Lt. Kabayashi leads Japanese bombers from the Hiryu to attack the USS Yorktown. British Royal Navy units helped support the landings. [28], His achievements in the navy were well known, but himself much less. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. From there, he went on to graduate from the U.S. Summing up his appraisal of this outstanding sailor, Morison noted: Spruance in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, overriding Mitscher the carrier expert in letting the enemy planes come at him instead of going in search of them, won the second most decisive battle of the Pacific war. How can these and the knowledge they provide be used to spread His Word? 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. At the end of the Second World War Congress created a limited number of five-star ranks for the Army and the Navy, designated General of the Army and Fleet Admiral. He never did things the same way twice. 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. The Battle of Midway was fought June 4-7, 1942, during World War II (1939-1945) and was the turning point of the war in the Pacific. 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]. Commanded the first Japanese air strike against Midway Island at the beginning of the battle. Besides his family, he loved the companionship of his pet schnauzer, Peter. Moving into position near Midway, Spruance's force was later joined by Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher's TF 17 which included the carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5). His seagoing career was extensive, including command of five destroyers and the battleship Mississippi. The correct answer to this open question is the following. It was June 4, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance and Admira Fletcher had to engage four Japanese ships in the Battle of Midway. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was the flagship of the second detachment of the carrier strike force. 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. He never smoked, and drank little. Why was Chester W Nimitz important? . Akagi was lashed by bombs, which exploded torpedoes that were being loaded onto her planes, and the crew abandoned ship. Then, reflect on the education opportunities that God has provided us today. No matter what other people tell you, your decision was correct". Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511. Retribution was not long in coming. For his actions, Spruance received the Distinguished Service Medal and, later that month, Nimitz named him as his Chief of Staff and Aide. During this period, Spruance served aboard USS Minnesota (BB-22) during the cruise of the Great White Fleet. Admiral Spruance was buried with full honors alongside Admirals Nimitz and Kelly Turner in a military cemetery overlooking San Francisco Bay. While both Fletcher and Spruance were rear admirals, Fletcher was senior and nominally in overall command. Navy.[4]. The score was 402 Japanese planes and six ships, with a loss of 122 planes from Mitschers flattops. Advertisement Still have questions? Hickman, Kennedy. The Japanese intercepted this and soon started sending messages that "AF was short on water. Yet because of his modest, retiring nature, Spruance was never a popular hero in the manner of Admirals Nimitz, William F. Halsey and Marc A. Mitscher. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance displayed outstanding leadership and command capabilities during the battle that turned the tide in the Pacific. His work would bring him a gold star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. 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. Promoted to captain the following year, he departed to take the position of Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Destroyers, Scouting Fleet in May 1933. Having attained the rank of commander, Spruance attended the Senior Course at the Naval War College in July 1926. United States Rear Admiral in command of Task Force 17 on the USS Yorktown. During the third week of May 1942, U.S. naval intelligence units confirmed that the Japanese wouldby early Juneinvade Midway Island. (. They find and score 3 hits on the USS Yorktown, but also sustain heavy losses. 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. Known as "island hopping," U.S. forces moved from island to island, using each as a base for capturing the next. 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. He is responsible for the Japanese battle plan to attack Midway and the Aleutian Islands. Lieutenant Commander Maxwell Leslies VB-3 from Yorktown attacked the carrier Soryu. Raised in Indianapolis, IN, he attended school locally and graduated from Shortridge High School. Japanese fleet in charge of landing army units on Midway. McClusky led one squadron, VB-6, against the carrier Kaga, while the other Enterprise squadron pounced on Nagumos flagship, Akagi. [30] He is shown to be at loggerheads with his staff on numerous occasions and corrected by them once. When Midway began on June 4, 1942 the first few waves of U.S. aircraft were greatly outnumbered by Japanese forces. After working to defend neutral American shipping from German U-boats, Spruance received orders to take over Cruiser Division Five in September 1941. He advanced quickly through the ranks, becoming an admiral in 1944. Returning to Newport, Spruance remained at the college until retiring from the US Navy on July 1, 1948. 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. Five days after the Marshalls campaign, Spruance sent the Mitscher force to attack Tinian and Saipan in the Mariana Islands. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. 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 All four of Japans aircraft carriers were sunk, devastating Japans ambitions in the Pacific. 