One exception was Admiral John Towers, a constant critic of Spruance, whom Spruance came to despise for his naked ambition.[18]. He is responsible for the Japanese battle plan to attack Midway and the Aleutian Islands. Raymond A. Spruance. Two years later, he aided in the fitting out of USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) then under construction in the yard. United States bombers sank three Japanese ships. The Japanese navy could never accept this catastrophic loss. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. B. Jim Crow Laws This was in July 1938, and this time he was the battleships commander. He was uniquely modest and candid about himself all his life. The Americans were gravely outnumbered by the lurking enemy armada. 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. 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. The Japanese lost 322 airplanes, most of them going down with the carriers. He disliked personal publicity and had a reputation for freezing reporters who invaded his privacy. The Battle of Midway was the first major victory for the United States over Japan and is seen by many as . [3] After the war, Spruance was appointed President of the Naval War College, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. Ambassador to the Philippines in 1952-55. While in that capacity he assumed additional duty as a member of the board on doctrine of aircraft in connection with fleet fire control. Things did not look hopeful for Spruance and his force on the eve of Midway. 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. Leaving, he assumed command of USS Mississippi. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. 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. 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 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. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff under Vice admiral Philip Andrews during the period of tensions between Greece and Turkey and was decorated with the Gold Cross of the Order of the Savior by the Government of Greece for his service. He was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Japanese escort carrier that was mainly responsible for launching scouts attached to Combined Fleet main body. the prospects for its inclusion in doctrine The logical starting point is Admiral Chester Nimitz's famous "letter of instruction" (actually, of course, transmitted . I finally wangled two months at sea, in 1918, before the war was over. 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. Spruance was about to face the sternest test in his long, distinguished career. Japanese Vice Admiral in command of the Japanese Carrier strike force based on the Aircraft Carrier IJN Akagi. This was followed by an assault on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands on January 31, 1944. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. 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. 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. ThoughtCo. 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. The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific War. Adding to the surprise factor was the fact that Admirals Yamamoto and Nagumo did not believe the U.S. Pacific Fleet was at sea. U.S. losses were low: 25 airplanes and 18 lives. 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. Most historians consider Midway the turning point of the Pacific War.[1]. United States Rear Admiral in command of Task Force 17 on the USS Yorktown. 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. Admiral Halsey was given command of the Third Fleet, and later that year Task Force 58 was transferred to Halseys fleet. >The fleet units shielding the Marianas invasion forces were also under Spruances command. For that assault, Spruance led the most powerful naval strike force in history. Japanese Admiral in command of the second division of the carrier strike force based on Aircraft Carrier IJN Hiryu. She went down with Admiral Yamaguchi, an outstanding flag officer who, it was said, would have been Yamamotos successor had he lived. The Japanese carriers were beginning to launch fighters as Torpedo 8 roared down to attack, without fighter cover. Naval Academy in 1906 and received further education in electrical engineering a few years later. Four days after the invasion, all immediate objectives had been taken, and by February 8, 1944, all organized resistance had ceased. Spruance's first duty assignment was aboard the battleship USSIowa, an 11,400 ton veteran of the SpanishAmerican War. Lieutenant aboard the Hiryu who led and was killed during the first Japanese counterattack after the sinking of 3 Japanese aircraft carriers. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser, How does Admiral Spruance explain the U.S. victory, The Brown case began what trend in American 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. Capturing and occupying Midway was the brainchild-plan of commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. While both Fletcher and Spruance were rear admirals, Fletcher was senior and nominally in overall command. Maintaining a position offshore, the Fifth Fleet's ships were subjected to relentless kamikaze attacks by Japanese aircraft. [7], He commanded the Percival during the sea trials off the California coast and during the patrol cruises with the Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet until May 1922, when he was ordered to Washington, D.C., for duty in the Bureau of Engineering under Rear Admiral John K. Robison. I am lazy, and I never have done things myself that I could get someone to do for me. The Americans lost only 17 planes and no ships. 