On June 19–20, 1944, the most lopsided big carrier battle of World War II occurred west of the Marianas Islands. The American battle fleet, commanded by reserved but brilliant Admirals Raymond Spruance and Marc Mitscher, all but destroyed the remaining carrier strength of the Japanese Navy. Three Japanese flat tops were sunk, including the Shokaku that had participated in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and over 500 of their planes were shot down in the “Turkey Shoot” compared to just a little over 100 of ours. Spruance was conservative, determined to fulfill his primary mission of protecting the army and Marine landings on Saipan. Mitscher, on the other hand, was chomping at the bit to destroy the Japanese fleet and it wasn’t until late in the battle that Spruance gave him the green light to do so. Mitscher sent his pilots out in search of the Japanese fleet, realizing that many might have only a small chance having enough fuel to make it back to their carriers:
This battle, followed by the Battle of Leyte Gulf four months later, ended the effectiveness of the Japanese Navy as a fighting force in the war.
COINCIDENTALLY: Just drove past Golden Gate National Cemetery near SFO, where, on their request, Adms. Chester Nimitz and Raymond Spruance and their wives are buried side by side.
Knowing his aviators would have difficulty finding their carriers, Admiral Joseph J. Clark of Hornet decided to illuminate his carrier, shining searchlights directly up into the night, despite the risk of attack from Japanese submarines and night-flying aircraft. Mitscher backed up the decision, and soon every ship in Task Force 58 was lit up, in spite of the risks involved. Picket destroyers fired starshells to help the aircraft find the task groups.
Planes were given clearance to land on any available flight deck (not just their home carriers, as usual), and many did land on other carriers. Despite this, 80 of the returning aircraft were lost. Some crashed on flight decks, but the majority ditched into the sea. Some pilots intentionally went down in groups to facilitate rescue, and more ditched individually either in a controlled landing with a few gallons of fuel left or in a crash after their engines ran dry Approximately three-quarters of the crews were rescued from the sea, either that night from crash locations within the task forces, or over the next few days for those further out, as search planes and destroyers criss-crossed the ocean looking for them.
This battle, followed by the Battle of Leyte Gulf four months later, ended the effectiveness of the Japanese Navy as a fighting force in the war.
COINCIDENTALLY: Just drove past Golden Gate National Cemetery near SFO, where, on their request, Adms. Chester Nimitz and Raymond Spruance and their wives are buried side by side.
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