An American LSMR (Landing Ship Medium which was outfitted to fire rockets) launches rockets at Okinawa before the U.S 10th Army invaded the stategic island on March 31, 1945. U.S forces on the first day ashore seized two Japanese airfields on the island, which is within 375 miles (600 Kms) of Kyushu, the southernmost Japanese home island and the site of major naval bases and steel works. By April 8th, U.S forces controlled a third of the island, but were meeting strong Japanese resistence along a defence line above Naha, island capital and site of another strategic airfield.