19 December 2021

American Flamethrower in Okinawa

Image size: 1715 x 2048 pixel. 928 KB
Date: Friday, 22 June 1945
Place: Okinawa, Empire of Japan
Photographer: Unknown

Men of 4th Regiment, 6th Marine Division, 10th Army, using "corkscrew and blowtorch" techniques of flame-throwers, explosives, and riflemen at the perimeter, to eliminate remnants of the Imperial Japanese 32nd Army on June 22, 1945. The 1st and third battalions converged from the east and west on positions east of the village of Kiyamu. While American casualties remained high across Okinawa as 32nd Army disintegrated, Japanese casualties increased from a few hundred to over 4,000 per day. The number of Japanese surrendering increased as well, from four per day at the start of the campaign to 343 on June 19 and 977 on June 20. 500 civilians also surrendered, overcoming fear of massacre at the hands of the Americans. Lieutenant General Mitsui Ushijima, commander of the 32nd Army, and Major General Isama Cho committed suicide at 03:45 Hours on June 22, the same day Okinawa was declared secured by US 10th Army. Scattered resistance continued until June 30.


Source :
https://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1125

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