Spruance launched an assault on February 16-17 against Truk, the Japanese Pearl Harbor, at the same time that Admiral Turners forces were attacking Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls, about 700 miles to the west. At Midway, Spruance's force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. >The fleet units shielding the Marianas invasion forces were also under Spruances command. Aboard the battleship Yamato, Admiral Yamamoto received word that the U.S. fleet was at Midwaynot Pearl Harbor as he had thought. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511. In August 1943, Spruance, now a vice admiral, returned to sea as Commander Central Pacific Force. With Okinawa's fall in June, Spruance rotated back to Pearl Harbor to begin planning the invasion of Japan. But we went in and took their possessions in a few days, without the loss of a single ship. It was bombed by dive bombers from the Enterprise and as scuttled shortly after Nagumo was forced by his staff to evacuate. From 1952 to 1955 Spruance served as the American ambassador to Philippines. His achievements were well-known, but the man himself was a mystery. Naval Academy, graduating in 1906. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, U.S. Navy, April 1955 . Known as "island hopping," U.S. forces moved from island to island, using each as a base for capturing the next. The Eastern Orthodox Church developed from the church in Constantinople. Spruance was calculating and cautious. By 1939, at the age of 53, Spruance had spent 18 years at sea. Navy Secretary Frank Knox said of Kwajalein: The Japanese had been there 20 years. Naval Academy in 1906,[5] and received further, hands-on education in electrical engineering a few years later. He was in this post on June 4, 1942, when the Japanese navy attacked Midway Island in force. Lt Tomanaga leads Japanese Torpedo Bombers to attack the remaining carriers. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. Lieutenant Commander Maxwell Leslies VB-3 from Yorktown attacked the carrier Soryu. That same year he received a new assignment: assistant machinery inspector at the Newport News, Va., dry dock, where the battleship Pennsylvania was being outfitted. [7], Spruance ran a quiet bridge, without chit-chat; he demanded that orders be given concisely and clearly. On June 4, Spruance and Fletcher engaged four Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway. On April 28, the last day of the invasion, Spruances command was redesignated as the Fifth Fleet. It was a cool, clear day. The US intelligence services could predict the way the Japanese carriers and planes would be approaching the battle. With their 233 planes and crews at the ready, the three U.S. flattops were stationed well north of Midway, out of sight of enemy reconnaissance planes. Pratt, F. "Spruance: Picture of the Admiral," Harpers Magazine 193, no. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison believed he was one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history. In the course of a two-hour interview, he stood or walked about all the timenot restlessly, but slowly and deliberately. If this happened, it would enable the Japanese to pinch the Americans between their two carrier forces. Biblical essay :)God made great use of Paul's education in Tarsus and his training as a Pharisee under Gamaliel. The gloomy reports from Nagumo and his other commanders led Yamamoto to suspend his assault on Midway. She went down with Admiral Yamaguchi, an outstanding flag officer who, it was said, would have been Yamamotos successor had he lived. Raymond Spruance was born in Baltimore on July 3, 1886, the son of Alexander and Annie Spruance. Three bombs hammered her. Admiral Ernest J. With World War I raging, he became Assistant Engineer Officer of the New York Navy Yard. He was commissioned an ensign in 1908, and during a tour of shore duty he took a postgraduate course in electrical engineering in Schenectady, N.Y. So the US navy had a good idea of what to expect from the Japanese fleet and how to counterattack it. Notwithstanding their different personalities, Spruance and Halsey were close friends. By that time, he was said to be an expert on the many engines, instruments and guns that go into a battleship. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. More to his liking was the study of foreign methods of naval fire control, which took him to London and Edinburgh. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. Most of Nagumo's attack planes had just returned from the first strike on Midway and were immobilized on the carrier hangers, while his combat air patrol cover planes were engaged with battling torpedo bombers from Hornet. The battle would open in the mist-shrouded Aleutians with airstrikes against Dutch Harbor on June 3, followed by landings at three points on June 6. The three-day operation was the most extensive ever undertaken by carriers. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of Admiral Nagumo. As Allied forces battled on the island, Spruance's ships defeated Operation Ten-Go on April 7 which saw the Japanese battleship Yamato attempt to break through to the island. His air group is credited with the sinking of 4 Japanese aircraft carriers during Midway. Provide at least two examples.Certain lessons in New Testament Survey, as well as outside sources, may be of help to you as you write your report. Covered by fog and lashed by storms most of the time, they were generally unsuitable for air or naval bases. However, Spruances fleet was also charged with guarding the amphibious landings at Saipan and Tinian. When New Mexico was struck by two kamikaze on the night of 12 May 1945 a hasty search by Spruance's staff found the Admiral manning a fire hose amidship. Maintaining a position offshore, the Fifth Fleet's ships were subjected to relentless kamikaze attacks by Japanese aircraft. In January 1945, Spruance resumed command of the fleet and began moving against Iwo Jima. How can these and the knowledge they provide be used to spread His Word? Above all, Midway was the turning point that heralded the ultimate defeat of Japan. