Original Items. One-of-a-Kind. This is an exceptionally rare set of maps used by General Robert C. Richardson during the Battle of Okinawa. Richardson was an American general and commander of all Pacific Army personnel, who had administrative authority of all Army units, while tactical control fell to Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Richardson was instrumental in the planning of the invasion of Okinawa. The maps were prepared by the Engineering Section of the 10th Army during the height of the battle, May 10th, 1945.

The maps both roughly measure 20 x 22” and have damage as shown. They are a set, being labeled Sheets 1 & 2. The back of Sheet 2 has the following inscription:

1945
OKINAWA FORCES
MAPS
RCR JR

RCR JR of course refers to General Robert Charlwood Richardson Jr. The map of the northern part of the island has had the bottom margin cut away to permit the map of the southern part of the island to be neatly overlaid beneath. The location of land military units is printed, and Richardson drew heavy pencil lines on roads that had been used - and would be used - in taking the island. The markings, folds, soiling, and wear leave no doubt that these maps were used on the scene. The top right corner of the southern area map was torn away but has been replaced and taped on verso.

This is an exceptionally scarce set of maps used by the General who was instrumental in the planning of the Invasion of Okinawa. We have no physical provenance that proves these maps belonged to Richardson, but they came from a well-known historical auction house already attributed to Richardson, and we are confident in the identification. Comes ready for further research and display!

In June 1943, General Richardson was promoted to lieutenant general and assigned as Commanding General of the Hawaiian Department, Military Governor of Hawaii, and all Army personnel in the Pacific Ocean Areas and Mid-Pacific. As the administrative commander he oversaw all the Army's planning, logistical preparation, training, and force deployment efforts as part of the overall U.S. Joint forces island hopping campaign that led to surrender of Japan. His Army ground and air forces fought in all the major central and mid-Pacific battle under the operational command of Admiral Nimitz. Lt Gen Richardson stood in the front row of senior leaders who witnessed Japan's formal surrender on the U.S. Army Pacific deck of the USS Missouri.
In June 1944 General Richardson disputed Marine General Holland Smith's removal of Army General Ralph C. Smith from command of the Army 27th Division during the Saipan campaign.

General Richardson, as the administrative commander of all Pacific Army personnel, questioned whether Marine General Smith, as the operational commander, had the authority to relieve Army General Smith and whether the relief was justified by the facts. This minor inter-service controversy was fanned by the media into controversy over Pacific war strategy and led to a bitter inter-service relationship in the Pacific Theater. At the core, this was a difference of opinion between U.S Navy/USMC and U.S. Army over command authority, pre-campaign planning, and operational tactics. Also fueling this was Gen Holland Smith's low opinion and poor treatment of the Army personnel under his control.

The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of World War II, and one of the bloodiest. On April 1, 1945— Easter Sunday —the Navy's Fifth Fleet and more than 180,000 U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps troops descended on the Pacific island of Okinawa for a final push towards Japan. The invasion was part of Operation Iceberg, a complex plan to invade and occupy the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa.
Both sides suffered enormous losses in the Battle of Okinawa. The Americans bore over 49,000 casualties including 12,520 killed. General Buckner was killed in action on June 18, just days before the battle ended. Japanese losses were even greater -about 110,000 Japanese soldiers lost their lives.

It's estimated between 40,000 and 150,000 Okinawa citizens were also killed
Winning the Battle of Okinawa put Allied forces within striking distance of Japan. But wanting to bring the war to a swift end, and knowing over 2 million Japanese troops were awaiting battle-weary American soldiers, Harry S. Truman chose to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6.