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. A bust of Spruance is in the lobby. Admiral Yamaguchi and the Hiryu's captain decide to stay aboard the ship. transmitted as a message) to Rear Admirals Frank Jack Fletcher and Raymond Spruance on the eve of the battle of Midway To quote a U S Navy website, "Nimitz clearly . 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. 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. At Midway, Spruance's force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. 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. 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. The defeat effectively destroyed the Japanese Navy's air arm. For his actions, Spruance received the Distinguished Service Medal and, later that month, Nimitz named him as his Chief of Staff and Aide. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. Things did not look hopeful for Spruance and his force on the eve of Midway. https://www.thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511 (accessed March 1, 2023). But his service was not yet finished. In fact, Spruance had a knack for getting along with difficult people, including his friend Admiral Kelly Turner, the hotheaded commander of 5th Fleet's amphibious force. He's one of the finest officers I know of. B. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. The setback in the Japanese timetable to encircle the Pacific gave the U.S. industrial machine time to crank up war production, and ultimately, to turn the advantage on Japan in the production of ships, planes, guns, and all the other matriel of war. 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. I was shanghaied ashore in November of the next year to take over as electrical superintendent at the New York Navy Yard, said Spruance. Japanese propagandists pointed to their success in the Aleutians to offset the defeat at Midway, but actually the Aleutians were of little strategic value. Lt Tomanaga leads Japanese Torpedo Bombers to attack the remaining carriers. [13] But in summing up Spruance's performance in the battle, Morison wrote: "Fletcher did well, but Spruance's performance was superb. The heavily fortified islands, former British possessions, were of strategic value because of their good landing strips and naval base. Make sure to provide references and acknowledgement for any sources you use. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511. And, off Okinawa, Spruance never faltered in face of the destruction wrought by the kamikazes. 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). As the island-hopping campaign began, MacArthur continued his . An academic building at the Naval War College was also named for him. His entry in Whos Who in America was only three lines long (including his full name), and a footnote in Morisons monumental history of the U.S. Navy in World War II testifies to his modesty. "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 faced a Japanese invasion fleet organized into two groups: the air-attack task force of four carriers with support ships under command of Admiral Chichi Nagumo, and the surface and occupation forces under Admiral Nobutake Kond and others. Japanese escort carrier that was mainly responsible for launching scouts attached to Combined Fleet main body. 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. 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. 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. 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. Following the war, Spruance served as US Ambassador to the Philippines from 1952 to 1955. They were hurled back decisively, and the losses353 enemy planes downed, 21 U.S. aircraft lostamazed the Americans. The sole survivor of the squadrons 30 officers and men was Ensign George H. Gay, Jr., who spent several hours floating in the water, watching the battle. This occurred at the same time that Admiral Turner's forces were attacking Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls, about 700 miles to the east. Web. After serving aboard the battleship Iowa, Spruance went on a world cruise aboard the battleship Minnesota. He withdrew his ships westward, still hoping to draw Spruance into a trap. United States Aircraft Carrier attached to Task Force 16. Naval Academy in 1906 and from the Naval War College in 1927 where he taught for a few years. For more great articles subscribe to World War II magazine today! 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. casualties were 199 planes, 128 flight personnel and damage to four warships. Yamato class battleship that served as the Japanese Combined Fleet's Flagship, housing Admiral Yamamoto. British Royal Navy units helped support the landings. Spruance is depicted as the controversial victor of Midway by G. D. Spradlin in the 1988 TV miniseries War and Remembrance. Unites States Rear Admiral in command of Task Force 16 on the USS Enterprise. "Admiral Raymond Spruance". In the course of a two-hour interview, he stood or walked about all the timenot restlessly, but slowly and deliberately. 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. Aboard the battleship Yamato, Admiral Yamamoto received word that the U.S. fleet was at Midwaynot Pearl Harbor as he had thought. He never did things the same way twice. Because of gaps in the search patterns flown by the Japanese, the American carriers were able to approach unseen. It was interesting work, but I wouldnt want to do it for a living. Then Nagumos force was spotted by torpedo bombers from Hornets squadron VT-8, led by Lt. Cmdr. 1155 (August 1946): 144-157. Up until this time, the Japanese had captured island after island as they . He envied no one, rivaled no man, won the respect of almost everyone with whom he came in contact, and went ahead in his quiet way, winning victories for his country.When we come to the admirals who commanded at sea, and who directed a great battle, there was no one to equal Spruance. 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. But we went in and took their possessions in a few days, without the loss of a single ship. