The Turning Point in the Pacific. Returning to Newport, Spruance remained at the college until retiring from the US Navy on July 1, 1948. 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. After these victories, Spruance went back to Pearl Harbour to assist with planning Japans invasion. Meanwhile, his search planes found no sign of any American warships. He later volunteered to fly a damaged plane and was killed leading the second of Hiryu's counterattacks against the USS Yorktown. This was followed by a promotion to Deputy Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet in September. 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. Then it was back to Pebble Beach. The American offensive in the Pacific theater was now enjoying considerable momentum, aided in no small measure by Rear Adm. Marc Mitschers Task Force 58, the most powerful and destructive unit in the history of sea warfare. Fifteen Buffaloes and two Wildcats were lost, but the garrisons anti-aircraft fire was effective. This saw him win a victory at Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944 as part of the Allied "island-hopping" campaign across the Pacific. Commanding the battleship for nearly two years, Spruance was aboard when World War II began in Europe. The battle commenced on the morning of June4; the first several waves of U.S. attack aircraft were badly beaten, both near Midway and at sea around the Japanese task force. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. The Navy honored Spruance by giving his name to a new class of 30 destroyers, the first of which, USS Spruance, was launched in 1973. The Japanese lost 19 ships sunk, seven probably sunk and more than 200 aircraft destroyed, and their installations were bombed and strafed. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the second detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. As part of this reorganization, the force became known as the Fifth Fleet when Spruance was in charge and the Third Fleet when Halsey was in command. Spruance was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service at Midway. In June 1942 the United States and Japan fought for control of Midway Island in the South Pacific. Naval Academy, graduating in 1906. No detail was too small to bring these American prisoners home. His new duties involved planning rather than operations, and Spruance chafed for more action. Captain George C. Dyer of the light cruiser Astoria, who served under both Spruance and Halsey, summed up the view of many ship captains: My feeling was one of confidence when Spruance was there. The fourth was a choice between Halsey and Spruance, and after much deliberation, eventually Halsey was appointed in December 1945. Lieutenant aboard the Hiryu who led and was killed during the first Japanese counterattack after the sinking of 3 Japanese aircraft carriers. [7], Spruance served in Washington until early 1924, when he was ordered to the headquarters, Commander Naval Force in Europe. 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. Not till many months later did American intelligence ferret out the facts."[33]. [31] The series, based on Herman Wouk's book of the same name, shows Spruance's decision to end the battle and retreat rather than confront the rest of the Japanese fleet as having been opposed by his subordinates, and he was mocked behind his back as "lacking the stomach." 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. Lieutenant in command of the USS Yorktown air group. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. For his actions, Spruance received the Distinguished Service Medal and, later that month, Nimitz named him as his Chief of Staff and Aide. [2] He emerged from the war as one of the greater admirals in American naval history. During the joint operations leading to the assault and capture of the important enemy bases, complete integration of Army and Navy units was accomplished under his outstanding leadership, enabling all the forces to perform their closely co-ordinated missions with outstanding success.[24]. Spruance commanded US naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific theater, the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. >On March 29, 1944, Admiral Spruance took tactical command of a three-pronged assault against the Palau Islands, 550 miles east of the Philippines, and against Yap Island and Ulithi Atoll in the western Carolines. For most of the war, Spruance preferred to use the heavy cruiser USSIndianapolis, named for his hometown, as his flagship. Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command. Spruances fleet had prevented the Japanese from reinforcing the Saipan garrison. As the island-hopping campaign began, MacArthur continued his . "Well, pick it up and put it back," was Spruance's measured response.