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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers the Invasion of Japan - Operation Olympic(11/1/1945) - Aug. 15th, 2003
pearlharborsurvivorsonline.org ^ | Haile H Jaekel/James Martin Davis

Posted on 08/15/2003 12:00:16 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


God Bless America
...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
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click on the books below.



The FReeper Foxhole thanks all our WWII Veterans for their sacrifices
and remembers those who gave all.



Flights of F4U "Corsairs" and F6F "Hellcats" over
the USS Missouri (BB-63).
VJ Day August 1945.

OPERATION OLYMPIC
(An Invasion Not Found
in History Books)


The end of World War II, described by most of our educational institutions and the Media, especially during 50th anniversary year, centers on the use of the Atomic Bomb. They fail to remember what happened at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, (that started the whole thing in the first place), the Bataan Death March, the Japanese Hell Ship (where 1800 American Prisoners prayed to die and all but 8 got their wish), the Rape of Nanking, plus many other deceitful acts and atrocities not mentioned in this article. They failed to look at the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland and the enormous cost in human lives on both sides that would have occurred.

They failed to include the planned invasion, that became unnecessary after the A-bombs were dropped on Hiroshima, August 6, 1945 and Nagasaki, August 9, 1945, plus the acceptance of Allied Surrender Terms, August 14, 1945.

All of the above events and many other facts must also be included in the history books and be part of the equation.

This is what happened after the Japanese surrender, 14th of August, 1945 and what could have happened.



Deep in the National Archives hidden for decades, lie thousands of pages of dusty yellowing documents stamped "TOP SECRET". These documents, now declassified, are the plans for Operation Downfall, the invasion of the Japanese Homeland during World War II. Only a few Americans in 1945 were aware of the elaborate plans that had been prepared for the Allied Invasion of the Japanese Homeland. Even fewer today are aware of the defense the Japanese had prepared to counter the invasion had it occurred.

"Japan, loser of the Pacific War, still had plenty of deadly weapons to defend its homeland against invasion. Any invasion attempt would have been Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and all the other bloody Pacific battles wrapped into one."

The demolition teams started to neutralize Japanese defenses, August 28,1945, in Tokyo Bay and on mainland Japan, prior to the formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri, September 2, 1945. After the initial "demilitarization" of ships in Tokyo Bay was completed, IE: (destroying ammunition, dismantling guns and throwing the breeches overboard), the teams moved inland. There they blew up fleets of suicide boats moored all along the coast, exploded torpedoes, disabled or destroyed two man "suicide" submarines. In caves that honeycomb the coastline, the big coastal defense guns were blown up.

"Weapons guarding the Japanese homeland were insidiously camouflaged." Gun emplacements were buried in craggy hillsides. Their ammunition supplies moved through a series of underground tunnels on tiny railroads they could have never are seen by invaders from the sea or air. Huge caves had been hollowed out in the hills along the coast. These were crammed with heavy armaments, torpedoes, small suicide submarines, mines and all manners of explosive devices.

The Invasion of Japan, OPERATION DOWNFALL, called for two massive military undertakings to be carried out in succession and aimed at the heart of the Japanese Empire.



In the first invasion, (code named OPERATION OLYMPIC), combat troops would land on Japan by amphibious assault during the early morning hours of November 1, 1945. Fourteen combat divisions of soldiers and Marines would land on heavily fortified and defended Kyushu, the southernmost of the Japanese home islands, after an unprecedented naval and air bombardment.

The second invasion on March 1, 1946, (code named OPERATION CORONET), would send 22 combat divisions against one million Japanese defenders of the main island of Honshu. Its goal: the unconditional surrender of Japan.

OPERATION DOWNFALL was to be a strictly American operation, except for a part of the British Pacific Fleet. It called for using the entire Marine Corps, the entire Pacific Navy, elements of the Seventh Army Air Force, the Eighth Air Force (recently re-deployed from Europe), The 20th Air Force and the American Far Eastern Air Force.

More than 1.5 million combat troops, with 3 million more in support, (more than 40 per cent of all servicemen still in uniform in 1945), would be directly involved in two amphibious assaults.

Casualties were expected to be extremely heavy. Admiral William Leahy estimated more than 250,00 killed or wounded on Kyushu alone. General Charles Willoughby, Chief of Intelligence for General Douglas MacArthur, estimated American casualties from the entire operation would be one million men by the fall of 1946. This was considered, by many, to be a very conservative estimate.