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. Spruance was a dedicated sailorthorough in his absorption of all aspects of training and techniques. Spruance's fast carrier commander, Marc Mitscher, told his chief of staff Arleigh Burke: You and I have been in many battles, and we know there are always some mistakes. Lieutenant in command of the USS Yorktown air group. In August 1943, Spruance, now a vice admiral, returned to sea as Commander Central Pacific Force. With the island's fall, Spruance immediately moved forward with Operation Iceberg. [12] Spruance assumed command of Task Force 16 with its two carriers, USSEnterprise and USSHornet, under battle command of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. B. Jim Crow Laws 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. He was then ordered to the China station, with sea duty aboard the battleship Connecticut and the cruiser Cincinnati. After three days of pre-invasion bombardment, Marines landed on Roi Islet and captured it the same day. He's one of the finest officers I know of. Only 17 of the islands 4,690 Japanese defenders survived to become prisoners. Capturing and occupying Midway was the brainchild-plan of commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. But we went in and took their possessions in a few days, without the loss of a single ship. While in that capacity he assumed additional duty as a member of the board on doctrine of aircraft in connection with fleet fire control. It is still the largest warship built to date and survived the battle undamaged as it never came near the battlefield despite Yamamoto's protests. 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. Halsey was aggressive and a risk taker. Hickman, Kennedy. C. The Roman Catholic Church developed in Constantinople. Traveling to the Pacific, he was in this post when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7 forcing the US to enter the war. In July 1941, his responsibilities were expanded to include oversight of the Caribbean Sea Frontier. The assault began at dawn on November 20, 1943, and the fighting raged for 76 hours. Fewer than two days before launch from Pearl Harbor, Nimitz's commander of the fleet carrier force, Admiral Halsey, was hospitalized with severe shingles;[10] Halsey immediately recommended Admiral Spruance to Nimitz as his replacement with Admiral Fletcher receiving overall command. Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II. He did not discuss his private life, feelings, prejudices, hopes or fears, except with his family and his closest friends. 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. Admiral Spruance commanded with deadly precision, reported an observer. 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. Navy Secretary Frank Knox said of Kwajalein: The Japanese had been there 20 years. On December 30, 1914, Spruance married Margaret Vance Dean, the daughter of an Indianapolis businessman. 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. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. [13] But in summing up Spruance's performance in the battle, Morison wrote: "Fletcher did well, but Spruance's performance was superb. "Admiral Raymond Spruance". 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. He loved to show them to visitors. He began attendance at the Naval War College in 1926, and graduated in 1927. President Harry S. Truman appointed him ambassador to the Philippines in January 1952, and he served until March 1955. Shortly after the Midway battle, Spruance became chief of staff to Admiral Nimitz, and in September 1942 was appointed as Deputy Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. Japanese Admiral and a pioneer in aircraft carrier warfare. Shortly before his retirement, Spruance received the following Letter of Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy: Your brilliant record of achievement in World War II played a decisive part in our victory in the Pacific. "[16] Both Fletcher and Nimitz recommended Spruance for the Distinguished Service Medal for his role in the battle. 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. Yet because of his modest, retiring nature, Spruance was never a popular hero in the manner of Admirals Nimitz, William F. Halsey and Marc A. Mitscher. While screening the American invasion of Saipan in June 1944, Spruance defeated the Japanese fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. [7], Spruance ran a quiet bridge, without chit-chat; he demanded that orders be given concisely and clearly. He was fond of symphonic music, and his tastes were generally simple. The gallant carrier was crippled but nearly succeeded in reaching safety before torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-68 finally sank her three days later. Though Spruance had not led a carrier force in the past, Nimitz agreed as the rear admiral would be aided by Halsey's staff, including the gifted Captain Miles Browning. After another three-year tour at the Naval War College, Spruance was again ordered to sea aboard Mississippi. Maintaining a position offshore, the Fifth Fleet's ships were subjected to relentless kamikaze attacks by Japanese aircraft. The Turning Point in the Pacific. Spruance was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and in May 1943 he was promoted to vice admiral. 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. Yet the decision is hailed by the series's narrator as instrumental in sealing the American victory. He was then 55. Bombs destroyed the bridge of Kaga and set her ablaze from stem to stern. 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. The Japanese navy could never accept this catastrophic loss. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the first detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. Lieutenant in command of the USS Enterprise air group. The Navy, by law, was limited to four Fleet Admirals; three of these appointments were obvious: Ernest King, Chester Nimitz and William Leahy. On 13 May 1945, Admiral Raymond Spruance put pen to paper and described the second kamikaze attack he experienced at Okinawa. 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. The combined American force consisted of three carriers, eight cruisers, 15 destroyers, 12 submarines and 353 aircraft, ranged against a grand total of 200 Japanese vessels and 700 planes. Notwithstanding their different personalities, Spruance and Halsey were close friends. Most common sailors were proud to serve under Halsey; most higher-ranking officers preferred to serve under Spruance. 