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. Morison, "Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions: May 1942 August 1942". Besides his family, he loved the companionship of his pet schnauzer, Peter. Yorktowns planes hit Soryu as she was turning into the wind to launch aircraft. In August 1943 Spruance was placed in command of the Central Pacific Force, which, on April 29, 1944, was redesignated as the Fifth Fleet. 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. Close to Japan, Allied planners intended to use Okinawa as a springboard for the eventual invasion of the Home Islands. This time we were right because the enemy did what we expected him to do. They would draw them north to deal with a Japanese invasion in the bleak Aleutian Islands, and then strike at unprotected Midway. For the main Midway assault, the Japanese force consisted of the main battle fleet under Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, composed of three battleships, a light carrier and a destroyer screen; Admiral Chuichi Nagumos combined fleet of two battleships, two heavy cruisers, destroyers and four fleet carriers carrying more than 250 aircraft; and an invasion task force led by Admiral Nobutake Kondo, consisting of a dozen transport ships carrying 5,000 troops, closely supported by four heavy cruisers, two battleships and a light carrier; and a three-cordon submarine force intended to neutralize U.S. countermoves. The correct answer to this open question is the following. Aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of Task Force 17 and Admiral Fletcher. Japanese fleet in charge of landing army units on Midway. But due to a printing error on the executive calendar of nominations, Spruance was officially promoted only to his former rank of vice admiral. 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. Spruance was an active man who thought nothing of walking eight or 10 miles a day. So he changed course northeastward, avoiding the first wave of dive bombers launched against him from Spruances carriers. Kwajalein was in American hands, but the rest of the Marshalls groupabout 30 islands and more than 800 reefs scattered over hundreds of miles of oceanremained to be dealt with. 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. Historian Morison later described Spruances performance at Midway as superb. The US intelligence services could predict the way the Japanese carriers and planes would be approaching the battle. Make sure to provide references and acknowledgement for any sources you use. [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." Morisons text refers to Spruance, victor at Midway. Richmond Kelly Turner and Harry W. Hill and Marine Generals Holland M. Smith and Julian C. Smith. McClusky led one squadron, VB-6, against the carrier Kaga, while the other Enterprise squadron pounced on Nagumos flagship, Akagi. Akagi was lashed by bombs, which exploded torpedoes that were being loaded onto her planes, and the crew abandoned ship. His classmates included Arthur L. Bristol, William L. Calhoun, William A. Glassford, Charles C. Hartigan, Aubrey W. Fitch, Frank J. Fletcher, Robert L. Ghormley, Isaac C. Kidd, John S. McCain Sr., Leigh Noyes, Ferdinand L. Reichmuth, John H. Towers, Russell Willson, and Thomas Withers. Bombs destroyed the bridge of Kaga and set her ablaze from stem to stern. 7 reviews. 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. The gloomy reports from Nagumo and his other commanders led Yamamoto to suspend his assault on Midway. After six furious minutes, the three carriers were left burning. During the operation, the Fifth Fleet burned up 630 million gallons of fuelmore than the entire Pacific Fleet used in 1943. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance displayed outstanding leadership and command capabilities during the battle that turned the tide in the Pacific. Navy.[4]. 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. Yorktown and Task Force 17 were under the command of Rear Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher. After another three-year tour at the Naval War College, Spruance was again ordered to sea aboard Mississippi. The Japanese lost 19 ships sunk, seven probably sunk and more than 200 aircraft destroyed, and their installations were bombed and strafed. Meanwhile, his search planes found no sign of any American warships. [28], His achievements in the navy were well known, but himself much less. On February 19, American forces landed and opened the Battle of Iwo Jima. The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. The surviving carrier, Hiry, gave the Japanese some brief respite by sending strikes that again damaged Yorktown. Spruances fleet had prevented the Japanese from reinforcing the Saipan garrison. The young, ambitious officer was then assigned to Bainbridge, U.S. destroyer No. [12] Spruance assumed command of Task Force 16 with its two carriers, USSEnterprise and USSHornet, under battle command of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. The Turning Point in the Pacific. 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. The recipient of the letter below was his longtime friend and former chief-of-staff Captain Charles "Carl" J. Moore. 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]. The heavily fortified islands, former British possessions, were of strategic value because of their good landing strips and naval base. In this state the Japanese carriers would be extremely vulnerable. Before Midway, a small and fractional U.S. Navy faced an overwhelmingly larger and battle-hardened Japanese Combined Fleet. World War II: Admiral Raymond Spruance. Japanese fleet under the direct command of Admiral Yamamoto with over 5 battleships and escort carrier Hosho. >A few days later, Mitscher rejoined Spruance and the Fifth Fleet. 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). Lt Tomanaga leads Japanese Torpedo Bombers to attack the remaining carriers. 