A naval blockade and strategic bombing of Japan was considered, most everyone agreed that they would choke and destroy cities, but leave whole armies intact.



After extensive deliberation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a top secret directive May 25, 1945, to proceed with the invasion of Kyushu, the southernmost island of Japan. The target date was set for after the typhoon season. Two days later the United States issued a Potsdam Proclamation, which called upon Japan to surrender unconditionally or face, total destruction.

Three days later, the Japanese government news agency broadcast to the world, Japan would ignore the proclamation and would refuse to surrender.

During this same period it was learned from monitoring Japanese radio broadcasts, that they were closing all schools, mobilizing the schoolchildren, arming the civilian population, fortifying caves and constructing underground defenses.

OPERATION OLYMPIC called for a four pronged assault on Kyushu. Its objective was to seize and control the southern one-third of that island and establish naval and air bases, tighten the naval blockade of the home islands, destroy units of the main Japanese army and support the later invasion of the Tokyo plain.

The preliminary invasion would begin October 27, 1945, when the 40th Infantry Division would land on a series of small islands west and southwest of Kyushu. At the same time the 158th Regimental Combat Team would land and occupy a small island 28 miles south of Kyushu. On these islands, seaplane bases would be established, radar stations set up to provide advance warning to the invasion fleet, direct carrier base aircraft and provide an emergency anchorage for the invasion fleet, should things not go well on the day of invasion of Kyushu.

As the invasion grew imminent, the massive power of the Third and Fifth fleets would approach Japan, The Third Fleet, under Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, would provide strategic support for operation against Honshu and Hokkaido.



Halsey's fleet would be composed of battleships, heavy cruisers, destroyers, dozens of support ships and three fast carrier groups. Hundreds of Navy fighter's dive-bombers and torpedo planes would hit targets all over the island of Honshu.

The 3000 ship Fifth Fleet, under Admiral Spruance, would carry the invasion troops. Several days before the invasion, the battleships, heavy cruisers and destroyers would pour thousands of tons of high explosives into the target areas. They would not cease the bombardment until after the landing forces had launched. The invasion would begin in the early morning hours of November 1,1945. Thousands of soldiers and Marines would pour ashore on beaches all along the eastern, southern and western coasts of Kyushu.

Waves of aircraft from 66 carriers would bomb, rocket and strafe enemy defenses, gun and troop concentrations along the beaches. The Eastern Assault Force, consisting of the 25th, 33rd and 41st infantry divisions, would land near Miyaski, at beaches called Austin, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler and Cord, move inland and attempt to capture the city and its nearby airfield.

The Southern Force, consisting of the First Cavalry, 43rd and Americal divisions, would land at beaches labeled Desoto, Dusenburg, Essex, Ford and Franklin and attempt to capture Shibushi and the city of Kanoya and its airfield.

On the western shore of Kyushu, at beaches Pontiac, Reo, Rolls Royce, Saxon, Star, Studebaker, Stutz and Zepher the 5th Amphibious Corps would land the Second, Third and Fifth Marine divisions, sending half of its force inland to Sendai and the other half to the port city of Kagoshima.



On November 4,1945 the 81st, 98th, and 11th Airborne Divisions would feign an attack off the island of Shikoku then land near Kaimondake, (if not needed elseware), near the southernmost tip of Kagoshima Bay at beaches designated Locomobile, Lincoln, LaSalle, Hupmobile, Moon, Mercedes, Maxwell, Overland, Oldsmobile, Packard and Plymouth.

Operation Olympic was not just a plan for invasion, but for conquest and occupation as well. It was expected to take four months to achieve its objective, with three fresh divisions per month to be landed to support the operation if needed.

If all went well with Operation Olympic, Operation Cornet would be launched March 1, 1946. Operation Cornet would be twice the size of Olympic, with as many as 28 divisions landing on Honshu. All along the coast near Tokyo, the American First Army would land the 5th, 7th, 27th,44th,86 and 96th Infantry Divisions along with the 1st, 4th and 6th Marine Divisions.



At Sagami Bay, just south of Tokyo, the entire 8th and 10th armies would strike north and east to clear the long western shore of Tokyo Bay, then attempt to go as far as Yokohama. The assault troops landing south of Tokyo would be the 4th,6th,8th, 24th,31st,32nd and 87th,Infantry Divisions along with the 13th, and 20th Armored divisions.