[8]. Unites States Rear Admiral in command of Task Force 16 on the USS Enterprise. Answer: Admiral Yamamoto had hoped to fight a classic-style sea battle with battleships, but Spruance had proved that the aircraft carrier was now emerging as the capital ship of naval combat forces. The Eastern Orthodox Church developed from the church in Constantinople. The USS Enterprise ambushes and sinks the Hiryu. World War II: Fleet Admiral William Halsey Jr. World War II Pacific: The Japanese Advance Stopped, M.S., Information and Library Science, Drexel University, B.A., History and Political Science, Pennsylvania State University. society in the 1950s? In one incident a distraught officer rushed to report, "Captain, we've just dropped a depth charge over the stern!" But they expected it to come at the obvious and exposed outer fringe, and when we struck at the heart of the archipelago with a huge fleet that had approached undetected, we enjoyed complete tactical surprise. World War II: Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, World War II: Battle of the Philippine Sea. 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. Two minutes later, 37 dive bombers from Enterprise, led by Lt. Cmdr. Spruance expressed his personal feelings on this matter as follows: So far as my getting five star rank is concerned, if I could have got it along with Bill Halsey, that would have been fine; but, if I had received it instead of Bill Halsey, I would have been very unhappy over it. "World War II: Admiral Raymond Spruance." He's one of the finest officers I know of. He suggested Spruance replace him as commander of the Fleet carrier force, despite the fact that Spruce had little experience with carriers. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. They find and score 3 hits on the USS Yorktown, but also sustain heavy losses. Aboard the Japanese flattops, many torpedo-carrying planes were waiting for fighters to take off as the American planes dived. The Fifth Fleet commanders citation read: Responsible for the operation of a vast and complicated organization which included more than 500,000 men of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, 318 combatant vessels and 1,139 auxiliary vessels, [he] directed the forces under his command with daring, courage and aggressiveness. Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Spruance, Raymond A. But due to a printing error on the executive calendar of nominations, Spruance was officially promoted only to his former rank of vice admiral. 2015. Richmond Kelly Turner and Harry W. Hill and Marine Generals Holland M. Smith and Julian C. Smith. In January 1945, Spruance resumed command of the fleet and began moving against Iwo Jima. Spruance's rise to fame . In May 1914, Spruance received a posting as Assistant to the Inspector of Machinery at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. US Navy SBD dive bombers at the Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. The Americans were able to count on Yorktown, however, after patching her up in an astonishing two days instead of 90 days as had been estimated. Admiral Yamamoto had hoped to fight a classic-style sea battle with battleships, but Spruance had proved that the aircraft carrier was now emerging as the capital ship of naval combat forces. Naval Academy at Annapolis. I finally wangled two months at sea, in 1918, before the war was over. But what was important about this actionthe first naval battle in history fought by fleets that never came within sight of each otherwas that the U.S. Navy had thwarted the enemys planned capture of Port Moresby in strategic New Guinea. A total of 1,132 enemy planes were put out of action. Analyzing Information How does Admiral Spruance explain the U.S. victory Privacy Policy, Admiral Raymond Spruance served in US Navy during. His father wanted him to go to West Point, but young Raymond yearned to go to sea. I can thank heredity for a sound constitution, and myself for taking care of that constitution." British Royal Navy units helped support the landings. Two years later, Spruance again received orders for the Naval War College and taught on the staff until April 1938. One commentator said: The quick success of the offensive was attributed to the strategic daring by which Vice Admiral Spruances forces cut behind the eastern chain of the Marshalls. To the Aleutians, the Japanese dispatched an invasion task force of three transports carrying 2,400 troops, supported by two heavy cruisers, a two-carrier support force and a covering group of four battleships. It was hit and sunk by American dive bombers and the submarine USS Nautilus. Before the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7-8 May 1942, the Imperial Navy of Japan had swept aside all of its enemies from the Pacific and Indian oceans. When Nimitz named him commander of the disputed Central Pacific Area, this made him responsible for the planning and execution of the attack on the Gilbert Islands in November 1943. He commanded U.S. naval forces during one of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Japanese aircraft carrier squadron under the command of Chuichi Nagumo in command of aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu. His work would bring him a gold star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. During the Midway engagement which resulted in the defeat of and heavy losses to the enemy fleet, his seamanship, endurance, and tenacity in handling his task force were of the highest quality. The other U.S. flattop, Yorktown, escaped with one bomb hit. He did not discuss his private life, feelings, prejudices, hopes or fears, except perhaps with his family and his closest friends. