The fire and the fury: Dramatic images show the horrors of Iwo Jima in color 73 years after Marines fought one of their most brutal battles to take the island

  • Five-week battle for Japanese island saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the entire Pacific campaign 
  • Of 21,000 Japanese defenders, only 216 were captured - some of whom were knocked unconscious first
  • 26,000 Americans were hurt or killed, the only Pacific battle where the US total was higher than the Japanese
  • Image have been rendered in color by Nicholas Rodriguez who said he wanted to give them new relevance

By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Advertisement

Flames coating a Japanese gun emplacement, shells exploding on a desolate landscape, and bodies strewn across the sand - these were the haunting sights witnessed by US Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima. 

The fight was one of the bloodiest of the Pacific campaign with more than 26,000 American personnel wounded or killed - the only battle where the US total was higher than the Japanese.

Now images of the fighting have been rendered in color by Nicholas Rodriguez who wanted to give people a better idea of the sights those fighting in the battle were confronted with.

'For lack of a better word, these pictures show reality,' he said. 'The reason I put so much emphasis on accuracy in these photos because it's not about making these pictures pretty. 

A member of the 5th Marine Division uses a flamethrower to clear out a Japanese bunker during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The 5th Division was one of three that formed part of the invasion force which landed on February 19, 1945, and sustained the heaviest casualties with more than 2,000 killed and 6,000 wounded. Unbeknownst to the attackers, these bunkers were connected by tunnels which allowed them to be reinforced after being cleared out

A member of the 5th Marine Division uses a flamethrower to clear out a Japanese bunker during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The 5th Division was one of three that formed part of the invasion force which landed on February 19, 1945, and sustained the heaviest casualties with more than 2,000 killed and 6,000 wounded. Unbeknownst to the attackers, these bunkers were connected by tunnels which allowed them to be reinforced after being cleared out

A Marine watches a a Japanese position is shelled by naval gunfire. Allied bombers and warships launched hundreds of tons of explosives at Iwo Jima before the invasion, but the Japanese defensive tunnels meant they were left unscathed. This turned what was expected to be a single week of fighting into five, inflicting heavy casualties on both sides

A Marine watches a a Japanese position is shelled by naval gunfire. Allied bombers and warships launched hundreds of tons of explosives at Iwo Jima before the invasion, but the Japanese defensive tunnels meant they were left unscathed. This turned what was expected to be a single week of fighting into five, inflicting heavy casualties on both sides

Two wiremen of the 5th Marine Division run through an open field and into enemy fire to establish telephone contact with positions on the front lines. In total the Americans saw more than 26,000 of their troops killed or wounded, the only battle of the Pacific campaign where the US total was higher than the Japanese

Two wiremen of the 5th Marine Division run through an open field and into enemy fire to establish telephone contact with positions on the front lines. In total the Americans saw more than 26,000 of their troops killed or wounded, the only battle of the Pacific campaign where the US total was higher than the Japanese

Two Marines lay dead in the sand amidst the fighting. Japanese defenders fought almost to the last man on Iwo Jima, despite having no prospect of victory because they could not retreat and could not be reinforced. Of 21,000 Japanese troops stationed on the island, just 216 surrendered or were captured, some of whom were unconscious at the time

Two Marines lay dead in the sand amidst the fighting. Japanese defenders fought almost to the last man on Iwo Jima, despite having no prospect of victory because they could not retreat and could not be reinforced. Of 21,000 Japanese troops stationed on the island, just 216 surrendered or were captured, some of whom were unconscious at the time

U.S. Marines, while under fire, carry the first American flag up the side of Mount Suribachi, on February 23. Later the same day troops would raise the flag in a moment captured by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal which would become one of the most iconic images of the Pacific campaign

U.S. Marines, while under fire, carry the first American flag up the side of Mount Suribachi, on February 23. Later the same day troops would raise the flag in a moment captured by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal which would become one of the most iconic images of the Pacific campaign

A Marine, with a primed M2-2 flamethrower strapped to his back, lights a pipe on Iwo Jima. These images were rendered in color by Nicholas Rodriguez, who said he wanted to give people a fresh appreciation for the horrors that confronted the Marines as they fought to take the island

A Marine, with a primed M2-2 flamethrower strapped to his back, lights a pipe on Iwo Jima. These images were rendered in color by Nicholas Rodriguez, who said he wanted to give people a fresh appreciation for the horrors that confronted the Marines as they fought to take the island

'It's about showing the public what these individuals had to go through and what they saw with their very own eyes. These moments are forever captured with each telling a story in every frame.