Following the assault eight more divisions, the 2nd, 28th, 35th, 91st, 95th, 97th, and 104th Infantry divisions and the 11th Airborne Division would be landed. If additional troops were needed as expected, other divisions re-deployed from Europe and undergoing training in the United States would be shipped to Japan in what was hoped to be the final push.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: amphibiousassault; army; armyairforce; freeperfoxhole; japan; kamikaze; marines; navy; operationcoronet; operationdownfall; operationolympic; veterans; wwii
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To: snippy_about_it; bentfeather; SAMWolf; Neets
My area regained power roughly around 11 o'clock/ 2300 hours last night.
Since I was already boiling by skin off while trying to sleep, I didn't get online.

Haven't been online in roughly two days due to one mishap or another, actually.

But, heard that Newburgh had regained power sometime near 7 o'clock/ 1900 hours.
The only other NY'er that I am aware of that might have been effected would be Neets.
Speaking of whom- Neets, what were thy experiences yesterday?
41 posted on 08/15/2003 10:25:36 AM PDT by Darksheare ("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
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To: SAMWolf
The fools!!
That'll explode things due to power overload!

Supposedly, lightning hit the Niagra power station and took down the grid.
I believe that like I believe I am Santa Clause.
Last weather radar I saw RIGHT BEFORE the power went out was teh northeast corridor, and there wasn't anything near Niagra at all.
42 posted on 08/15/2003 10:28:23 AM PDT by Darksheare ("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
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To: Darksheare
Thanks for checking in. ;)
43 posted on 08/15/2003 10:31:53 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: snippy_about_it
Welcome.
Don't like people to get too worried about me.
It's not like the local cow population near me was going to go mad in the heat and go on a looting spree..
;-)
*chuckle*
Yes, Cow Country New York is the area I live in.
For about three hours after the power went out, the transformers on the main lines here were humming like they were about to blow. (Got to see such an event last year, twice in a row. Once by itself, second time right after they'd fixed it.)
Sounded like an overload of massive proportions was going through the lines.
Caught that Chretien said three different things about what caused it.
I only heard the line about lightning strike. (The non-existent lightning strike..)
*ugh!*
44 posted on 08/15/2003 10:52:37 AM PDT by Darksheare ("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
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To: Darksheare
Well, I wasn't too worried as I figure most foxhole freepers are pretty good about taking care of themselves but it never hurts (I hope) to check.

It's not like the local cow population near me was going to go mad in the heat and go on a looting spree.. ;-) *chuckle*

Oh no, cows with guns? LOL!

45 posted on 08/15/2003 10:55:56 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: SAMWolf
"Allied intelligence had established that the Japanese had no more than 2500 aircraft of which they guessed 300 would be deployed in suicide attacks. In August 1945, however; unknown to Allied Intelligence, the Japanese still had 5,651 army and 7,074 navy aircraft, for a total of 12,725 planes of all types. "

This is the first time I have read that.
46 posted on 08/15/2003 11:04:23 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple
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To: snippy_about_it
No!!
Don't mention Cows with Guns!
They shall unite and moo across the nations!
*LARF! Chuckle! (Poit!)*
47 posted on 08/15/2003 11:05:18 AM PDT by Darksheare ("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
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To: Darksheare
Hi Darksheare! Glad you made it back.

I see your coffee is still the talk of the Foxhole. You're a legend in your own time.
48 posted on 08/15/2003 11:16:54 AM PDT by SAMWolf (A bird in the hand makes blowing the nose difficult.)
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To: Darksheare; snippy_about_it
Last story I heard was that it started in a Power Plant in Northern Ohio.

SNIPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
49 posted on 08/15/2003 11:18:09 AM PDT by SAMWolf (A bird in the hand makes blowing the nose difficult.)
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To: PeterPrinciple
I've seen so many numbers on the availability of aircraft it's hard to know which ones are true.

However, the Germans actually increased production of planes and tanks in the last year of the war despite Allied bombing. They just couldn't get them to the units(transportation system was wrecked) and didn't have fuel for the vehicles and aircraft they did get to the units.

I figure the Japanese were in a worse postion being an island nation and depending on sea transport(most of which was on the bottom of the ocean by this point in the war) but the possibility of them hoarding waht they could for the "Final Battle" is highly possible.
50 posted on 08/15/2003 11:23:33 AM PDT by SAMWolf (A bird in the hand makes blowing the nose difficult.)
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To: SAMWolf
I didn't do it!!
Oh.
Ohio.
Heh,heh.. okers.

