Original U.S. WWII USMC Battle of Iwo Jima Large “Special Air & Gunnery Target Map” Invasion Map Dated November 1944 with Collection of 4th Marine Division Restricted Terrain Sketches of Iwo Jima - 28 x 40½”

Original Item. Only One Available. The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought in February and March, 1945 in the Volcano Islands (more broadly the Bonin Islands), about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) south of Tokyo. The battle was fought entirely by the US Marines and Navy. Iwo Jima has the distinction of causing more casualties for the Americans than the Japanese. Iwo Jima has been immortalized as Joe Rosenthal took one of the most famous pictures in the history of the world, "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima."

This is a great set consisting of a large 28 x 40½” map of Iwo Jima put together in November 1944 by the 64th Engineer Topographical Battalion. This map is a Special Air & Gunnery Target Map with a scale of 1:10,000. It is classified at the bottom as SECRET but that classification will be changed to RESTRICTED in combat area, denoting that this map was meant to be taken into the combat area. The photography was taken from Navy sorties on August 19th and September 1st, 1944. The map has heavy fold markings and some edge tearing but is in great shape overall and is a fantastic framing candidate.

Also included is a 4th Marine Division patch and a fantastic set of RESTRICTED Terrain Sketches of Iwo Jima. This consists of 12 sheets including a cover page, introduction page which names the artist as Corporal Daniel L. Winsor Jr., USMCR, Regimental S-2 Section, 25th Marines, who drew the sketches under battle conditions, 9 pages of the sketches with captions, and the last page is a document from HQ, Fleet Marine Force about the pictorial coverage of the operation. The best part is that every page is stamped on the reverse with a PASSED BY NAVAL CENSOR stamp.

Each page measures 8¼ x 10” and shows curling at the edges and some minor tearing. This set is absolutely worth getting framed all together.

This is an astounding set, ready to become the centerpiece of any U.S. Marine collection!