Evening star., 1945-06-07
Suicide Planes
Now Checked,
Tokyo Admits
Yonks Act Swiftly to
Get Nuhu AirfieId in
Operation on Okinowo
BY the Associated Press,

1UAM, June line END OF
the battle for Okinawa is in
sight, largely because Americans
perfected a defense against
kamikaze (suicide) planes
Tokyo's press and radio ad-
mitted today as American head
quarters announced capture of
the big Naha Airport and fur
ther compressing of the remain
ing japanese garrison.
American 10th Army Engineers
moved swiftly toward conversion
of the Naha Airdrome into another
effective base for air strikes against
Japan, 325 miles to the north The
field, prime objective of the 68-day
campaign, was taken over yesterday
by 9Th Division Marines.
Domei, Japanese news agency, re-
ported from its own correspondents
the imminent end of Rising Sun
on Okinawa with "the war
situation gradually becoming more
disadvantageous to our side"
Planes Kept From Target.
Further" Domei added, the en-
emy has been effectively employing
rocket ships and planes, which have
checked our special attack (kam-
ikaze) corps aircraft from getting
to their target" Kamikaze pilots
have sunk l3 American ships and
damaged As at Okinawa.
The newspaper Asahi. In an
editorial broadcast by the Tokyo
radio, commented that the situation
had become so grave cit is high time
every bit of the nations strength be
thrown into this single battle of
decision regardless of sacrifices in
volved."
Without air supremacy" Asahi
continued, mastery of the sea can
not possibly be secured"
Yomiuri Hochi also conceded the
virtual end of Okinawa, but con-
tended "the whole course of the war
whereon the rise or fall of the nation
is staked, will not depend on the
outcome of this battle of Okinawa
alone
Where the final battle of decision
that is still to come" will take place,
Yomiuri did not predict.
Jap Holdings Reduced.
The remaining $4,000 Japanese on
Okinawa were squeezed into a 25-
square mile area at the southern
tip of the island. where they ap-
parently planned a final suicide
stand.
Completion OF the overrunning OF
Naha Airfleld was announced in
Admiral Chester w. Nimitz's COM
which reported wide ad-
vances through the southern end OF
the muddy rain-swept island.
Associated Press Correspondent
Vern Haugland, with Maj. Gen.
Lemuel c. Shepherd, jr.'s 9Th Ma
rine Division. said the 4th Regiment
which captured the airdrome found
borders of the field strewn with
wrecked japanese planes of all types
THE airdrome was grown over
with grass during the three or more
months 1t was inoperational," he
wrote, but it won't take a great
deal of work or time-by American
massive scale construction methods
to make it considerably more than
the major Ryukyuan air base it used
to be-"
Full Possession of Airfields.
Half of Naha Airfield, the main
Japanese stop in ferrying planes to
Formosa, the Philippines, the Meth
erlands Indies, South China and
Malaga, was seized Monday in an
amphibious hop across Naha Har-
Dor by the Leathernecks. On Tues
day they cleaned out enemy strong
points and yesterday they took full
possession.
The Marines also captured a
small island Immediately west OF
the airdrome and then moved
swiftly southeastward toward a
juncture with Maj. Gen. Pedro A
del Valle's 1st Marine Division
shooting down the center of the
island.
Naha Harbor already was being
readied for American use.
Across Okinawa on the east coast
meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Archibald v
Arnold's 7th Infantry Division
cleared the Chinen Peninsula
southern jaw of Nakagusuku Har-
Dor, the islands best fleet anchorage
and one time haven for japanese
warships.
The 32d Regiment of the famed.
out 7th Division reached the east
ern end of the escarpment, which
arcs in 4-mile crescent across
the island. The land mass, 500 feet
at the highest point, provides the
last rough terrain for a defensive
stand.
Strong Positions.
Front dispatches reported the Jap.
anese positions appeared strong
along the entire escarpment, which
runs from Hanagusuku on the cas-
shore to Itoman on the west. Ito
man is about miles south of the
Naha Airfield
Fierce battling was reported a!
elements of the 7th Infantry anc
9Th Marine Divisions bore down or
the flanks. Maj. Gen. James L
Bradley's 96th Infantry Division was
within 1000 yards of the center Of
the escarpment. The 1st Marine
and 77th Infantry Divisions were
nearby.
Associated Press Correspondent al
Dopking, on Okinawa, reported the
Yanks were now humping into the
japanese laSt-ditch battle line" and
"a showdown fight is at hand"
Because of foul weather and hor-
ribly mired roads, the 7th Division
was supplied by landing craft COM
ing down the east coast to Minatoga
with food and ammunition.
The bulk of the supplies moving
Four additional men from
the District area haze been re-
ported killed in this Dar. See
"On the Honor Roll" Page AZ.