A well-supplied island strongpoint can be left behind if it cannot threaten forces moving past it. Peleliu's air infrastructure could have been attacked from the air and the island bypassed. The argument for capture instead rested on the assessment that its airfield was needed to support subsequent operations. Whether to assault the defenses therefore depended on the value assigned to that base.
Notable Point · 2:48:25-2:49:07
Peleliu's airfield requirement determined whether the island could be bypassed
A strongpoint unable to threaten the continuing advance could be bypassed; the case for taking Peleliu depended on the assessed need for its airfield.