The goal of the battle for Iwo Jima in early 1945 was two-fold: to deny the use of its airstrip to the Japanese, and to establish a foothold that would allow fighter coverage for American long range bombers heading for the Japanese mainland.
This photo collection is a beautiful archive of the early days of American fighter presence at Iwo Jima after the hard fought battle was won.
Click on the photo to begin. Thanks to David (USMC veteran) for forwarding.