BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA PART 3 - THE FIRT IWO JIMA STRIKES

Intercepted radio traffic indicated the Japanese were flying airplanes from Japan to the Bonin Islands north of the Marianas, where they would attempt to fly into Guam from Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima. Iwo Jima, only 600 miles from the Japanese Home Islands and 700 miles northwest of the Marianas, was crucial as a way station for Japanese air units flying to the Marianas.