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3 unusual facts about Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands


252 Air Group

After being annihilated in combat over the Marshall Islands in 1943, the unit was reconstituted in Japan in February 1944 and helped defend the home islands against Allied offensives, including B-29 bomber attacks from the Mariana Islands.

Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands

Nimitz ordered a major attack on Iwo Jima following the raids of November 27 and dispatched Lieutenant General Millard Harmon, the commander of Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean Areas, from Hawaii to Saipan to oversee this operation.

Small numbers of Japanese aircraft flying from Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Truk made occasional raids on the American forces on Saipan during the fighting there, but caused little damage.



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