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. "World War II: Admiral Raymond Spruance." When Midway began on June 4, 1942 the first few waves of U.S. aircraft were greatly outnumbered by Japanese forces. He took part in organising the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and led the 5th Fleet in these two final battles. 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. D. The Pope lived in Constantinople. While screening the American invasion of Saipan in June 1944, Spruance defeated the Japanese fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Because of gaps in the search patterns flown by the Japanese, the American carriers were able to approach unseen. 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. D. Suburban America, 100 POINTS! At the crucial Battle of Midway your daring and skilled leadership routed the enemy in the full tide of his advance and established the pattern of air-sea warfare which was to lead to his eventual capitulation[24]. Mounting a tenacious defense, the Japanese held out for over a month. But his service was not yet finished. catalogued as someone to watch; there was never any possibility that he would be passed over in the lists for promotion. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. Raymond Ames Spruance as Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee - 1945 Flagship of Kakuta. Spruance began World War II as a gunship admiral, commanding a division of . northwestward of Midway. Spruance became a shadowy sort of legend in the Navy. During the operation, the Fifth Fleet burned up 630 million gallons of fuelmore than the entire Pacific Fleet used in 1943. [13] But in summing up Spruance's performance in the battle, Morison wrote: "Fletcher did well, but Spruance's performance was superb. Spruance served as executive officer of USS Mississippi from October 1929 to June 1931. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters, Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers and Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers thundered off the flight decks and rose to search for the enemy carriers. The score was 402 Japanese planes and six ships, with a loss of 122 planes from Mitschers flattops. The US navy ended up winning the battle and historians consider this a major turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Meanwhile, the Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands had been carried out as planned on June 3. C. The Roman Catholic Church developed in Constantinople. Japanese Admiral and a pioneer in aircraft carrier warfare. Then Nagumo was dumbfounded to receive a search planes report of 10 enemy ships to the northeast, where no U.S. ships were supposed to be. About his intellect he was equally unpretentious: Some people believe that when I am quiet that I am thinking some deep and important thoughts, when the fact is that I am thinking of nothing at all. Notwithstanding their different personalities, Spruance and Halsey were close friends. Hickman, Kennedy. After Rome fell, the bishop of Constantinople became the most pow Make sure to provide references and acknowledgement for any sources you use. Mitschers force pursued the Japanese fleet and engaged it the following day in the Philippine Sea, sinking the light carrier Hiyo and two oilers (in addition to which submarines Albacore and Cavalla had sunk Taiho and Shokaku the previous day). After further schooling at the Stevens Preparatory School in New Jersey, Spruance applied to and was accepted by the US Naval Academy in 1903. Spruance had earned a restful retirement at his home in Pebble Beach, Calif., 125 miles south of San Francisco, with his wife, son and daughter. On November 24, Spruance relieved Nimitz as Commander, US Pacific Fleet. Halsey was aggressive and a risk taker. The Japanese planned to outwit the U.S. forces at Midway. "Foreward for Midway." US Naval Institute Proceedings 81, no. The Japanese managed to inflict only superficial damage on three ships. In 1939 he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, is named Spruance Hall. Admiral William L. Calhoun saw him as a cold-blooded fighting fool. Since US intelligence had reported the possibility that the Kido Butai would be operating in two separate task forces, that meant that Fletcher only knew the location of half of the carrier force. The gallant carrier was crippled but nearly succeeded in reaching safety before torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-68 finally sank her three days later. Fletcher quickly ordered his dive bombers to strike, which fatally damaged the fourth Japanese carrier; it was scuttled the next day. Morison said: Keeping in his mind the picture of widely disparate forces, yet boldly seizing every opening, Raymond A. Spruance emerged from this battle one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history.He was bold and aggressive when the occasion demanded offensive tactics; cautious when pushing his luck too far might have lost the fruits of victory.