Glenn’s special guest is David Sears, Vietnam Navy veteran, historian and author of many books including “At War with the Wind.”  Also joining us is Arthur Grabiner, who served in the Navy aboard the USS Laurens APA153 during the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf in Northern Luzon in the Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa.

The naval battle of Okinawa, fought from March 26 to July 2, 1945, was one of the most intense and costly engagements in the Pacific War. It was defined by relentless kamikaze attacks, extensive naval bombardments, and fierce engagements between the U.S. fleet and Japanese air and sea forces. The U.S. Navy played a critical role in supporting the invasion, defending against aerial attacks, and maintaining supply lines for ground forces.

Before the landings on April 1, the U.S. Navy conducted an extensive pre-invasion bombardment. Fast carrier task forces launched air strikes on airfields in Kyushu and Formosa to reduce the threat of Japanese air power. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers shelled Okinawa’s coastline and defensive positions for days. However, the bombardment was less effective than expected due to the Japanese defensive strategy of hiding in underground fortifications.

The defining feature of the naval battle was the massive use of kamikaze (suicide) aircraft by the Japanese. Operation Kikusui, a series of coordinated kamikaze waves, targeted U.S. and Allied ships in an attempt to disrupt the invasion. Between April and June, over 1,500 kamikaze aircraft were launched, causing significant damage.

One of the hardest-hit ships was the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill, which was struck by two kamikazes on May 11, killing nearly 400 crew members. The destroyers USS Laffey and USS Hugh W. Hadley were nearly sunk by repeated kamikaze strikes but managed to stay afloat. The British Pacific Fleet, equipped with armored carriers, also faced attacks but withstood damage better than American wooden-deck carriers.

To counter the kamikazes, the U.S. Navy implemented a picket line system, stationing destroyers and radar-equipped ships around Okinawa to detect incoming attacks. These ships suffered heavy losses, with dozens sunk or severely damaged. Despite these efforts, the Japanese inflicted the heaviest U.S. naval casualties of the war, sinking 36 ships, damaging over 350, and killing nearly 5,000 sailors.

On April 7, the Japanese battleship Yamato, the largest battleship ever built, was sent on a suicide mission to attack the U.S. invasion fleet. Lacking air cover and low on fuel, Yamato and its escort force were intercepted by U.S. carrier aircraft before reaching Okinawa. Over 300 American planes bombed and torpedoed Yamato, sinking it with massive loss of life. The battle demonstrated the complete dominance of air power over traditional naval forces.

Throughout the battle, the U.S. Navy maintained an effective blockade around Okinawa, cutting off Japanese reinforcements. Naval supply ships provided ammunition, fuel, and medical aid to ground forces. Battleships and cruisers continued shore bombardment, assisting the Army and Marines in breaking through Japanese defensive lines.

The naval battle of Okinawa was one of the most costly for the U.S. Navy, with significant losses from kamikaze attacks. Despite this, naval forces succeeded in protecting the invasion, securing sea lanes, and neutralizing the Japanese fleet. The air and sea battle at Okinawa showcased the growing dominance of aircraft over traditional naval power, foreshadowing the role of air superiority in modern warfare.