More Damage Than 2 Atomic Bombs

[Ray Merrell]

Okinawa Battle Did More Damage Than Dropping 2 Atomic Bombs

Okinawa was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the last major campaign of the Pacific War. More ships were used, more troops put ashore, more supplies transported, more bombs dropped, more naval guns fired against shore targets than any other operation in the Pacific.

More people died during the Battle of Okinawa than all those killed during the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasake. Casualties totaled more than 38,000 Americans wounded and 12,000 killed or missing, more than 107,000 Japanese and Okinawan conscripts killed, and perhaps 100,000 Okinawan civilians who perished in the battle.

The battle of Okinawa proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. Thirty-four allied ships and craft of all types had been sunk, mostly by kamikazes, and 368 ships and craft damaged. The fleet had lost 763 aircraft. Total American casualties in the operation numbered over 12,000 killed (including nearly 5,000 Navy dead and almost 8,000 Marine and Army dead) and 36,000 wounded. Navy casualties were tremendous, with a ration of one killed for one wounded as compared to a one to five ration for the Marine Corps.

Not surprisingly, the cost of this battle, in terms of lives, time, and material, weighed heavily in the decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan just six weeks later.

.......from The Striking Sixth 1st Provisional Brigade Newsletter

[Zulu 36]

I haven't met a WWII Marine who didn't believe the atomic bombs dropped on Japan saved them from at least being wounded, if not killed, had they assaulted Japan. A lot of sailors too. I knew relatively few soldiers who felt that way, but those few were Pacific vets and knew how the Japanese were.

[ggyoung]

Our fire bombing of Japan killed more japs in one night than the A-bombs did.