History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II
Volume 4: Western Pacific Operations
by
George W. Garand,
Truman R. Strobridge
Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1971
. . . For Those Who Served
Table of Contents
Part 1: Background
Part 2: Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Chapter 1: The Development of FMFPac
Chapter 2: Administration and Aviation
Part 3: The Palaus: Gateway to the Philippines
Chapter 1: Strategic Situation
Chapter 2: Pre-Assault Preparations
Chapter 4: The Drive Inland: 16–22 September
Chapter 6: Securing the North: 23–30 September
Chapter 7: The Umurbrogol Pocket: 29 September–15 October
Part 4: Marines in the Philippines
Chapter 1: Background and Planning
Chapter 4: Southern Philippines Operations
Part 5: Marine Aviation in the Western Pacific
Chapter 1: Mounting the Offensive
Chapter 2: Marine Aviation in the Marianas, Carolines, and at Iwo Jima
Part 6: Iwo Jima
Chapter 1: Background to DETACHMENT
Chapter 2: Offensive Plans and Preparations
Chapter 5: The Struggle for Suribachi
Chapter 7: 3rd Marine Division Operations on Iwo Jima
Chapter 8: Airfield Development and Activities Behind the Lines
Chapter 9: The 5th Marine Division Drive on the Left
Chapter 10: The 4th Marine Division Drive on the Right
Chapter 11: Final Operations on Iwo Jima
Appendices
Appendix A: Bibliographical Notes
Appendix B: Guide to Abbreviations (omitted)
Appendix C: Military Map Symbols (omitted)
Appendix E: Fleet Marine Force Status, 31 August 1944
Appendix F: Table of Organization F-100 Marine Division
Appendix G: Marine Task Organization and Command List
Appendix I: Unit Commendations
I. Scene of Battle, 1944–1945
II. Progress of the Attack, VAC Front Lines, D-Day–D+5
III. 3rd Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 25 February–1 March 1945
IV. 3rd Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 1–10 March 1945
V. 5th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 24 February–2 March 1945
VI. 5th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 2–10 March 1945
VII. 4th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 24–28 February 1945
VIII. 4th Marine Division Zone of Action, Iwo Jima, 5–7 March 1945
IX. 3rd Marine Division, Final Operations
X. 4th Marine Division, Final Operations
XI. 5th Marine Division, Final Operations
Inline Maps
1. Strategic Situation, Central and Western Pacific
2. Palau Islands
3. Japanese Defense Plan, Peleliu
4. D-Day, Peleliu
5. Peleliu, Second Operational Phase
6. Angaur Island
7. Ulithi Atoll
8. Commitment of the U.S. Army 321st Infantry Regiment, Peleliu
9. Isolation of Umurbrogol
10. North Peleliu and Ngesebus
11. Securing the North
12. Umurbrogol Pocket
13. Drive from the North
14. Final Marine Action, Peleliu
15. Final 81st Infantry Division Operations, Peleliu
16. Philippine Islands
17. Sixth Army Area of Operations
18. Lingayen Gulf Landing
19. Luzon
20. Route to Manila and XI Corps Landings
21. Main U.S. Drives in the VICTOR V Operation
22. Area of Responsibility, Commander Aircraft, Northern Solomons
23. Marshall Islands—MAG-22 Operations, 1944
24. Iwo Jima—Sulfur Island
25. Japanese Defense Sectors
26. Landing Plan, Iwo Jima
27. Naval Gunfire Areas of Responsibility, D-3 and D-2
28. VAC Front Lines D-Day, 19 February 1945
Charts
1. Genealogy of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
2. Japanese Command Organization of the Philippines
3. Organization of Air Command, Southwest Pacific Area
Illustrations
Amphibious Exercises, Puerto Rico—Testing Higgins Boat—Landing Exercise, New River, N.C.—Change of Command, FMFPac, 1945—Assault Troops off Peleliu—Peleliu Beach on D-Day—Abortive Enemy Tank Attack, Peleliu—Machine Gun In Action, Peleliu—Artillery in Firing Position—Marine Tanks at Peleliu Airfield—Close Fighting Near Airfield—Casualty Evacuation—U.S. Army Troops Assault Angaur—Closing in on the Enemy, Angaur—Men and Supplies Crossing Peleliu Reef—U.S. Army Troops Arrive at Peleliu—Marine Aircraft Preparing for Napalm Attack—Bombing of Japanese Ridge Positions, Peleliu—Assault on Ngesebus—Advance Inland, Ngesebus—Battle of the Ridges, Peleliu—Final Operations on Peleliu—Navy Planes at Dulag Airfield, Leyte—Marine Night Fighters, Leyte—Close Air Support for U.S. Army Troops, Luzon—Marine Dive Bombers on Luzon Returning from Mission—New Dive Bombers for Marine Aviation in the Philippines—Filipino Guerrillas On Mindanao—LSTs Unloading at Zamboanga—U.S. Army Ceremony Honors Marine Aviation—Marine Dive Bombers En Route to Bypassed Islands—U.S. Personnel Touring Mille Island, Marshalls—Bombs Away at Iwo Jima—Amphibious Assault, Iwo Jima—4th Marine Division Troops on Iwo Beach—Landing of 2/27, Iwo Jima—Japanese Painting of Iwo Invasion—War Dog and Handler Approach Enemy Cave—37-mm Gun in Action—Debris of Battle, D+2—Flamethrowers in Action—Marine on Mt. Suribachi and View of Landing Beaches—First Flag Raising on Iwo Jima—Second Flag Goes Up on Suribachi—Marines at Mass—First “Grasshopper” Lands on Iwo—B-29 Superfortress After Emergency Landing—4th Marine Division Observation Post—155-mm Gun in Action—Rocket Fire Support—Birdseye View of Iwo Beachhead—Shore Parties Hauling Supplies—Captured Japanese Tank—Combat Patrol in Northern Iwo—Enemy Positions near Nishi Village—Japanese Prisoner and Escort—Air Force Bivouac Area on Iwo After Banzai—Motoyama Airfield No. 1 After Restoration