Raid on Yontan Airfield

Raid on Yontan Airfield
Part of Battle of Okinawa
Ki-21-IIb of the Daisan Dokuritsu Hikōtai at Yontan Airfield, 25 May 1945
Date 24–25 May 1945 Location Yontan Airfield, Okinawa Result Limited success 33 American aircraft damaged or destroyed
Belligerents
United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
United States Francis P. Mulcahy	Japan Michio Okuyama
Strength
	12 x Mitsubishi Ki-21 136 commandos
Casualties and losses
4 killed 27 wounded

The Raid on Yontan was an Empire of Japan military operation carried out on the night of May 24–25, 1945 against Yontan Airfield on Okinawa. The airfield was recently seized by American forces during the first day of the Battle of Okinawa and was being used by United States Marine Corps and Army Air Force squadrons. Five Imperial Japanese Army Mitsubishi Ki-21 (Allied reporting name "Sally") bombers, carrying Giretsu Kuteitai special airborne attack troops, conducted a suicide raid against Kadena and Yontan airfields on Okinawa. Four were shot down, but the fifth belly landed on the principal runway at Yontan allowing 10-12 giretsu troops to disembark on the airfield. The raid resulted in the destruction or damaging of 38 American aircraft and 70,000 gallons of fuel. However, its overall value was minimal because Yontan Airfield was reopened at 0800 the following morning with little effect to overall allied aviation operations.^{[1] [2]}