He was drafted on short notice for his date with destiny. From there, he went on to graduate from the U.S. He also commanded Task Force 16 at the Battle of Midway, comprising the carriers Enterprise and Hornet. Hickman, Kennedy. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison believed he was one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history. Determining that New Mexico was not too badly damaged to remain on station Spruance kept her as his flagship for the rest of the campaign. All three were eventually scuttled. The Marine fighters and anti-aircraft fire shot down or badly damaged about a third of the enemy attack group. From 1952 to 1955 Spruance served as the American ambassador to Philippines. After Rome fell, the bishop of Constantinople became the most pow A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Spruance commanded cruisers during the early months of the conflict and first came to prominence for helping lead American forces to victory at the pivotal Battle of Midway in June 1942. On February 19, American forces landed and opened the Battle of Iwo Jima. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Covered by fog and lashed by storms most of the time, they were generally unsuitable for air or naval bases. Yamamoto himself was based on the battleship Yamato, which is the largest warship built to date. This was followed by an assault on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands on January 31, 1944. Yamato class battleship that served as the Japanese Combined Fleet's Flagship, housing Admiral Yamamoto. 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. He also held several engineering, intelligence, staff and Naval War College positions up to the 1940s. About us| With the island's fall, Spruance immediately moved forward with Operation Iceberg. His torpedo bombershaving switched to bombs for the attack on Midwaywere away, and most of his protective fighters were out on patrol. Before Midway, a small and fractional U.S. Navy faced an overwhelmingly larger and battle-hardened Japanese Combined Fleet. The heavily fortified islands, former British possessions, were of strategic value because of their good landing strips and naval base. His wife, Margaret Dean (18881985), is buried alongside him, as are Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, his longtime friend Admiral Richmond K. Turner, and Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, an arrangement made by all of them while living. [30] He is shown to be at loggerheads with his staff on numerous occasions and corrected by them once. 2015. Leaving, he assumed command of USS Mississippi. He was appointed as Ambassador to the Philippines by President Harry S. Truman, and served there from 1952 to 1955. Admiral Spruance died on 13 December 1969, at his home in Pebble Beach , California. By 1939, at the age of 53, Spruance had spent 18 years at sea. The Battle of Midway was the first major victory for the United States over Japan and is seen by many as . ThoughtCo, Jul. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was the flagship of the second detachment of the carrier strike force. Admiral Spruances last campaigns were the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. Most historians consider Midway the turning point of the Pacific War.[1]. 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. Spruance received the Navy Cross for his actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.[23]. However, an invasion was rendered unnecessary when the atomic bomb was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Yorktowns planes hit Soryu as she was turning into the wind to launch aircraft. Then he returned to the Naval War College as a staff member. He was dragged out of his flagship Akagi before it sank against his will. A. 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. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the second detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. Retribution was not long in coming. United States Rear Admiral in command of Task Force 17 on the USS Yorktown. Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command. [Admiral Spruance wrote this foreward for Mitsuo Fuchida's book, Midway, The Battle That Doomed Japan; The Japanese Navy's . He was promoted to captain in 1932, and the following year he was assigned as chief of staff and aide to the commander of a destroyer scouting force. For more great articles subscribe to World War II magazine today! For his actions, Spruance received the Distinguished Service Medal and, later that month, Nimitz named him as his Chief of Staff and Aide. US Naval Task Force under Frank Fletcher with aircraft carrier Yorktown. The Turning Point in the Pacific. Falling ill with shingles, Halsey recommended that Spruance lead Task Force 16, centered on the carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Hornet (CV-8), in his stead. He wrote the day after the attack and the same day he attended funeral services for the 54 Sailors and Marines killed in the attack. Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II.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.He also commanded Task Force 16 at the Battle of Midway, comprising the carriers Enterprise and Hornet. He readied himself at Stevens Preparatory School in Hoboken, N.J., and entered Annapolis in July 1903 at age 17. Flagship of Kakuta. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. Adding to the surprise factor was the fact that Admirals Yamamoto and Nagumo did not believe the U.S. Pacific Fleet was at sea. 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. The Japanese planned to outwit the U.S. forces at Midway. After his flagship, the IJN Hiryu, was fatally damaged, he and the Hiryu's captain Tomeo Kaku locked themselves in the bridge and went down with their ship. In August 1943 Spruance was placed in command of the Central Pacific Force, which, on April 29, 1944, was redesignated as the Fifth Fleet. It would become on of the last aircraft carriers to be sunk in a war in all of history during the battle of Leyte Gulf 2-3 years later. 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. After his funeral, he was buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery near the grave of his wartime commander, Nimitz. It was bombed by dive bombers from the Enterprise and as scuttled shortly after Nagumo was forced by his staff to evacuate. [4] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Shortridge High School. The U.S. Navy's decisive victory in the air-sea battle (June 3-6, 1942) and its successful defense of the major base located at Midway Island dashed Japan's hopes of neutralizing the United. His work would bring him a gold star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. When she went to sea in 1916, he went with her. Two minutes later, 37 dive bombers from Enterprise, led by Lt. Cmdr. At Midway, Spruances force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. The Americans lost 74 carrier planes; the Japanese 80. He organized the Japanese counterattack on the American carriers and is credited with the sinking of the USS Yorktown, the only American Carrier sunk at Midway. B. For exceptionally meritorious service 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., (Citation on Rear Admiral Spruances Navy Distinguished Service Medal, awarded for his conduct at the Battle of Midway). And, off Okinawa, Spruance never faltered in face of the destruction wrought by the kamikazes. In June 1942 the United States and Japan fought for control of Midway Island in the South Pacific. Four days after the invasion, all immediate objectives had been taken, and by February 8, 1944, all organized resistance had ceased. Meanwhile, his search planes found no sign of any American warships. The American losses were Yorktown, destroyer Hammann and 147 planes. Lt. Kabayashi leads Japanese bombers from the Hiryu to attack the USS Yorktown. The surviving carrier, Hiry, gave the Japanese some brief respite by sending strikes that again damaged Yorktown. >The fleet units shielding the Marianas invasion forces were also under Spruances command. 