On April 1, 1945, 50,000 troops landed in Okinawa. The military had lost 116 planes. Further, 3 aircraft carriers were damaged. This event marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War. Under the command of General Simon B. Buckner Jr., the troops captured two airfields and advanced inland. They fought nearly 120,000 Japanese army, militia, and labor troops who were under the command of Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima.

Overview of World War II