More than 100,000 Japanese combatants and as many as 150,000 civilians were also killed.
The Japanese also began using devastating air attacks with kamikaze pilots who intentionally steered their planes into U.S. ships. As many as 355 Japanese kamikaze aircraft dove into Allied ships at Okinawa. The Japanese also held back on launching their major ground counterattack until U.S. troops were inland and out of range of naval support. Although the U.S. troops eventually prevailed, more than 12,000 American soldiers died in the fight there; another 49,000 Americans were injured. More than 100,000 Japanese combatants and as many as 150,000 civilians were also killed.