536.Photograph 'File No: 48158 Feb. 20, 1945 Iwo Jima-Eight square miles of hell 'Like a pork chops sizzling on a hot griddle' was the way one commentator described the volcanic island of Iwo Jima, which the U. S. Marines assaulted on February 19, 1945. Landing at three places between the extinct volcanic core, Mt. [Mount] Suribachi, lower right, and the projection of land at top, the Leathernecks headed inland covered by a hail of steel from warships standing off. Their first objective was the series of airstrips at right, and increasingly heavy Japanese resistance was encountered as the Marines moved toward its runways. This view of Iwo Jima, 700 miles from the Jap [Japanese] homeland, was taken on a pre-invasion photographic mission.' 20 February 1945