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HISTORY
VERYVERY LONGLONG RANGERANGE Brian Walter
Operating from three runways on the island
of Iwo Jima, the VLR (Very Long Range)
Mustangs of the United States Army Air Forces
7th Fighter Command were able to use the
extended range of the P-51 to fly to and from
the mainland of Japan for escort and ground
attack missions. The 15th, 21st, and 506th
Fighter Groups (FG) formed this force of P-51’s,
often sending one hundred-plus aircraft to
Japan. Fighting not only the enemy, but also
enduring harsh weather issues, environmental
hazards of the island, and lack of incoming
intelligence and supplies, the FGs persevered
and contributed a great deal to victory in the
Pacific. In addition to the 51 VLR missions to
Japan, their operations also included 171 strike
missions to the Bonin Islands and over 10,000
hours of Combat Air Patrol around Iwo Jima.
The 15th FG was formed before the war and
was involved in combat at Pearl Harbor.
The 15th FG was essentially created for the
defense of the Hawaiian Islands, however
they did deploy in P-39s and P-40s to the
Central Pacific, including Canton and Baker
islands. While combat activity was relatively
quiet there, the group played a central role in
Operation Flintlock; the Gilbert and Marshall
Islands campaign. The 15th FG, now comprised
of the 45th, 47th, and 78th Fighter Squadrons
(FS) arrived on Iwo Jima on March 7th, 1945
before US occupation was complete. Their first
missions involved close air support of Marines
on the island. Flying from South Field (Airfield
#1), the 15th FG also began missions to the
Bonin Islands, which were located about 150
miles north of Iwo Jima. This small group of
Japanese territories included Haha-Jima and
Chichi-Jima, well-known as the location US
president George H.W. Bush was shot down in
his TBF Avenger.
Joining the 15th FG early on was the 21st FG
who would fly from Central Field (Airfield
Tales of Iwojima, boxart by Piotr Forkasiewicz, kit No. 2152
INFO Eduard8
July 2025