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He died on 13 December 1969 at the age of 83. Spruance's seagoing career included command of the destroyers Bainbridge from March 1913 to May 1914, Osborne, three other destroyers, and the battleship Mississippi. Close to Japan, Allied planners intended to use Okinawa as a springboard for the eventual invasion of the Home Islands. Akagi was lashed by bombs, which exploded torpedoes that were being loaded onto her planes, and the crew abandoned ship. A total of 1,132 enemy planes were put out of action. Retiring to Pebble Beach, CA, he died there on December 13, 1969. After six furious minutes, the three carriers were left burning. Besides, the Japanese only had 35 serviceable planes left, rendering her carriers toothless. Known for his calm in moments of crisis, Admiral Spruance became one of the U.S. Navy's largest assets in World War II. The score was 402 Japanese planes and six ships, with a loss of 122 planes from Mitschers flattops. By shortly after 9 a.m., planes from Yorktown were also on their way. Japanese Vice Admiral in command of the Japanese Carrier strike force based on the Aircraft Carrier IJN Akagi. He presided over US Forces in the Pacific during two decisive Allied victories: the Battle of Midway in 1942 and the 1944 Battle of the Philippines Sea. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. At Midway, Spruance's force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. Although some historians and many newsmen have written many words about Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, U.S. Navy and his brilliant career in the Pacific in World War II, the complete story of this reserved and self-effacing man is now being told for the first time by one of his close friends and wartime associates. British Royal Navy units helped support the landings. There are submarines, there are mini-submarines, and then there are human torpedoes. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. Naval Academy in 1906 and from the Naval War College in 1927 where he taught for a few years. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. He was the united states navy fleet admiral in the some of the The battle of Midway was one of the most decisive battle in th Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, Japanese fleet commander, chose to i The small Marine Corps garrison scrambled its handful of Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat and Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighters, but they were too weak and slow to deter the Japanese. Samuel Eliot Morison agreed: Power of decision and coolness in action were perhaps Spruances leading characteristics. [2] He emerged from the war as one of the greater admirals in American naval history. The young, ambitious officer was then assigned to Bainbridge, U.S. destroyer No. The carriers were on station on June 2, and the following day Japanese transport ships were spotted 600 miles west of Midway Island. When Vice Adm. Bull Halsey was confined to a hospital with a skin disease, Pacific Fleet Commander Nimitz appointed Spruance to succeed him as commander of Task Force 16. B. Jim Crow Laws All four of Japans aircraft carriers were sunk, devastating Japans ambitions in the Pacific. With the island's fall, Spruance immediately moved forward with Operation Iceberg. Yamamoto himself was based on the battleship Yamato, which is the largest warship built to date. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. U.S. losses were low: 25 airplanes and 18 lives. He was the grandfather of legendary theatre director Anne Bogart. The US navy ended up winning the battle and historians consider this a major turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. 2015. This was said to be the first time that a four-star admiral took part in a sea action aboard one of the ships engaged. Following a stint aboard USS Cincinnati, Spruance was made commander of the destroyer USS Bainbridge in March 1913 with the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). "Admiral Raymond Spruance". Arriving back in the United States, he underwent additional training in electrical engineering at General Electric before being posted to USS Connecticut (BB-18) in May 1910. This saw Allied forces move against Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. After three days of pre-invasion bombardment, Marines landed on Roi Islet and captured it the same day. [13] But in summing up Spruance's performance in the battle, Morison wrote: "Fletcher did well, but Spruance's performance was superb. At the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese won a tactical victory, but suffered an operational-level defeat: it did not invade Port . In this position, he traveled to London and Edinburgh. Spruance was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service at Midway. Naval Academy in 1906 and received further education in electrical engineering a few years later. The Navy, by law, was limited to four Fleet Admirals; three of these appointments were obvious: Ernest King, Chester Nimitz and William Leahy. Aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of Task Force 17 and Admiral Fletcher. As his staff worked, Halsey used the fleet to win the Battle of Leyte Gulf. [14][15] For his actions at the battle of Midway Rear Admiral Spruance was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and cited as follows: "For exceptionally meritorious service as Task Force Commander, United States Pacific Fleet. In the opening weeks of the conflict, Spruance's cruisers served under Vice Admiral William "Bull" Halsey and took part in raids against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands before striking Wake Island. In May 1942, intelligence suggested that the Japanese were planning on assaulting Midway Island. They would draw them north to deal with a Japanese invasion in the bleak Aleutian Islands, and then strike at unprotected Midway. Akagi and Kaga subsequently went down. Although he broke the back of the Japanese naval air force by sinking three carriers, two oilers and