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(Japan) Okinawa, Japan was the site for the second largest beach landing in history only second to Normandy, France. The difference is that Okinawa, was almost entirely US Forces verses Normandy, France had combined allied forces. More US Navy ships were sunk in the battle of Okinawa, than any other Navel skirmish. This is due to the nearly 7000 Japanese Kamikaze suicide pilots that dive bombed the US fleet. As divers we are still finding the remains of this battle just off shore. We find everything from coke bottles from 1945 to 1000lb Japanese sea mines. Last week I found 2 X bombs/torpedoes/extra gas tanks, that were 8' long x 24" wide with fins that were found off of the west coast of IE Island/Okinawa Prefecture/Japan. The battle of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg) started 1 Apr 1945. The Marines landed north of the Hija River (green bridge on HWY 58 and/or the red bridge) and the US Army landed south of the Hija River. I have taken the original invasion map and I have overlaid it over modern google earth. The link to see this product is on scuba board. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/zen-divers/269353-okinawa-wwii-landing-sites.html

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(Japan) Check out my blogs on Scuba Board. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/index.php?referrerid=99256

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