To attack the ships off Okinawa, Japanese planes had to fly long distances over open water; to attack the ships off Kyūshū, they could fly overland and then short distances out to the landing fleets.
For at angribe skibe ud for Okinawa skulle japanske fly flyve over lange afstande over åbent vand, mens de for at angribe skibe ud Kyūshū kun skulle flyve over land og derefter korte afstande ud til landgangsflåderne.