A collection of nine World War II-era aerial reconnaissance photographs showcasing a strategically important section of the southwestern coast of Okinawa, including the Japanese Naha Airfield. These photos combine (with substantial overlap) to provide a comprehensive view of the area during the Battle of Okinawa. The images are labeled in the negative with "16 MAY: 1100 24: 12,000 (TAF 32) OKINAWA SHIMA REST."
These historical photographs offer an invaluable glimpse into the military landscape of Okinawa during World War II, with a focus on the Naha Airfield, a crucial Japanese military installation at the time. The aerial perspective allows for the analysis of the airfield's layout, infrastructure, and surrounding terrain, providing vital information for military strategists and historians alike.
The invasion of Okinawa, also known as the Battle of Okinawa, took place from April 1 to June 22, 1945. The date provided on the photographs, "16 MAY", falls within the timeframe of the battle. This indicates that these aerial reconnaissance photos were likely taken during the invasion and would have been relevant to the military operations taking place at that time.
For collectors, researchers, and enthusiasts interested in World War II history, aerial reconnaissance, or the Pacific theater, these photographs serve as a rare and compelling visual record of a critical moment in the conflict. The images offer unique insights into military operations and the role of aerial reconnaissance in shaping the course of the war.
The United States Army and Marine Corps landed on Okinawa on April 1, 1945 as the specially-created 10th Army; the landing would be the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater. The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, lasted for 82 days after the landing, to June 1945 and claimed the lives of over 14,000 American and over 77,000 Japanese personnel. In addition, more than one hundred thousand Okinawans perished during and after the battle.
Okinawa was seen as the final island to overrun before the invasion of the Japanese homeland in Operation Downfall. This would be the closest American troops would get to the homeland prior to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Scholarship suggests that capture of the island was a motivating factor Japanese surrender, as it made a successful, though costly, invasion of the homeland inevitable.
The occupation of Okinawa would present unique challenges to the American army, as it represented the first time that the US would have to deal with a significant population that was (by most accounts) ethnically Japanese. Many Okinawans were initially very opposed to the Americans, and the Japanese army encouraged and forced mass suicides prior to the invasion. Despite this, the occupation was, for the most part harmonious. Okinawa remained under US military control until 1972, when it was returned to Japan.