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Battle of Okinawa Trivia Quiz

The last battle of WWII.

A multiple-choice quiz by ricktho. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
ricktho

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
310,967

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
576

Last 3 plays: Guest 82 (5/10), Guest 69 (5/10), Guest 96 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The last battle of World War 2 was on the island of Okinawa. What was the name of the operation? Hint

Operation Olympic

Operation Downfall

Operation Iceberg

Operation Coronet

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Question 2 of 10

2. Okinawa was an island in what specific group? Hint

Bonins

Philippines

Marianas

Ryukyus

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who was the commander of the Tenth Army, responsible for the taking of the island? Hint

Raymond Spruance

Simon Buckner

Holland (Howlin) Smith

Joseph Stilwell

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Question 4 of 10

4. The fleet which attacked Okinawa was one of the largest fleets ever assembled. How big was it? Hint

2,200 ships

900 ships

1,200 ships

1,800 ships

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who commanded the Japanese forces? Hint

Ushijima

Cho

Kuribayashi

Iwabachi

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Question 6 of 10

6. The main defensive line of the Japanese on Okinawa was what? Hint

Kakazu Ridge

Motobu Defenses

Urasoe-Mura Escarpment

The Shuri line

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Question 7 of 10

7. What famous war correspondent lost his life while observing the fighting on Ie Shima? Hint

Robert Sherrod

Patrick Maitland

John Hersey

Ernie Pyle

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Question 8 of 10

8. What were the total US casualties in the Battle of Okinawa? Hint

36,200

2,300

48,100

12,800

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Question 9 of 10

9. The kamikaze attacks were of significant concern and effect during the battle. What type of ship was hardest hit in these attacks? Hint

Fleet carriers

Oil tankers

Escort carriers

Picket destroyers

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Question 10 of 10

10. One of the major results of the Battle was what? Hint

Provided B-29 bases for the fire bombing of Japan.

Japanese discouragement and desire to end the war.

American strategists looked for an alternative to attacking the Japanese mainland.

It made the actual invasion of Japan unnecessary.

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Apr 14 2024 : Guest 82: 5/10
Mar 28 2024 : Guest 69: 5/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The last battle of World War 2 was on the island of Okinawa. What was the name of the operation?

Answer: Operation Iceberg

Operation Iceberg was the biggest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater.

2. Okinawa was an island in what specific group?

Answer: Ryukyus

Okinawa is the largest of the islands in the Ryukyus. Running generally north and south, it is 60 miles long and from 2 to 18 miles wide.

3. Who was the commander of the Tenth Army, responsible for the taking of the island?

Answer: Simon Buckner

His father was Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr., who surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Fort Donelson, 1862.

4. The fleet which attacked Okinawa was one of the largest fleets ever assembled. How big was it?

Answer: 1,200 ships

April 1, 1945, Easter Sunday, (and April Fools' Day), was a brilliantly clear day in the East China Sea. Over 1,200 ships, carrying more that 180,000 marines and soldiers, converged on the banana shaped island of Okinawa, 350 miles southwest of Japan.

5. Who commanded the Japanese forces?

Answer: Ushijima

The task of defending the Ryukyus was entrusted to the Japanese 32nd Army, commanded by LTG Mitsuru Ushijima. General Ushijima, according the members of his staff, was a calm and very capable officer who inspired confidence among his troops.

6. The main defensive line of the Japanese on Okinawa was what?

Answer: The Shuri line

Acting on the assumption that he could not defeat the combined American forces, General Ushijima drew his forces together into the southern part of Okinawa and, from the strongly fortified positions around Shuri, where he prepared to make his stand there as costly to the Americans as possible.

7. What famous war correspondent lost his life while observing the fighting on Ie Shima?

Answer: Ernie Pyle

Pyle was buried under a marker bearing the inscription of "At this spot the 77th Infantry Division lost a buddy, Ernie Pyle, 18 April 1945".

8. What were the total US casualties in the Battle of Okinawa?

Answer: 48,100

The price paid for Okinanwa was dear. The final toll of American casualties was the highest experienced in any campaign against the Japanese. Total American battle casualties were 49,151 of which 12,520 were killed or missing and 36,631 wounded.

9. The kamikaze attacks were of significant concern and effect during the battle. What type of ship was hardest hit in these attacks?

Answer: Picket destroyers

On April 6, the Japanese launched a massive series of kamikazi attacks. Hundreds of planes struck at the American fleet in successive waves. Day after day, week after week, the Japanese onslaught continued. The radar picket destroyers bore the brunt of these attacks: sailors on one destroyer set up a huge arrow-shaped sign reading "Carriers this way."

10. One of the major results of the Battle was what?

Answer: American strategists looked for an alternative to attacking the Japanese mainland.

Okinawa scared the living snot out of everybody. Consider the fanatical resistance, the culture of suicide, and Japanese aversion to surrender: what would be the cost of a sustained battle on the Japanese homeland? It made the use of the atomic bomb much more palitable.

Source: Author ricktho

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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