[PeterPrinciple]

The airfield was not integral to the Japanese defenses, which were a system of mutually supporting caves, bunkers, tunnels and gun emplacements. The pre-invasion bombing was ineffective in degrading these defenses.
The code word for the operation was Detachment. Nimitz sometimes refers to it in his Graybook.

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I disagree, the airfield HAS been the target because it was from IWO the b29 air base was bombed. Every report comments about the airfield.

It is only AFTER the assault do we learn of how well they were dug in.

[fso301]

I disagree, the airfield HAS been the target because it was from IWO the b29 air base was bombed.

The Iwo airfield is being bombed because it is being used to launch bombing raids against the B-29 bases on Saipan. Any Japanese aircraft lost are replaced by flying in replacements from Japan. Cratered runways are quickly filled in.