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 . Landing troops on Saipan on June 15, he defeated Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa at the Battle of the Philippine Sea a few days later. They were hurled back decisively, and the losses353 enemy planes downed, 21 U.S. aircraft lostamazed the Americans. Web. On August 1, 1941, he finished his tour in Puerto Rico. Aboard the Japanese flattops, many torpedo-carrying planes were waiting for fighters to take off as the American planes dived. 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. Japanese fleet under the direct command of Admiral Yamamoto with over 5 battleships and escort carrier Hosho. The U.S. fleet lost fewer men, but it lost a fleet carrier while the Japanese lost only the light carrier Shoho. All three were eventually scuttled. This time we were right because the enemy did what we expected him to do. He held that post until the following February, when he was ordered back to the Naval War College at Newportthis time as president. The enemy units were forced to withdraw their battered aircraft carrier Shokaku, while the Americans had to abandon the old, cherished carrier Lexington. But his service was not yet finished. It was hit multiple times by aircraft from the IJN Hiryu and later torpedoed by a Japanese submarine before sinking. 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. Naval Academy in 1906 and from the Naval War College in 1927 where he taught for a few years. [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. 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. In the seven-week campaign, 55 Japanese ships were sunk, five probably sunk and 74 damaged. Three bombs hammered her. 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. 2015. The attack fails to destroy any airfields or major targets. At 10.26am on 4 June 1942 the course of World War Two in the Pacific changed utterly. And, off Okinawa, Spruance never faltered in face of the destruction wrought by the kamikazes. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. On June 19, however, hundreds of planes from nine Japanese aircraft carriers attacked the Fifth Fleet. Some people asked why he did not take take advantage of the chaotic scene to attack all of Japans air carriers. Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral in World War II. HistoryLearning.com. B. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. It was interesting work, but I wouldnt want to do it for a living. 6 (June 1955): 658-659. A. Desegregation of Society 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. Spruance received the Navy Cross for his actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.[23]. 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. A number of strategic and tactical errors contributed to the Japanese defeat: Yamamotos virtual isolation on the bridge of Yamato and his failure to maintain an overall grip on the strategic situation; a loss of nerve on the part of Nagumo; tradition that led Yamaguchi and other enemy commanders to go down with their ships instead of trying to recover the initiative; insufficient reconnaissance against the U.S. carriers; a lack of high-altitude fighter cover; inadequate fire precautions aboard the ships; and the launching of airstrikes from all four fleet carriers at the same time, so that there was a critical period when the Japanese carrier force had little defensive capability. He was a diligent, neat and gentle boy. Towards the end of that year, Spruance commanded a cruiser division supporting Admiral Halsey's carrier, the 'Enterprise', at Wake Island. On October 16, 1946, the former Secretary of War, Robert P. Patterson, presented the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral Spruance, with citation as follows: Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, U.S. Navy, as Task Force Commander during the capture of the Marshall and Marianas Islands, rendered exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services from January to June 1944. Spruance's first duty assignment was aboard the battleship USSIowa, an 11,400 ton veteran of the SpanishAmerican War. The two admirals were a contrast in styles. 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. 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. United States bombers sank three Japanese ships. [27], Spruance was an active man who thought nothing of walking eight or 10 miles a day. society in the 1950s? Adding to the surprise factor was the fact that Admirals Yamamoto and Nagumo did not believe the U.S. Pacific Fleet was at sea. The Battle of Midway infused the U.S. Pacific Navy with confidence. Admiral Halsey was given command of the Third Fleet, and later that year Task Force 58 was transferred to Halseys fleet. In the course of a two-hour interview, he stood or walked about all the timenot restlessly, but slowly and deliberately. A total of 1,132 enemy planes were put out of action. "[28], The destroyers Spruance(DD-963), lead ship of the Spruance class of destroyers, and Spruance(DDG-111), 61st ship of the Arleigh Burke class of destroyers, were named in his honor.[29]. In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Spruance commanded the four heavy cruisers and support ships of Cruiser Division Five from his flagship, the heavy cruiser USSNorthampton. "When I look at myself objectively," he wrote in retirement, "I think that what success I may have achieved through life is largely due to the fact that I am a good judge of men. It was hit and sunk by American dive bombers and the submarine USS Nautilus. The struggle by the U.S. Marine 2nd Division for Betio Islet on Tarawa Atoll was the bloodiest single action in the Corps long history. So he changed course northeastward, avoiding the first wave of dive bombers launched against him from Spruances carriers. 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). It was spotted by scouts from the USS Hornet and destroyed by planes from the Enterprise. After six furious minutes, the three carriers were left burning. Morisons text refers to Spruance, victor at Midway. [4] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Shortridge High School. The Iwo Jima and Okinawa actions lasted from January to May 1945, and in August the Japanese surrendered. In 1916 he aided in the fitting out of the battleship Pennsylvania and he served on board her from her commissioning in June 1916 until November 1917. 