PACIFIC PART 2 EPISODE 7 THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA

Hi I am Gary Ford Managing Director of Tiger Hobbies Limited UK Hobby Importers and Distributors, I have been involved with Hobby Distribution for just over 20 years. Before that I served 26 Years in the Royal Air Force in Supply and Logistics, joining as a Boy age 16 in 1976 to leaving as a Senior Non Commissioned Officer ( SNCO) in 2002. I have always been fascinated with Military History since been bought my first set of Airfix Soldiers in the late 1960's US Marines and Japanese Infantry

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Pacific War Part 2, the Battle for Okinawa.

In the Spring of 1945 the Allies were closing in on the Japanese Main Islands, but the Japanese were prepared to turn the island of Okinawa into a last stand and make the US Forces and Allies bleed. The Japanese looked down on the Okinawans, but wanted to use them and their lives for the Emperor. They told them the US Forces would kill them and eat them and stated it was better to give your life for the Emperor,

Thus for 82 days from the 01 April 1945 to 22 June 1945, would take place one of the most brutal battles in history costing the Allied some 85,000 Casualties and 100,000 Japanese Military and close to 150,000 civilian dead in the Mud of Okinawa.

The brutality of this battle and the terrible casualties suffered by US and Allied Forces, plus the massive numbers of civilian casualties, was possibly the cherry on the cream cake, when it came to the decision to use the Atomic Bomb on Japan. As stated before the potential invasion of the Japanese main Island, had forecast upward of over 2 Million allied casualties. This was based on how the Japanese had fought on Okinawa, with about 150,000 troops, and they had over 2.5 Million in Japan, with close to 1 Million that would face the landings. On top of this 3,000 Kamikaze aircraft and pilots, with upward of 5,000 Kamikaze Boats to hit the allied invasion fleet, plus another 3,500 Kamikaze aircraft, to hit them inland.

Видео PACIFIC PART 2 EPISODE 7 THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA канала Tiger Hobbies Limited