The only reason my coffee is legend here in the foxhole is that some have attempted to try it.
'Course, no-one believes me about the fact that it doesn't effect me...
No, I do not know why.
51 posted on 08/15/2003 11:24:20 AM PDT by Darksheare ("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
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To: SAMWolf
SNIPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't do it, honest...I have an alibi and you're it..uh, perhaps we should talk. :)

Did hitlery or billy the bufoon lose their power, please oh please oh please..

52 posted on 08/15/2003 11:34:19 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: Darksheare; snippy_about_it
Cows with guns

<===Mash This

Fat and docile, big and dumb
They look so stupid, they aren't much fun
Cows aren't fun

They eat to grow, grow to die
Die to be et at the hamburger fry
Cows well done

Nobody thunk it, nobody knew
No one imagined the great cow guru
Cows are one

He hid in the forest, read books with great zeal
He loved Che Guevera, a revolutionary veal
Cow Tse Tongue

He spoke about justice, but nobody stirred
He felt like an outcast, alone in the herd
Cow doldrums

He mooed we must fight, escape or we'll die
Cows gathered around, cause the steaks were so high
Bad cow pun

But then he was captured, stuffed into a crate
Loaded onto a truck, where he rode to his fate
Cows are bummed

He was a scrawny calf, who looked rather woozy
No one suspected he was packing an Uzi
Cows with guns

They came with a needle to stick in his thigh
He kicked for the groin, he pissed in their eye
Cow well hung

Knocked over a tractor and ran for the door
Six gallons of gas flowed out on the floor
Run cows run!

He picked up a bullhorn and jumped up on the hay
We are free roving bovines, we run free today

We will fight for bovine freedom
And hold our large heads high
We will run free with the Buffalo, or die
Cows with guns

They crashed the gate in a great stampede
Tipped over a milk truck, torched all the feed
Cows have fun

Sixty police cars were piled in a heap
Covered in cow pies, covered up deep
Much cow dung

Black smoke rising, darkening the day
Twelve burning McDonalds, have it your way

We will fight for bovine freedom
And hold our large heads high
We will run free with the Buffalo, or die
Cows with guns

The President said "enough is enough

These uppity cattle, its time to get tough"
Cow dung flung

The newspapers gloated, folks sighed with relief
Tomorrow at noon, they would all be ground beef
Cows on buns

The cows were surrounded, they waited and prayed
They mooed their last moos,
they chewed their last hay
Cows out gunned

The order was given to turn cows to whoppers
Enforced by the might of ten thousand coppers
But on the horizon surrounding the shoppers
Came the deafening roar of chickens in choppers

We will fight for bovine freedom
And hold our large heads high
We will run free with the Buffalo, or die
Cows with guns

Dana Lyons

53 posted on 08/15/2003 11:38:42 AM PDT by SAMWolf (A bird in the hand makes blowing the nose difficult.)
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To: SAMWolf
LOL! I love it!
54 posted on 08/15/2003 11:45:32 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it
See?!
I said they'd appear!
55 posted on 08/15/2003 11:45:45 AM PDT by Darksheare ("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
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To: Darksheare
And so they did! lol.

It's good to have some Friday afternoon humor!
56 posted on 08/15/2003 11:52:26 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: SAMWolf
Hello, Sam!

Papa Mike was a bosun's mate and would likely have piloted a landing craft to the beaches if this had ever happened. I can't imagine my life without my wife and kids - who might not have existed had this operation gone off.

Great thread. Thanks for all the extra effort!

57 posted on 08/15/2003 12:57:50 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("I like a man who grins when he fights." - Sir Winston Churchill)
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To: Colonel_Flagg
You're Welcome Colonel Flagg.

I wonder how many people even know that we had planned an invasion of Japan.
58 posted on 08/15/2003 1:20:01 PM PDT by SAMWolf (A bird in the hand makes blowing the nose difficult.)
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To: snippy_about_it
That they did.
They must've overwhelmed Sam to get at his keyboard.
59 posted on 08/15/2003 1:25:33 PM PDT by Darksheare ("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
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To: snippy_about_it
Hey SNIPPY! We really never invaded the home islands of Japan! Hiroshima, and Nagasaki settled that issue.

America's nuclear weapons - made in the USA and tested in Japan. HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

Member of the NNWA "Keepers of the Dragon" since 2000.

60 posted on 08/15/2003 2:10:50 PM PDT by Colt .45 (Cold War, Vietnam Era, Desert Storm Veteran - Pride in my Southern Ancestry!)
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