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. Though this gamble paid off, Enterprise air squadrons would pay a heavy price, flying in piece-meal and mostly without fighter escort. But his service was not yet finished. Naval Academy at Annapolis. This gave rise to the description of Spruance as "an Admiral's admiral". 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. Serving in Manila, Spruance remained abroad until resigning his post in 1955. At Midway, Spruance's force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. Then he returned to the Naval War College as a staff member. He did not discuss his private life, feelings, prejudices, hopes or fears, except perhaps with his family and his closest friends. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . (2021, July 31). In April, Nimitz divided command of the Central Pacific Force between Spruance and Halsey. The two admirals were a contrast in styles. His next assignment was command of the destroyer Aaron Ward, and then USS Perceval. 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. At Midway, Spruances force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. My mind is blank. During the last year of World War I he was assigned as Assistant Engineer Officer of the New York Naval Shipyard, and carried out temporary duty in London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. His chance would come. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the first detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. Flagship of Task Force 16 under the command of Raymond Spruance. He loved to show them to visitors. 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. 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. Aboard the battleship Yamato, Admiral Yamamoto received word that the U.S. fleet was at Midwaynot Pearl Harbor as he had thought. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. Admiral Raymond Spruance served in US Navy during World War Two. It was his job to protect the landing force.[8]. Hickman, Kennedy. 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. 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). 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]. This saw Allied forces move against Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Admiral Spruances last campaigns were the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. Spruances performance at Midway so impressed Admiral Nimitz that he made him his chief of staff. Once theBattle of the Philippine Sea came to an end, Spruance returned to Pearl Harbour to help plan other landings in the future. serious damage on the islands installations. He was drafted on short notice for his date with destiny. He served as an instructor at the Naval War College from 1935 to 1938. He graduated from the U.S. [Admiral Spruance wrote this foreward for Mitsuo Fuchida's book, Midway, The Battle That Doomed Japan; The Japanese Navy's . Naval Academy in 1906,[5] and received further, hands-on education in electrical engineering a few years later. Spruance became Commander of the 5th Fleet in November 1943, which presented him with command of the Central Pacific Forces. He commanded the battleship USS Mississippi from April 1938 to December 1939, when he was promoted to rear admiral. His torpedo bombershaving switched to bombs for the attack on Midwaywere away, and most of his protective fighters were out on patrol. When Yorktown was struck at Midway, however, Fletcher transferred his flag to the cruiser Astoria and placed Spruance tactically in charge. Spruance served as executive officer of USS Mississippi from October 1929 to June 1931. Yamato class battleship that served as the Japanese Combined Fleet's Flagship, housing Admiral Yamamoto. catalogued as someone to watch; there was never any possibility that he would be passed over in the lists for promotion. It was interesting work, but I wouldnt want to do it for a living. 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. He died on 13 December 1969 at the age of 83. Spruance was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and in May 1943 he was promoted to vice admiral. Then it was back to Pebble Beach. By 1939, at the age of 53, Spruance had spent 18 years at sea. 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. British Royal Navy units helped support the landings. Besides, the Japanese only had 35 serviceable planes left, rendering her carriers toothless. Spruance succeeded Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas in November 1945, a few months after the end of the war. He also held several engineering, intelligence, staff and Naval War College positions up to the 1940s. 2015. After serving aboard the battleship Iowa, Spruance went on a world cruise aboard the battleship Minnesota. Admiral Spruance died on 13 December 1969, at his home in Pebble Beach , California. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Calm, collected, decisive, yet receptive to advice; keeping in his mind the picture of widely disparate forces, yet boldly seizing every opening. As the war progressed, Spruance became one of two primary . He remained in the position only briefly as he accepted a posting as President of the Naval War College on February 1, 1946. Spruances naval guns started their bombardment two days later. 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. Only 17 of the islands 4,690 Japanese defenders survived to become prisoners. ; J. Moore master historians turned the tide in the Pacific War. [ 1 ] the Marshall on... With top stories from master historians in May 1943 he was promoted to Rear.! Had prevented the Japanese lost 322 airplanes, most of them going down with the.... Below was his job to protect the landing force. [ 8 ] ablaze from stem to stern Spruance to! 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