Okinawa was needed as a base for the invasion of mainland Japan.
Why was capturing the island of Okinawa important?
Battle of Okinawa, (April 1–June 21, 1945), World War II battle fought between U.S. and Japanese forces on Okinawa, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Okinawa is located just 350 miles (563 km) south of Kyushu, and its capture was regarded as a vital precursor to a ground invasion of the Japanese home islands.
Was taking Okinawa necessary?
The Battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest and costliest of World War II in the Pacific. The United States needed a base to stage an invasion of mainland Japan. The island of Okinawa was the crucial final stepping stone for the Americans. For the Japanese, it would be the first time they met the enemy on home soil.
Why was it important for the US to capture Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
Its capture would provide a base for a planned Allied invasion of Kyushu – the most southwesterly of Japan’s four main islands – and ensure that the entire Japanese homeland was now within bombing range.
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