The Twilight Warriors (2 page)

JANUARY 26
Spruance assumes command of U.S. Fifth Fleet; Mitscher takes over Task Force 58.

FEBRUARY 10
Vice Adm. Ugaki takes command of IJN Fifth Air Fleet.

FEBRUARY 19
U.S. Marines land on Iwo Jima.

FEBRUARY 20
Intrepid
deploys to join Task Force 58 at Okinawa.

MARCH 16
Iwo Jima declared secure.

MARCH 18
Air Group 10 flies combat missions against Japanese mainland.

MARCH 19
USS
Franklin
struck by Japanese dive-bomber.

MARCH 26–29
U.S. 77th Inf. Division captures Kerama Retto.

APRIL 1
Love Day. U.S. invasion of Okinawa begins.

APRIL 6–7
Kikusui
No. 1. First massed kamikaze attack.

APRIL 7
IJN battleship
Yamato
and five escorts sunk by Task Force 58 aircraft.

APRIL 12–13
Kikusui
No. 2.

APRIL 15–16
Kikusui
No. 3.