 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - John Rodgers akabva kuPhilippines pana October 30 achienda kuMare Island Naval Shipyard, California, uye kunovandudzwa kwaidiwa zvikuru. Mukutanga kwaJanuary 1945, muparadzi akafamba kumadokero kuti abatane naAdmiral Raymond Spruances Task Force 58 TF 58 musi waFebruary 7 nokuda kwekutakura ndege kunorwisa nyika yeJapan kutanga musi waFebruary 16. Yakaenda kuzvitsuwa zveBonin kunocherechedza boka rinotakura zvikepe rinotaura nezvokupinda kweIwo Jimamusi waFebruary 19, kuwana hwaro hwemberi hweB-29 Superfortresses. 