire, carrier aircraft and planes of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The attack was resumed on the morning of April 27.

Marines of the III Amphibious Corps continued to patrol northern Okinawa on April 26 and 27.

A few enemy aircraft appeared over our forces during the early morning of April 27. Three were shot down by one of our minesweepers.

Attacks by carrier aircraft of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on the Sakishima Group continued on April 26.

Mitchells of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing attacked harbor installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on the night of April 26. Fighters and torpedo planes of the same wing bombed bivouac areas in the Palaus on April 27 and fighters attacked targets on Yap.

102

CINCPOA Press Release No. 87

For Immediate Release
April 25, 1945

In the Okinawa campaign the enemy has attempted the use of rocket-propelled suicide bombs against our forces. These weapons, which are similar to a small single‑seat airplane, carry a pilot and are generally launched from the underside of the fuselage of a bomber. They have a wingspan of about sixteen feet, a length of more than 19 feet, and a tail plane of about eight feet. Constructed of light metals and wood, these bombs carry a heavy warhead of explosives. They are capable of high speed which reduces their qualities of maneuverability to a low point. The enemy has used them in limited numbers in the Okinawa operation up to this date, offering little op­portunity for observation of their powers or effects. U.S. forces have designated these missiles by the term “baka bomb.” “Baka” Is Japanese meaning “stupid,” “foolish,” or “silly.”

103

The Pittsburgh Press (April 27, 1945)

Japs cracking in South Okinawa

map.042745.up
Spurting ahead on Okinawa, U.S. troops seized a ridge overlooking the capital, Naha, and Shuri village. To the north, the Japs reported U.S. troops landed on Motobu Peninsula, behind holdout Jap forces. U.S. Superfortresses raided Kyushu Island of the Jap homeland, while carrier planes hit the Sakishima Islands below Okinawa.

GUAM (UP) – Jap resistance began to crack on Southern Okinawa today.

Tokyo reported a new American landing on the northwest coast of the strategic island.

U.S. troops assaulting the southern defenses shielding Naha, capital of Okinawa, captured bitterly-contested Sawtooth Ridge, highest point on the island. The Yanks wedged deeply into the enemy line less than a mile from the inland town of Shuri.

Radio Tokyo said the Americans were landing men and materials from barges in the vicinity of Minatagawa on the Motobu Peninsula, which juts out of Northwest Okinawa.

The landing put American units in the rear of Jap pockets still holding out on the peninsula and should speed the opening of the Unten Harbor navy base to American ships.

Capture of bloody Sawtooth Ridge was regarded as the turning point of the Okinawa campaign. From here out, it is a downhill battle with the Americans looking down the enemy’s throat.

Two of the last three airfields on the island, Machinato on the west just north of Naha, and Yonabaru on the eastern coastal plain, were almost within the Americans’ grasp. The Yanks also outflanked the inland town of Urasoe Mura from the west.

Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge, commander of the XXIV Army Corps, said that numerous Jap troops were deserting to the American lines.

“Soldiers don’t do this until they begin to crack,” Gen. Hodge said. “I think the Jap is pretty well disorganized and in my opinion the time for a possible counteroffensive has passed.”

Some 400 miles to the northeast, a fleet of 150 B-29 Superfortresses today hit seven Jap suicide-plane bases on Kyushu, southernmost of the enemy’s home islands, for the second time in 24 hours.

Weather good

Early reports indicated good weather favored the raiders in marked contrast to the extremely bad conditions which handicapped yesterday’s force of 200 to 250 bombers over Kyushu and adjacent Shikoku.

U.S. carrier planes continued their neutralizing attacks on airfield installations in the Sakishima group south of Okinawa Wednesday. Navy search planes strafed and sank a number of fishing craft, a small picket boat and a torpedo boat east of Kyushu yesterday.

104

Baden major bags eight Jap planes

Beat accomplished in only 20 minutes

(SHS) – It took Maj. George C. Axtell Jr. of Baden nearly five years to get into action. But he made up for it when he did get there.

In his first 20 minutes of combat near Okinawa Monday night, he became an ace by shooting down five enemy planes, war front dispatches revealed.

In addition, the 24-year-old Marine fighter pilot damaged three other Jap planes which may have gone down.

A son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Axtell of Baden, he graduated from Ambridge High School and attended the University of Alabama before entering service in 1940.

He was seriously injured in a plane collision in 1942, but fell in the sea and was rescued. He went overseas last summer, but only got into action this spring.

105

U.S. Navy Department (April 28, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 346

Troops of the XXIV Army Corps moved slowly forward in the Southern sector of Okinawa on April 27 (East Longitude Date) destroying pillboxes, caves and strong points. Heavy artillery was employed to break up troop concentrations in the enemy’s rear areas and planes of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing joined with carrier aircraft of the Pacific Fleet to give close support to the troops. Naval gunfire continued to be effective in destroying enemy fortified positions.

