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 Bill Wallisch c1945  U.S. Army c1945 |
Location Lat 26° 43' 24N Long 127° 47' 15E Ie Shima is an oval shaped island in Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Includes Ie (Ie Town) on the southeast corner. To the southeast, three miles away is the Motobu Peninsula on Okinawa Island. In Japanese known as Iejima. During the Pacific War, known to the Americans as Ie Shima. Today, accessible by ferry from Okinawa four times a day. Wartime History During the Pacific War, the Japanese built Ie Shima Airfield on the center of the island. By November 1944, the only Japanese military unit stationed on Ie Shima was the 50th Airfield Battalion. By the end of the year, they were reinforced by the Japanese Army 44th Independent Mixed Brigade, 2nd Infantry Unit, 1st Battalion "Igawa Unit" under the command of Major Igawa. The airfield personnel were designated as infantry and redesignated as the 50th Specially Established Infantry Battalion to augment the defense. Starting in early October 1944, attacked by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier aircraft that targeted American aircraft targeted Ie Shima Airfield and shipping in the area to isolated the island. American missions against Ie Shima 1944–1945 During February 1945, a labor unit of 580 Okinawan men arrived and with the help of roughly 2,000 civilians still on the island built defenses, pillboxes, trenches, tunnels and emplacements. The Japanese prepared strong defenses in the eastern and central part of the island while the western half was neglected with only outpost positions and mines. The 50th Battalion was ordered to destroy Ie Shima Airfield then to withdraw to Okinawa but were without ships to transport them. The Japanese began evacuating the civilian population to Okinawa but less than half were removed before the U.S. landing. After the April 1, 1945 U.S. landing on the western Okinawa and rapidly advanced to the Motobu Peninsula, the plan to occupy Ie Shima was accelerated. Originally the invasion was scheduled as Phase II of Operation Iceberg. Although Phase I is still in progress, the U.S. Army 77th Division was ordered to capture the island and preinvasion bombardment and air strikes are begun. On April 13, 1945 underwater demolition teams (UDT) begin reconnaissance of beaches. On April 16, 1945 preparatory bombardment by warships and aircraft at 8:00am U.S. Army, 77th Infantry Division made an amphibious landing on the south and southwest shore of Ie Shima. Landing at "Green 1" on the southwest beaches was 306th Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion. Landing at "Red 1" was the 305th Infantry Regiment (305th RCT), 3rd Battalion. Landing at "Red 2" was the 305th Infantry Regiment (305th RCT), 1st Battalion. The beaches designated "Red 3" and "Red 4" to the south of Ie (Ie Town) were neglected as U.S. intelligence detected they were heavily defended. The landings were supported by U.S. Army artillery fire from Minna Shima to the south. On April 18, 1945 a jeep with Lt. Col. Joseph B. Coolidge (C. O. 305th Infantry Regiment), correspondent Ernest "Ernie" Pyle plus three other officers bound for a new command post. On the outskirts of Ie (Ie Town), a Japanese machine gun opened fire and they took cover in a nearby ditch. When Pyle raised his head above the ditch he was hit in the head below the rim of his helmet, killing him instantly. On April 21, 1945 at 5:30pm after six days, the island was declared secure although mopping up continues. In total, the Americans suffered 1,120 casualties including 172 killed, 46 missing and 902 wounded. The Japanese lost 4,706 killed and 149 captured. Ie (Ie Town) Located on the southern coast of Ie Shima. Iegusugu (Mount Gusuku, The Pinnacle) Highest point on the island with an elevation of roughly 600' at the center of Ie Shima. Also known as Iegusugu Mountain (Mt Iegusugu). During April 1945 Battle of Ie Shima, Americans Nicknamed the feature "The Pinnacle". Ie Shima Airfield (Ie Shima Auxiliary Air Base, Ie Jima Airport) Built by the Japanese, captured by Americans and expanded into a major airbase still in use today Ernie Pyle Monument Located to the south of the main pier on Ie Shima. Monument to American correspondent Ernie Pyle who was killed on April 18, 1945 by machine gun fire on Ie Shima. The memorial has a plaque with a relief of the statue of liberty and below a brass plaque with the inscription "At this spot the 77th Infantry Division lost a buddy, Ernie Pyle, 18 April 1945". The memorial remains to this day. References U.S. In World War II - Okinawa: The Last Battle Chapter VII The Capture of Ie Shima pages 149-183 Contribute
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