Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands

Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands
Part of the Pacific War, World War II
US aircraft burning in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Isley Field, November 27, 1944
Date November 1944 – January 1945 Location Saipan and Tinian Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Japan	United States
Strength
Over 80 aircraft	Fighter aircraft Anti-aircraft guns
Casualties and losses
37 aircraft destroyed	45 killed 200 wounded 11 aircraft destroyed 43 aircraft damaged

During World War II, a series of Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands took place between November 1944 and January 1945. These raids targeted United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bases and sought to disrupt the bombing of Japan by Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers operating from the islands. The Japanese lost 37 aircraft during this operation, but destroyed 11 B-29s and damaged a further 43. Preparations were also made for commando raids on the bases in early and mid-1945 but these did not go ahead.

While the attacks on the Mariana Islands did not seriously disrupt the USAAF air campaign, they had an effect on other American operations. After determining that the Japanese raiders were staging through Iwo Jima, American forces stepped up their attacks on that island. While the decision to invade Iwo Jima had been made before the raids commenced, stopping the attacks formed part of the justification for the landing. In addition, further air defense units were deployed to the Mariana Islands to protect the B-29 bases.