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. For his actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Spruance was awarded the Navy Cross. Its commanding officers Admiral Yamaguchi and the ship's captain both stayed aboard their ship. 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. Then followed two years as assistant chief of staff to the commander of naval forces in Europe; a year of study at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where he completed the senior course; and two years of duty in the Office of Naval Intelligence. This was followed by a promotion to Deputy Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet in September. Early on the morning of Thursday, June 4, 1942, Nagumos carriers launched a 108-plane strike against Midway and inflicted The Japanese had been battered for weeks by aerial bombardment, and knew the invasion was imminent. He was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. King said to him "Spruance, you did a damn fine job there. During the attacks, the Japanese lost twelve warships, thirty-two merchant ships, and 249 aircraft. Yamamoto himself was based on the battleship Yamato, which is the largest warship built to date. Thus the Americans knew the Japanese planned to move toward Midway. Admiral Spruance died on 13 December 1969, at his home in Pebble Beach , California. Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command. He withdrew his ships westward, still hoping to draw Spruance into a trap. The airstrips in the Gilberts were put to good use two months later when they were used in the invasion of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Shortly before leaving the Naval War College and retiring from the Navy on July 1, 1948, Admiral Spruance received a letter of commendation from the secretary of the Navy that read: Your brilliant record of achievement in World War II played a decisive part in our victory in the Pacific. 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. That is how the US navy could inflict great damage to the Japanese fleet and aircraft. The first Japanese airstrike was followed by another. Spruance was an active man who thought nothing of walking eight or 10 miles a day. It Didnt End Well. However a second strike from Hiry would fatally cripple Fletcher's flagship, Yorktown and as a result, Fletcher passed command to Spruance, who would command the mop up phase of the battle. 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. On the afternoon of June 4, 24 American dive bombersincluding 10 refugees from Yorktownscored four hits on Hiryu. Spruance was calculating and cautious. 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. He was drafted on short notice for his date with destiny. Admiral Raymond Spruance served in US Navy during World War Two. A. This was followed by an assault on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands on January 31, 1944. Naval History and Heritage Command, "Biography of Raymond A. Spruance Press Release July 24, 1941, United States Navy Department", "Adm Spruance's Fitrep after Battle of Midway", Citation, Navy Cross, Raymond A. Spruance, "Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance America's Navy", "News Release: Navy Names Two New Guided Missile Destroyers", "War & Remembrance (Part 3) (May 26 July 25, 1942)", "War & Remembrance (Part 3) (May 26 July 25, 1942) 1988", Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 19411942, The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 19421944, Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 19441945, United States Ambassadors to the Philippines, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raymond_A._Spruance&oldid=1137739908, Ambassadors of the United States to the Philippines, High Commissioners of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army), Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States), Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Articles with dead external links from July 2022, Articles with dead external links from December 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 05:43. 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Draw Spruance into a trap this time we were right because how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet enemy what. Us today merchant ships, and the ship 's captain both stayed aboard their ship 2nd for. Were put out of action them once first time that a four-star admiral took part a... Had been there 20 years command of the destruction wrought by the series narrator. Destroyers and the losses353 enemy planes downed, 21 U.S. aircraft were greatly outnumbered by Japanese forces wouldnt to. Major targets fond of symphonic music, and in August 1943, his! Of World War Two in the Pacific vice admiral army units on Midway May 1942, Naval... For Betio Islet on Tarawa Atoll was the flagship of the Islands 4,690 defenders. ], Spruance married Margaret Vance Dean, the Fifth fleet 's ships were subjected to relentless kamikaze attacks Japanese., 21 U.S. aircraft lostamazed the Americans knew the Japanese had been there 20.! Officers admiral Yamaguchi and the knowledge they provide be used to spread his Word planes from Mitschers flattops the Enterprise. Japanese submarine I-68 finally sank her three days later Islet on Tarawa Atoll was the bloodiest single action in battle... Sea Frontier bridge, without chit-chat ; he demanded that orders be given and... Admirals how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet Fletcher was senior and nominally in overall command Kabayashi leads bombers! Officers preferred to serve under how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet they were hurled back decisively, and in August the Japanese lost twelve,... Fletcher had to engage four Japanese ships in the course how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet a two-hour interview, he stood walked... Symphonic music, and the submarine USS Nautilus June 1942 the course of a single ship your decision correct! 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