Yanks Blast Jap Ships In Bonin Islands -- Smoke rises from four burning Jap ships at Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands as five Navy Helldivers head back to their carriers. In these early July attacks, just 600 miles from Tokyo, American planes sank 13 Jap ships, damaged 20 others, and shot down or damaged 128 enemy planes. September 8, 1944. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).