During the night of April 27‑28, two groups of enemy aircraft attacked U.S. shipping off Okinawa beaches causing some damage and sinking one auxiliary surface unit. Twenty-five enemy aircraft were shot down and two were probably destroyed. Enemy small craft activity increased during the night and a number of small boats were destroyed by our forces.

On April 28, combat air patrols from fast carriers shot down 32 enemy planes in the areas around Okinawa, Kikai and Yaku Islands in the Ryukyus.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank three small cargo ships, forced another to beach and damaged several other small ships in the area around Kyushu on April 28.

Aircraft from escort carriers of the Pacific Fleet continued to bomb and strafe airfields on islands of the Sakishimas on April 27.

Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force bombed installations at Truk in the central Carolines on April 26. A search Privateer of FlAirWing One sank a small ship and several fishing boats in Truk Harbor on April 28.

106

The Pittsburgh Press (April 28, 1945)

New U.S. landing near, Japs say

Tokyo reports fleet massed at Okinawa

GUAM (UP) – Tokyo said today that a 100-ship American invasion fleet off Okinawa appeared to be preparing for “new operations.”

The fleet includes four or five battleships, six cruisers, 10-odd destroyers and approximately 80 transports, a Tokyo broadcast said.

On Okinawa itself, XXIV Army Corps troops in the southern sector reached the vicinity of Machinato Airfield, two miles north of the capital city of Naha, in a general advance. Enemy strongpoints in the west coast village of Nakama were bypassed.

The Americans were believed already through the strongest Jap defenses and the complete conquest of the island appeared in sight.

Nearly 400 miles to the northeast, American B-29 Superfortresses blasted six Jap suicide-plane bases on Kyushu, southernmost of the Jap home islands today for the third straight day.

It was the first time that the giant bombers have carried out such a sustained offensive. Between 100 and 150 B-29s participated in the attack, bombing from medium altitudes.

A few Jap planes broke through to the American ships off Okinawa yesterday morning, a Pacific Fleet communiqué said.

A Tokyo broadcast reported the “apparent preparations” by the American Fleet for new operations. It said 10 transports were in Nago Bay on the west coast of Okinawa, while the remainder of the ships were cruising off the island.

107

‘Are you all right?’ Ernie asked of major just as bullet hit him

Pyle lived 2 or 3 minutes, officer said, but he was unconscious all the while
By Bryce Watson, USCG combat correspondent

This story just arrived. It tells of Ernie Pyle’s last words, and details of the ambush of which he was the victim. His last column is printed today, on this page.

ON THE IE SHIMA BEACHHEAD (delayed) – I watched a battered jeep return with the body of Ernie Pyle, bringing him 500 yards from the forward area.

The Ie Shima terrain is smooth here, looking like the Indiana farmland where he was born – except it is broken by lines of advancing tanks and tractors.

Maj. George H. Pratt, who was beside Ernie on that tragic instant, was sitting wearily in front of an abandoned Jap cave.

“Ernie Pyle,” Maj. Pratt said softly, “was worth two divisions as a morale factor alone.”

Ernie’s body had just been recovered from beneath the machine gun and sniper fire up ahead by John J. Barnes of Petersburg, Virginia. He was the driver of the jeep when it happened, and had remained with Ernie, pinned down by fire.

5 start out in jeep

The body was resting near Maj. Pratt. Ernie’s battledress was unpressed, his dusty shoes shielded from the sun by a poncho.

“He was one of the enlisted men really,” Maj. Pratt said.

When the jeep had started out, hours before, there had been four men in it besides Ernie – Dale Bassett from Denver, Colorado; Lt. Col. L. B. Coolidge of Helena, Arkansas; Barnes, the driver, and Maj. Pratt, who is from Eugene, Oregon. They were driving to the front lines.

Suddenly, a Jap machine gun opened up.

The swath of fire swung to the right and swept under the jeep which pitched to a halt.

Dive into ditches

All five men went into the ditches. Barnes dived to the left, the others to the right.

The machine gun swept back and forth across their positions.

“I looked to my left,” said Maj. Pratt. “Ernie looked at me and smiled. He raised up slightly and said: ‘Are you all right?’”

There had been a slight break in the firing. Just as Ernie Pyle asked his question, a burst got him.

Lives several minutes

“He went backward slowly,” Maj. Pratt said. “It was a head wound. Thank God he never knew what happened. It was two or three minutes before he was dead, maybe, but he was unconscious all the time.”

The machine gun was joined by sniper fire. All four men on the right side of the road managed to crawl away.

But Barnes had to remain until a special detail of infantrymen cleaned out the area, about four and a half hours later.

Then Barnes drove his flat-tired jeep back with Ernie’s body.

Voice breaks

As I talked to Maj. Pratt, his voice broke several times.

“He was so damned modest and human,” he said.

I walked toward the beach, to the temporary burial ground. Men were standing about, saying nothing.

There were other dead there. In death, Ernie Pyle was lying among the common, trudging foot soldiers – the brave men – he had glorified in life.

