[Illustration: _Marine LtCol Donald K. Yost in his F4U Corsair takes off from the flight deck of the_ Cape Gloucester _(CVE 109) to provide close air support to the fighting troops ashore. This was one of a number of Marine aircraft flown at Iwo Jima._ Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 262047 ] The contributions of the pilots and aerial spotters from three Marine observation squadrons (VMOs-1, -4 and -5) are described at length in the text. Flying in to Iwo initially from escort carriers, or launched precariously by the infamous “Brodie Slingshot” from _LST 776_, or eventually taking off from the captured airstrips, these intrepid crews were quite successful in spotting enemy artillery and mortar positions, and reporting them to the Supporting Arms Control Center. When Japanese antiaircraft gunners managed to down one of the “Grasshoppers,” Marines from all points of the island mourned. Marine transport aircraft from Marine Transport Squadrons (VMR) 952, 253, and 353 based in the Marianas delivered critical combat cargo to the island during the height of the battle. The Marines frequently relied on aerial delivery before the landing force could establish a fully functional beachhead. On D+10, for example, VMR-952 air-dropped critically needed mortar shells, machine gun parts, and blood within Marine lines. On 3 March, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm S. Mackay, CO of VMR-952, brought in the first Marine transport to land on the island, a Curtiss Commando R5C loaded with ammunition. All three squadrons followed suit, bringing supplies in, taking wounded men out. On 8 March, Marine Torpedo Bomber Squadron (VMTB) 242 flew in to Iwo Jima from Tinian to assume responsibility for day and night anti-submarine patrols from the departing escort carrier force. Colonel Vernon E. Megee, USMC, had the distinction of commanding the first Landing Force Air Support Control Unit, a milestone in the evolution of amphibious command and control of supporting arms. Megee came ashore on D+5 with General Schmidt, but the offloading process was still in such disarray that he could not assemble his communications jeeps for another five days. This did little to deter Megee. Using “borrowed” gear, he quickly moved inland, coordinating the efforts of the Air Liaison Parties, encouraging the Navy pilots to use bigger bombs and listening to the complaints of the assault commanders. Megee’s subsequent work in training and employing Army P-51 Mustang pilots in direct support was masterful. Before the battle’s end, General Kuribayashi transmitted to Tokyo 19 “lessons learned” about the problems of defending against an American amphibious assault. One of these axioms said: “The enemy’s air control is very strong; at least thirty aircraft are flying ceaselessly from early morning to night above this very small island.” ] _The Bitter End_