'If there's one thing I can say, it's never forget how much history has an impact on our lives. People usually think 'It was so long ago, who cares?' because they see images as black and white and they become out of touch.

'People like what they can relate to and with colourised images they get to see history in the making as if it was done yesterday.'

Marines first landed on the island of February 19, 1945, with the aim of capturing the strategically important airfield on the island in the space of a week, ahead of the expected invasion of the Japanese mainland.

In fact the battle dragged on for five weeks, thanks largely to underground tunnels dug by the Japanese to connect their defensive bunkers.

This meant that hundreds of tons of bombs dropped before the battle, and thousands of rounds of heavy Navy shells, left the Japanese virtually untouched. 

Wounded Marines are helped to a medical aid station by Navy Corpsmen and other Marines. The aim of capturing Iwo Jima was to deprive a Japanese of an airfield from which they could target American bombers and provide a staging point for an attack on the Japanese mainland - though whether these aims were worth the cost of capturing it is subject to debate

Wounded Marines are helped to a medical aid station by Navy Corpsmen and other Marines. The aim of capturing Iwo Jima was to deprive a Japanese of an airfield from which they could target American bombers and provide a staging point for an attack on the Japanese mainland - though whether these aims were worth the cost of capturing it is subject to debate

U.S. Navy Corpsmen carry a wounded Marine away from the front lines on Iwo Jima. While US intelligence had told commanders that the beaches were in good condition and the landing should be easy, in fact they were surrounded by black volcanic ash which drastically slowed the troops and allowed them to be picked off

U.S. Navy Corpsmen carry a wounded Marine away from the front lines on Iwo Jima. While US intelligence had told commanders that the beaches were in good condition and the landing should be easy, in fact they were surrounded by black volcanic ash which drastically slowed the troops and allowed them to be picked off

Riflemen lead the way as crouched Marine Flamethrower units of the Fifth Marine Division proceed along a narrow trench. Flamethrowers and grenades proved the most effective way for the Americans to clear defensive tunnels and bunkers constructed by the Japanese, but the exposed fuel tanks left the men operating the weapons vulnerable

Riflemen lead the way as crouched Marine Flamethrower units of the Fifth Marine Division proceed along a narrow trench. Flamethrowers and grenades proved the most effective way for the Americans to clear defensive tunnels and bunkers constructed by the Japanese, but the exposed fuel tanks left the men operating the weapons vulnerable

Private Wilson D. Watson, nicknamed 'the one man regiment' (left), was awarded the Medal of Honor for eliminating 90 Japanese soldiers despite being shot seven times, including in the neck. Corporal Hershel W. Williams (right) received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a flamethrower

Private First Class Jacklyn H. Lucas (left), received the Medal of Honor for jumping on a Japanese grenade to save his fellow Marines. Private First Class Douglas T. Jacobson (right), received the Medal of Honor for destroying 16 Japanese positions and ultimately killing 75 Japanese soldiers

It also meant that during the battle the Japanese were able to reinforce bunkers that the Marines had already cleared using flamethrowers and grenades, catching the attackers unawares and causing heavy casualties.

The Japanese also fought almost to the last man. Of 21,000 defenders, just 216 surrendered or were captured - some of whom had been knocked unconscious first.

The defending troops refused to surrender even though they were guaranteed to lose the battle from the start, with no possibility of retreat or reinforcement, and were simply looking to delay the Americans while defenses were prepared on the mainland.

Despite the casualties suffered in taking Iwo Jima, the strategic importance of the island to the future war efforts was questioned early on and remains controversial.

Speaking in 1945, retired Chief of Naval Operations William V. Pratt called Iwo Jima 'a small, God-forsaken island, useless to the Army as a staging base and useless to the Navy as a fleet base'.

The chief objectives in taking the island were to stop Japanese attacks on American bombers heading toward the Japanese mainland, and to be used as a launchpad for its eventual invasion.

But analysis shows that only 11 bombers were shot down by fighters from the island, and the invasion of Japan never took place after the dual nuclear bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima forced the country to surrender.

Japan

Most watched News videos

Comments 50

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.