destroying about 600 enemy airplanes (so many that the remaining Japanese carriers were used solely as decoys in the Battle of Leyte Gulf a few months later due to the lack of aircraft and aircrews to fly them) Spruance has been criticized for not being aggressive enough in exploiting his success in the Philippine Sea. The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. The repulse of the Japanese invasion fleet at Midway, and critically the destruction of the Kido Butai, allowed the U.S. to gain parity in the naval air war. After these victories, Spruance went back to Pearl Harbour to assist with planning Japans invasion. He held that post until the following February, when he was ordered back to the Naval War College at Newportthis time as president. The Japanese had been overconfident, and the Americans taught them a bitter lesson. Nimitz had no battleships left after the Pearl Harbor attack, and after the Battle of the Coral Sea there were only two flattops ready for action, Enterprise and Hornet. His steady rise, according to Newsweek magazine, has borne the imprint of his personalityunobtrusive but undeviating. He served as an instructor at the Naval War College from 1935 to 1938. This occurred at the same time that Admiral Turner's forces were attacking Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls, about 700 miles to the east. Fit into his 70s, Spruance spent most of his retirement days wearing old khakis and work shoes and working in his garden and greenhouse; he loved to show them to visitors. They were hurled back decisively, and the losses353 enemy planes downed, 21 U.S. aircraft lostamazed the Americans. 1155 (August 1946): 144-157. World War II: Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, World War II: Battle of the Philippine Sea. He shifted his flag to the old battleship USSNew Mexico of the shore bombardment force after Indianapolis was struck by a Kamikaze off Okinawa. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, is named Spruance Hall. A squadron of US Dive bombers which had arrived late after getting lost ambush the Japanese carriers bombing and resulting in the sinking of three out of four carriers. Weeks later . Meanwhile, the Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands had been carried out as planned on June 3. Fletcher quickly ordered his dive bombers to strike, which fatally damaged the fourth Japanese carrier; it was scuttled the next day. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D. A bust of Spruance is in the lobby. He was decorated with Order of Leopold and Croix de guerre with Palm by the Government of Belgium for his service for the Allied cause.[26]. Both commanders hoped for a classic battle with the Imperial Japanese Navy, but only Mitschers carrier planes were able to reach the enemy. He never smoked and drank little. And with this battle the American forces gained, and afterwards continued to gain, hard combat experience; so the Japanese lost that crucial advantage as well. On 13 May 1945, Admiral Raymond Spruance put pen to paper and described the second kamikaze attack he experienced at Okinawa. That is how the US navy could inflict great damage to the Japanese fleet and aircraft. Lieutenant in command of the USS Yorktown air group. In the fighting, the Japanese lost three carriers and around 600 aircraft. Spruance was detached from command of the Fifth Fleet on November 8, 1945, and he relieved Fleet Admiral Nimitz as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean areas. He attended grade and high schools in East Orange, N.J., and in Indianapolis. He commanded the battleship USS Mississippi from April 1938 to December 1939, when he was promoted to rear admiral. On April 22, Task Force 58s guns and planes supported the U.S. invasion of Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea and Aitape in Australian New Guinea. John C. Waldron. Launched the planes that were responsible for the sinking of nearly all 4 Japanese Carriers at Midway. He readied himself at Stevens Preparatory School in Hoboken, N.J., and entered Annapolis in July 1903 at age 17. C. American Dream Always calm, always at peace with himself, Spruance had that ability which marks the great captain to make correct estimates and the right decisions in a fluid battle situation. Nagumo ordered his planes rearmed on their return. Japanese propagandists pointed to their success in the Aleutians to offset the defeat at Midway, but actually the Aleutians were of little strategic value. At Midway, Spruances force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. Raised in Indianapolis, IN, he attended school locally and graduated from Shortridge High School. [28], His achievements in the navy were well known, but himself much less. Finishing the course, he completed a tour in the Office of Naval Intelligence before being posted to USS Mississippi (BB-41) in October 1929 as executive officer. In October 1946 he was awarded the Armys Distinguished Service Medal for his exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services during the capture of the Marshall and Mariana islands. For that assault, Spruance led the most powerful naval strike force in history. United States bombers sank three Japanese ships. Carrier units of his force penetrated waters of the Japanese homeland and Nansei Shoto. The main auditorium of the U.S. He commanded that vessel during the patrols with the Atlantic Fleet until January 1920, when he assumed command of newly commissioned destroyer USS Percival in San Francisco, California. In July 1907 he transferred to the battleship Minnesota and was aboard her during the historic around the world cruise of the Great White Fleet from 1907 to 1909. At 10.26am on 4 June 1942 the course of World War Two in the Pacific changed utterly. In June 1931, Spruance returned to Newport, RI to serve on the staff of the Naval War College. He was responsible for leading the 5th Fleet into the pivotal Battle of the Philippines Sea, nicknamed the 'Great Marianas Turkey Shoot' because a total of 365 Japanese planes were brought down. 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