Saipan with hell-fire, a tremendous artillery barrage. Four days later, the Marines stormed the beaches. The terrain was mountainous, and the Japanese were dug into caves. As tough as that battle was, the Americans estab- lished a beachhead by the end of the day. June 19th, American radar picked up the approaching IJN fleet 150 miles from their location, and a strike group of 68 planes head- ing towards them. This gave the Americans ample time for a response. Forty One of Japa- nese planes were destroyed. One got through and dropped a bomb on the USS South Dako- ta. A second attack with 107 Japanese planes followed, and they lost all but ten. 9.05 am, the USS Albacore, an American submarine, attacked the aircraft carrier IJN Taiho successfully with torpedoes. 12.20 pm, The USS Cavalla, another American submarine, sunk the IJN ShÅkaku. The Japanese sent another 47 enemy aircraft and lost 7. The last attack was a deadly wave of 82 planes. On their return they flew too close to an American airbase and were intercepted, resulting in 73 destroyed. By the end of the day, the Americans lost 30 planes and the Japanese 364.
Admiral Spruance Art by Howard Koslow, 1984
THE MARIANAS TURKEY SHOOT
Before my unit arrived in the war zone the Americans turned the tide of the entire war. The Japs were still a very dangerous foe, but the Americans now had the upper hand. June 19th, 1944, The United States scored what ended up being one of the most decisive battles of the Pacific War. It was the largest aircraft carrier battle ever fought. Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was tasked to defend the Mariana Islands. He had under his command five fleet carriers, four light carriers, 450 sea-based planes, and 300 land-based planes. Opposing them was Admiral Raymond Spruance of the 5th Fleet, with seven carri- ers, eight light carriers, and 950 Grumman F6 Hellcat fighter planes. The Grumman was designed to counter the Jap Zeros; it featured a battery of six .50 caliber, Browning, heavy machine guns, heavy armor protection, and self-sealing gas tanks. June 15th, the Americans arrived in force with a flotilla of 500 ships. They softened up
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