Exploring B-29 Bombers saved by the capture of Iwo Jima

Channel Subscribers have requested a review of whether the the availability of the WWII Iwo Jima airfield for stricken bombers was worth the cost. One of post war reason listed to the benefit of the capture of Iwo Jima was the availability of it’s airfields for for damaged B-29’s flying back from combat missions.  The conventional premise is 2,200 to 2,400 B-29s made emergency landings on Iwo Jima during WWII and as a consequence, Iwo Jima saved 24,000 Bomber crew members. The video will explore the validity of this premise and estimate the number of both B-29 bombers and bomber crew members saved as a results of the availability of Iwo Jima’s airfields.