Kuribashi prepares for his end

17th March 1945: As the US Marines on Iwo Jima 'mop up' after the battle, Japanese troops are determined to take Americans with them when they die

Clearing out the remaining Japanese troops who resisted from caves and bunkers across Iwo Jima remained a hazardous and challenging operation.

A Marine flame-throwing tank, also known as a "Ronson," scorches a Japanese strongpoint. The eight M4A3 Shermans equipped with the Navy Mark 1 flame-thrower proved to be one of the most valuable weapons systems on Iwo Jima.

On 16th March the US Forces on the island of Iwo Jima had declared the island "occupied". The statement, signalling at least the beginning of the end, was partly in response to the concern at home over the very heavy casualties.

The fighting was still far from over even if it might be described as "contained", hundreds of Japanese were still hiding in their bunkers and doing everything possible to continue to cause casualties to the Americans.