The Air War Over Iwo Jima

two questions:

1) the saburo sakai account said that in three air engagements, IJ's zero fighter force was cut from 80 to 40, then to 20, and last to 9. what were the comparative american losses here? the american fighters were mostly hellcats.

2) sakai's account during the first battle included a solo engagement with as many as 14 hellcats. he managed to escape the faster planes without a hit on his plane. according to him, the crew on the ground witnessed his performance, and was waiting for him to fly over Iwo to allow the AA gunners to shoot at the pursuing hellcats. that's what happened eventually. was there an american account corroborating sakai's story?

 

#1 -
There were several strike periods on Iwo Jima and the Bonins area. Those associated with Sakai’s reported comments, I believe, took place during the Marianas Campaign. There were four such separate strike programs.

On 15 and 16 June 1944: aircraft from 3 CVs and 4 CVLs flew some 478 action sorties. In the course of those sorties, there were 67 enemy aircraft engaged in the air. 41 of these were reported as shot down; another 80 aircraft were reported as destroyed on the ground. USN aircraft losses were 14 to AA fire, 2 to enemy aircraft and 8 in operational accidents. 152 tons of bombs were dropped,

On 24 June 1944: aircraft from 2 CVs and 2 CVLs flew 86 action sorties. In the course of those sorties, there were 141 enemy aircraft engaged in the air. 110 of these were reported as shot down; none were reported as destroyed on the ground. USN aircraft losses were none to AA fire, 5 to enemy aircraft and none in operational accidents. One ton of bombs were dropped.

On 3 and 4 July 1944: aircraft from 4 CVs and 3 CVLs flew some 873 action sorties. In the course of those sorties, there were 157 enemy aircraft engaged in the air. 92 of these were reported as shot down; another 27 aircraft were reported as destroyed on the ground. USN aircraft losses were 13 to AA fire, 13 to enemy aircraft and 5 in operational accidents. 309 tons of bombs were dropped.

The last Bonins strike program of the Marianas Campaign was on 4 and 5 August 1944: aircraft from 4 CVs and 2 CVLs flew 872 action sorties. In the course of those sorties, there were 11 enemy aircraft engaged in the air. 7 of these were reported as shot down; another 7 were reported as destroyed on the ground. USN aircraft losses were 15 to AA fire, 1 to enemy aircraft and 3 in operational accidents. 307 tons of bombs were dropped.

For the Marianas Campaign related strikes on Iwo Jima and the Bonins, there were a total of 2,309 action sorties. 376 enemy aircraft were engaged with 250 reported as shot down. 114 aircraft were reported as destroyed on the ground. USN losses were 42 to AA fire, 21 to enemy aircraft and 16 in operational accidents. 769 tons of bombs were dropped.

In actual attacks on Iwo Jima and the Bonins leading up to the invasion, there were numerous strikes over a period of several weeks.

Between 16 February and 8 March 1945, a total of 12 CVEs participated in raids that generated 2,746 action sorties. There were 2 enemy aircraft reported as engaged in the air over the course of these raids, both were reported as shot down and 9 others were reported as destroyed on the ground. USN losses were reported as 55 to AA fire, none to enemy aircraft and 5 in operational accidents. 441 tons of bombs were delivered.

Between 18 February and 8 March 1945, a total of 11 CVs and 5 CVLs participated in raids that generated 1,932 action sorties. There were 15 enemy aircraft reported as engaged in the air over the course of these raids, 11 were reported as shot down and one other was reported as destroyed on the ground. USN losses were reported as 15 to AA fire, 2 to enemy aircraft and 14 in operational accidents. 667 tons of bombs were delivered.

Totals for this strike period - there were 4,678 action sorties. 17 enemy aircraft reported as engaged in the air over the course of these raids, 131 were reported as shot down and 10 others were reported as destroyed on the ground. USN losses were reported as 40 to AA fire, 2 to enemy aircraft and 19 in operational accidents. 1,108 tons of bombs were delivered.

For all of these actions combined, there were 6,987 action sorties. 393 enemy aircraft were reported as engaged in the air; 263 of these reported as shot down. Another 124 aircraft were reported as destroyed on the ground. 82 USN aircraft were lost to enemy AA fire and another 23 to enemy aircraft; 35 were lost in operational accidents. 1,877 tons of bombs were delivered.

#2 - Not that I've ever seen and not from lack of looking, either.