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. The defenders fought fiercely but were unable to inflict any damage on the U.S. vessels. This occurred at the same time that Admiral Turner's forces were attacking Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls, about 700 miles to the east. [9] On the other hand, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz knew he must intercept the Japanese invasion fleet, and that he must give battle to the enemy aircraft carriers before they could project their overwhelming power against the naval air station at Midway. World War II: Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, World War II: Battle of the Philippine Sea. Admiral William L. Calhoun saw him as a cold-blooded fighting fool. As the war progressed, Spruance became one of two primary . Morisons text refers to Spruance, victor at Midway. At that time, Admiral Nimitz instituted a unique arrangement in which the command of the vessels which made up the "Big Blue Fleet" alternated between Admiral William Halsey Jr., at which time it was identified as the Third Fleet and Task Force 38, and Admiral Spruance, when it became the Fifth Fleet and Task Force 58. Weeks later . 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 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. A number of torpedo squadrons from the airfields and carriers launch attacks on the Japanese carriers but score no hits and almost all planes involved were shot down. The Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis has a meeting room named for Spruance as well as displays honoring his career and that of the USS Indianapolis. My mind is blank. At 0530 June 4, a scout plane from Midway sighted the Kido Butai, however the scout only reported sighting "Two carriers and battleships", and giving course and speed. 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. Make sure to provide references and acknowledgement for any sources you use. Though this gamble paid off, Enterprise air squadrons would pay a heavy price, flying in piece-meal and mostly without fighter escort. While screening the American invasion of Saipan in June 1944, Spruance defeated the Japanese fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Known for his calm in moments of crisis, Admiral Spruance became one of the U.S. Navy's largest assets in World War II. catalogued as someone to watch; there was never any possibility that he would be passed over in the lists for promotion. Aboard the Japanese flattops, many torpedo-carrying planes were waiting for fighters to take off as the American planes dived. It's commanding officer, Captain Yanagimoto, volunteered to stay aboard and go down with his ship. He later volunteered to fly a damaged plane and was killed leading the second of Hiryu's counterattacks against the USS Yorktown. Close to Japan, Allied planners intended to use Okinawa as a springboard for the eventual invasion of the Home Islands. Write down what your favorite food is and why to get 50 points :), Select TWO facts about the relationship between Constantinople and Christianity. In one incident a distraught officer rushed to report, "Captain, we've just dropped a depth charge over the stern!" By shortly after 9 a.m., planes from Yorktown were also on their way. Spruance himself directed a task group of battleships, cruisers and destroyers that left the main body to go after Japanese ships that were fleeing Truk, sinking the light cruiser Katori and destroyer Maikaze. It was a cool, clear day. He advanced quickly through the ranks, becoming an admiral in 1944. He lived quietly at Pebble Beach until December 13, 1969, when he died of arteriosclerosis at the age of 83. The Saipan campaign began with air attacks on June 10, 1944. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. Akagi was lashed by bombs, which exploded torpedoes that were being loaded onto her planes, and the crew abandoned ship. This saw Allied forces move against Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Japanese fleet under the direct command of Admiral Yamamoto with over 5 battleships and escort carrier Hosho. Successfully concluding operations, Spruance was promoted to admiral in February. Since the Japanese planes were returning from the Midway strike, Spruance ordered that his strike be launched without delay so as to maximize the chances that the Japanese carriers would be caught while landing planes or spotting the next wave. Halsey was aggressive and a risk taker. Spruance, Raymond A. He served as an instructor at the Naval War College from 1935 to 1938. Advertisement Still have questions? Admiral Spruance said that what they did was to wait until the Japanese ships were refueling, carrying weapons, and preparing their aircraft to attack them because the Japanese were in a vulnerable position. Why was Chester W Nimitz important? He organized the Japanese counterattack on the American carriers and is credited with the sinking of the USS Yorktown, the only American Carrier sunk at Midway. He did not discuss his private life, feelings, prejudices, hopes or fears, except with his family and his closest friends. 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. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. Once theBattle of the Philippine Sea came to an end, Spruance returned to Pearl Harbour to help plan other landings in the future. 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. He began attendance at the Naval War College in 1926, and graduated in 1927. More to his liking was the study of foreign methods of naval fire control, which took him to London and Edinburgh. After Midway, although the Japanese still held a temporary advantage in vessels and planes, the U.S. Navy and the nation gained confidence and, most critically, time. He was the grandfather of legendary theatre director Anne Bogart. Spruances fleet had prevented the Japanese from reinforcing the Saipan garrison. John C. Waldron. Fifteen Buffaloes and two Wildcats were lost, but the garrisons anti-aircraft fire was effective. No matter what other people tell you, your decision was correct". Commanding the battleship for nearly two years, Spruance was aboard when World War II began in Europe. This approach of bypassing Japanese strong points, such as Truk, was applied on a large scale as the Allies devised their strategy for moving across the central Pacific. The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. The three-day operation was the most extensive ever undertaken by carriers. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. Then it was back to Pebble Beach. On 13 May 1945, Admiral Raymond Spruance put pen to paper and described the second kamikaze attack he experienced at Okinawa. The following year, they made me executive officer of the transport Agamemnon, bringing troops home from France. Hickman, Kennedy. [7], Spruance ran a quiet bridge, without chit-chat; he demanded that orders be given concisely and clearly. 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how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet