Chichi-jima

Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHI : Chichi-jima

Chichi-jima (父島, lit. "Father Island"), formerly known as "Peel Island", is the largest island of the Ogasawara Islands (also known as the Bonins or Volcano Islands).

The island was the site of a radio station during World War II, and a frequent target of US attacks. The young George H. W. Bush was once shot down while on one of these raids. Japanese troops and resources from Chichi Jima were used in reinforcing the strategic point of Iwo Jima before the battle of Iwo Jima. The island also served as a major point for Japanese radio communication and surveillance operations in the Pacific, with two radio stations atop its two mountains being the primary goal of multiple bombing attempts by the US Navy.

Chichi Jima was also the subject of a book by James Bradley entitled Flyboys, a factual account of the lives of a group of World War II fighter pilots including George H. W. Bush the 41st president of the US. In the book, it tells the story of United States Navy pilots who raided the islands two radio stations. The book followed the pilots that were captured, tortured, killed, and eaten by the Japanese.

The island was never captured and surrendered with the Japanese Empire. After the surrender some of the senior officers were court martialed and punished according to the class "B" war crimes standard (which included the cannibalism charge).

Nobuaki "Warren" Iwatake is known for his service in the Japanese Imperial Army at Chichi Jima.

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.