Snapshots of the Past

LSM's (r) sending rockets at shores of Pokishi Shima, near Okinawa, five days before invasion – Historic Print

LSM's (r) sending rockets at shores of Pokishi Shima, near Okinawa, five days before invasion, 1945 May 21. — historic photograph
LSM's (r) sending rockets at shores of Pokishi Shima, near Okinawa, five days before invasion, 1945 May 21.. Historic photograph from the Historic Print Archive collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

LSM's (r) sending rockets at shores of Pokishi Shima, near Okinawa, five days before invasion comes to life in this historic photograph, reproduced from the original with every detail intact. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.

Framed, it is ready for the wall; unframed, it is ready for the frame you choose. Perfect for a home, office, library or classroom wall, and a gift with a story behind it. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Since 2001, Snapshots of the Past has shipped historic prints to tens of thousands of customers around the world.

LSM's (r) sending rockets at shores of Pokishi Shima, near Okinawa, five days before invasion

Order a print

Secure checkout · SSL encryptedPowered by Stripe and PayPal

Free shipping in the lower 48 states. The checkout page shows the picture, size and price before you pay.

Sign up for our newsletter

Sent securely. No purchase needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ask about licensing or this print

This photograph shows an LSM(R), a medium landing ship converted to fire salvos of rockets, bombarding the shoreline of Pokishi Shima near Okinawa. The record dates it to May 21, 1945, and describes it as taken five days before an invasion. By then the Okinawa campaign had been underway for several weeks, and the United States Navy was using rocket ships like this one to saturate beaches and nearby targets just ahead of troop landings. The photograph is a useful record of that tactic, which was meant to suppress defenders before troops came ashore.

Created / published1945 May 21.
Medium1 photographic print.
GenrePhotographic prints 1940-1950.
NotesPhotograph by U.S. Navy. No. USN 324262. Joseph J. Spagnola Collection.
SubjectsWorld War, 1939-1945--Naval operations--American--Japan--Okinawa Island. Warships--American--Japan--Okinawa Island--1940-1950.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,536 × 1,167 px · prints to 5 × 4 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-163676

More from the Historic Print Archive collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.

Related pictures

Two North American B-25's churn the water with hits and near misses on a Japanese frigate in the March 29, 1945 attack which cost the Japs nine ships, South China SeaTwo North American B-25's churn the water with hits and near misses on a JapanesThe Morning after the night beforeThe Morning after the night beforeFive points - 7th and Lehman Streets, Lebanon, Pa.Five points - 7th and Lehman Streets, Lebanon, Pa.[Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, N.J.: Dempsey and Geroges Carpentier in arena before fight][Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, N.J.: Dempsey and Geroges Carpentier in arenTarzan. Tarzan crossed the open plain before the city of Bakhir and approached the main gateTarzan. Tarzan crossed the open plain before the city of Bakhir and approached tInf. advancing on path through barbed wire entanglements, which tank has just made. One man has fallen over the barbed wire. 107th Inf., 27th Div., near Beauquesnes, Somme, FranceInf. advancing on path through barbed wire entanglements, which tank has just ma