Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner was Commander of Amphibious Forces Pacific and was to be in charge of operations until the beachhead was established.

The northern half of the six-mile-wide invasion beach was assigned to Task Force 53, under the command of Rear Admiral Lawrence F. Reifsnider.

Sixteen radar picket stations were established around the island, in some cases almost 100 miles out, to give early warning in all directions.

Their job was to sound the alarm and vector fighters to intercept before the Japanese could attack the fleet off Okinawa or the Allied forces and supply dumps ashore.

Dennis L. Francis who was LSM Commander, Flotilla Nine for the period 2 – 20 April, in his Action Report said of the LSMs "these ships are not particularly suited for picket duty...They have no great value in combating enemy air craft due to the absence of air search radar, adequate director control for the 5"/38 main battery, and director control for the 40mm single guns" He added that since their magazines held explosive rockets added to the hazard.