108

U.S. Navy Department (April 29, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 347

A Navy Hospital Ship, USS COMFORT (AH-6), was attacked and heavily damaged by a Japanese aircraft about 50 miles south of Okinawa at 2058 local time on April 28 (East Longitude Date). The crashed Japanese plane which made the suicide attack is still on the COMFORT. The vessel which was engaged in evacuating wounded from Okinawa suffered 29 killed, 33 seriously wounded, and 100 missing, including patients, passengers, and crew. At the time of the attack, she was operating under full hospital procedure, was clearly marked and was fully lighted. She is now proceeding to port under her own power.

Elements of the 27th Infantry Division captured the northern half of Machinato Airfield on Okinawa on April 28 as a general advance was made in the southern sector of the island. The 7th Infantry Division secured the high ground near Kochi Village and was continuing to move southward. Corsair fighters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and planes from the carriers of the Pacific Fleet bombed and strafed ahead of the advancing troops. The attack was supported by heavy artillery and by the guns of heavy units of the fleet.

A series of attacks involving a total of about 200 enemy aircraft were made on our forces in the Okinawa area during the afternoon of April 28 and the night of April 28‑29. Combat air patrols from escort and fast carriers of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and from the 2nd MarAirWing prevented any enemy planes from penetrating to our main forces during daylight. Attacks after nightfall and continuing until 0215 on April 29 caused some damage to light units of the fleet. A total of 104 enemy aircraft were destroyed by ships’ guns and carrier and land‑based aircraft.

Carrier aircraft strafed targets on Kume Island west of Okinawa on April 28.

From the beginning of operations against Okinawa and surrounding islands through April 27, the Tenth Army lost 1,527 soldiers and 320 Marines killed in action. A total of 7,826 soldiers and 1,322 Marines were wounded and 413 soldiers and five Marines were missing.

Navy search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One attacked a convoy west of Kyushu on April 27 scoring four hits with medium bombs on cargo ships. Aircraft of the same wing attacked shipping in Shimonoseki Strait with bombs and torpedoes during the night of April 28‑29. During daylight on April 29, FlAirWing One planes destroyed a small cargo ship, damaged seven others, and set a picket ship afire in attacks made in the waters around Kyushu, Honshu, and the Ryukyus.

Army Mustangs of the VII Fighter Command strafed small craft, radio installations, and other targets in the area of the Bonins on April 29.

Corsair fighters and Avenger torpedo planes of the 4th MarAirWing bombed targets in the Palaus through moderate anti-aircraft fire on targets April 28 and 29.

Army Liberators and Thunderbolt fighters of the Strategic Air Force bombed and strafed airfields and installations at Truk in the Carolines on April 28 and 29. On April 29, Navy search planes of FlAirWing One hit the same target setting a drydock afire and sinking a ship in the harbor.

109

The Pittsburgh Press (April 29, 1945)

Jap fliers attack fleet at Okinawa

One U.S. ship sunk and others damaged

GUAM (UP) – The Japs threw two groups of planes against American shipping off Okinawa Friday night and sank one artillery vessel and damaged others, it was announced today.

U.S. Army forces on Okinawa continued to move slowly forward.

Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz gave few details of the new Jap airstrike against the American fleet forces standing off Okinawa. He did not identify the vessel sunk nor report the type of ships damaged.

25 planes shot down

U.S. planes covering the area shot down 25 of the attacking aircraft Friday night and in sweeps through the Ryukyus chain Saturday destroyed 32 others.

Adm. Nimitz announced that Jap small craft activity also increased Friday night around Okinawa and a number of small boats, presumably some torpedo boats, were destroyed by U.S. forces.

Three small cargo ships were damaged in the area around Kyushu Saturday when Navy patrol bombers again ranged over Southern Japan.

The offensive on Okinawa progressed slowly as infantrymen wiped out pillboxes, caves and strongpoints one by one. Heavy artillery was employed to break up enemy troop concentrations in the enemy’s rear areas. Marine and Navy planes supported the troops and naval gunfire bombarded the Jap defense line above Naha for tenth day.

Japs hint new invasion

The XXIV Army Corps was steadily pressing against the strong Jap fortifications as the Tokyo radio insisted that a large American naval task force was gathered off the island in preparation for new operations.

The 27th Infantry Division drove forward on the right flank of the southern Okinawa line to the vicinity of the Machinato airdrome, only two miles from Naha. The 27th Division bypassed the village of Nakama in this advance.

Local gains were made by the 96th Division in the center of the line overlooking the town of Shuri, and by the 7th Division on the left flank within sight of Yonabaru Airfield.

Heavy support

The Army’s drive was supported by thousands of rounds of shellfire from the battleships and cruisers and air attacks by Navy and Marine pilots.

Tokyo claimed, without confirmation from the American Command, that Jap suicide planes had sunk two U.S. cruisers, one of which was said to be the USS Savannah, and damaged another.

The Jap broadcast also claimed that four large American transports had been sunk in Okinawa waters.