DAY IN HISTORY-June 19, 1944

Remembering the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944

The Most Decisive Aircraft Carrier Clash of World War II

The Lexington at the Battle of Philippine (public domain image from Wiki Commons)

The Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19-20, 1944, was the largest aircraft carrier battle in the Pacific War. Numerous carriers and hundreds of aircraft were involved in the battle. Americans ironically now call it the Marina Turkey Shoot.

Increasing setbacks for the IJN saw the Allies edge closer to the Marianas. As part of their island-hopping strategy, the Americans were landing on Japanese-held islands. Via the Marianas, American troops could reach the Philippines, where they could cut the Japanese oil supply routes. By 1944, they had reached the Marinas and launched air strikes.

This came as a surprise to the IJN; they felt it was time to counter-strike in an attempt to prevent the US Army from advancing in the Marianas. A carrier fleet was assembled. This was in addition to land-based aircraft that would be used against the American fleet.

However, early raids against the Americans did not go well. The first Japanese planes were met by the F6F, which was one of the Allies’ most potent aircraft. Before long, 41 Japanese planes had been downed. Only a handful of Japanese bombers were able to make a direct hit on the South Dakota. Further Japanese raids were not especially effective, with further planes lost. Only a few broke through and were able to reach American ships, but were unable to make any direct hits.

The Americans first counter-attacked with submarines. These submarines were able to hit two Japanese carriers with torpedoes. This effectively sank two Japanese carriers.

American aircraft were then used against the Japanese fleet. With up to 550 planes, a number were able to break through heavy Japanese anti-aircraft firing. Oil tankers came within sight of the American planes and were hit. Bombs also hit the carrier Hiyo, effectively sinking it. Japanese carriers were also hit during the raid.

A plane lands on the Lexington (public domain image from Wiki Commons)

The Japanese fleet began to retreat from the Philippine Sea. The battle had been a decisive American victory, with Japan losing three carriers and an estimated 600 planes. With the number of Japanese planes lost, the battle had been ‘a turkey shoot’.

The USA was able to secure the Marianas and advance further. The Battle of the Philippine Sea was won thanks to a greater number of planes, and indeed superior Allied aircraft such as the F6F, which outclassed more obsolete Japanese aircraft.

The F6F (public domain image from Wiki Commons)

Why is the Battle of the Philippine Sea Significant Today?

The Battle of the Philippine Sea remains significant today as the largest carrier-versus-carrier naval engagement in history. This battle cemented the aircraft carrier as an undisputed king of naval warfare after the Midway encounter of 1942. It demonstrated a definitive dominance of carriers over battleships, which remains entirely relevant in present-day naval warfare.

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

Today, aircraft carriers are the vanguard of the world’s foremost navies. The US Navy’s nuclear-powered USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier is the largest warship ever built. The Battle of the Philippine Sea shaped the lineage of American supercarriers, leading to the Ford-class.

Read more of my World War II Pacific articles on Medium:

The Crucible of December 1941: Events That Led to the Doolittle Raid

The U.S. Navy’s Greatest Battles in World War II

The Strategic Context of the Battle of Coral Sea in World War II

[The Controversy Surrounding the Pearl Harbor Attack in December 1941](http://The Controversy Surrounding the Pearl Harbor Attack in December 1941)

A Brief History of the Zuikaku Aircraft Carrier

I am also the author of Battles of the Pacific War 1941–1945. For further details, check out that book’s blog at battlesofthepacificwar.blogspot.co.uk. Battles of the Pacific War is available on Amazon and Lulu in e-book and paperback formats.

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