This Boeing B-29 suffered the same fate than hundreds of bombers, crashing on Iwo Jima because they were unable to reach their base in the Mariana Islands. Iwo Jima’s airfields mainly operated North American P-51 fighter at the time. This aircraft belongs to the 504th bombardment group, and left his propellor on the runway. Note the Mount Suribachi in the background.
From the look of it, the crew walked away. Lucky we owned that speck of dirt on the bombers' path to Tokyo.
ReplyDeleteA lot of Americans died to take Iwo Jima.
ReplyDeleteThousands of bomber aircrew's lives were saved by the use of Iwo Jima as an emergency landing site.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention, Iwo made possible bomber escort by land-based fighters.
This was why Iwo was critical to our war effort.