[Bobbo]

My father was given a duplicate set of prints of pictures taken during the invasion. He was a Coast Guard Motor Machinist aboard the LST 764. This LST had embarked parts of a Marine Artillery Division and had two LCVP's. He was part of the LCVP crew and his job was to run the engine. The pictures he has show IWO as little more than moonscape including the area where there is a picture of the original flag that was put on top of Suribachi. My father said that the beaches were black ash and lacked all vegetaition as far as the eye can see.

By the way did he take pics ?

Good question. Moonscape would cool, if anything because it would be different in Il-2. However pre-invasion probably fits Il-2 better since it seems highly unlikely the airfields were operational after the bombardment and most of the air combat over Iwo was B-29 intercepts and defense against bomber and carrier strikes.