Last Stand at Iwo Jima

Throughout the war the Japanese army had shown itself to be resilient, cunning and when cornered willing to fight to the death to inflict unsustainable casualties upon US forces in the hopes of a negotiated peace.

US Naval and Army Airforce strategists created a plan to bypass the Japanese army and directly attack the home islands to level every major population centre through firebombing and later, atomic bombs to achieve Japan's unconditional surrender.

The strategy of 'Island Hopping' - securing islands capable of supporting airfields big enough to launch B-29 superfortress bombers and close enough for their escorts while leaving the Japanese army to die 'on the vine' - was a war winning one.

In desperation Japan created 'Kamikaze' units of human torpedos, rocket aircraft and fighters laden with explosives to inflict as many casualties as possible on US Naval forces that were securing these islands. Iwo Jima was a critical island close enough to the Japanese home islands to fulfill US needs. With very few experienced pilots and aircraft left the Japanese unleashed their last weapon - the Kamikaze..

Time: 09:00
Weather: Hazy

Allied Briefing:
Our fleet will be launching attacks against the airfields at Iwo Jima to destroy all aircraft to prevent their use against our fleet in the coming invasion.

Aircraft Available:
12x F6F-5
4x F4U1-D

Objective:
Protect our carriers.
Destroy enemy fighters dispersed at the airfields of Iwo Jima and in the air (for 30 total).

Axis Briefing:
The US fleet are moving to take Iwo Jima for use as an airbase. We must not allow this to happen.

Aircraft Available:
4x A6M5a
4x A6M5b
4x Ki-84-Ia
4x N1K2-Ja

Objective:
Destroy a US carrier to force US naval forces to withdraw or destroy 16 enemy aircraft.