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was the flagship of the second detachment of the carrier strike force. United States bombers sank three Japanese ships. [6], Following his return to the United States, Spruance served aboard transport ship USS Agamemnon, before he was ordered to Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, for duty in connection with fitting out of destroyer USS Aaron Ward in March 1919. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, is named Spruance Hall. The Americans lost 74 carrier planes; the Japanese 80. While in that capacity he assumed additional duty as a member of the board on doctrine of aircraft in connection with fleet fire control. Japanese aircraft carrier attached to the Main Body of the fleet and saw close to no action. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of Admiral Nagumo. Fletcher quickly ordered his dive bombers to strike, which fatally damaged the fourth Japanese carrier; it was scuttled the next day. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. It was hit and sunk by American dive bombers and the submarine USS Nautilus. Meanwhile, Task Force 58 was busy in the forefront of clearing the Japanese from the 600-mile-long Marianas chain. No matter what other people tell you, your decision was correct". That same month, he directed Operation Hailstone which saw American carrier aircraft repeatedly strike the Japanese base at Truk. [3] After the war, Spruance was appointed President of the Naval War College, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines. King said to him "Spruance, you did a damn fine job there. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. He was fond of symphonic music, and his tastes were generally simple. Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz,, Commander in Chief, Pacific, (right) and, Admiral Raymond Spruance, Commander, Central Pacific Force, (center) Tour Kwajalein Island, Marshalls, February 5,1944, following its capture. The two admirals were a contrast in styles. This saw Allied forces move against Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. He took part in organising the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and led the 5th Fleet in these two final battles. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. Moving forward in mid-1944, Spruance embarked on a campaign in the Marianas Islands. Spruance was an active man who thought nothing of walking eight or 10 miles a day. In July 1941, his responsibilities were expanded to include oversight of the Caribbean Sea Frontier. [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. The Iwo Jima and Okinawa actions lasted from January to May 1945, and in August the Japanese surrendered. With the end of the war, Spruance aided in returning American troops home before moving through a succession of engineering postings and destroyer commands. The gloomy reports from Nagumo and his other commanders led Yamamoto to suspend his assault on Midway. 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. Retiring to Pebble Beach, CA, he died there on December 13, 1969. Admiral Spruance commanded with deadly precision, reported an observer. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. In January 1945, Spruance resumed command of the fleet and began moving against Iwo Jima. Meanwhile, his search planes found no sign of any American warships. Hickman, Kennedy. The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific War. Weeks later . 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. Michio Kobayashi 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. He was then 55. The US navy ended up winning the battle and historians consider this a major turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. 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. He began attendance at the Naval War College in 1926, and graduated in 1927. 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. 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. I am lazy, and I never have done things myself that I could get someone to do for me. Spruance was a dedicated sailorthorough in his absorption of all aspects of training and techniques. It was the only aircraft carrier in the presence of Midway Island to survive the dive bomber attack and launched two and a half waves of planes against the United States Navy. The Battle of Midway was the first major victory for the United States over Japan and is seen by many as . With it he intended to significantly expand the Imperial Japanese Navy's outer defense perimeter across the central Pacific; and, he believed, this very powerful stroke against Midway would so severely threaten Hawaii and Pearl Harbor that the U.S. government would be induced to sue for peace. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the first detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. Its commanding officers Admiral Yamaguchi and the ship's captain both stayed aboard their ship. Commanded the first Japanese air strike against Midway Island at the beginning of the battle. His father wanted him to go to West Point, but young Raymond yearned to go to sea. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. (2021, July 31). 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. 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 seagoing career was extensive, including command of five destroyers and the battleship Mississippi. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Known as "island hopping," U.S. forces moved from island to island, using each as a base for capturing the next. 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. [4] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Shortridge High School. [28], His achievements in the navy were well known, but himself much less. In this position, he traveled to London and Edinburgh. serious damage on the islands installations. Before Midway, a small and fractional U.S. Navy faced an overwhelmingly larger and battle-hardened Japanese Combined Fleet. [7], Spruance served in Washington until early 1924, when he was ordered to the headquarters, Commander Naval Force in Europe. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. He is responsible for the Japanese battle plan to attack Midway and the Aleutian Islands. His steady rise, according to Newsweek magazine, has borne the imprint of his personalityunobtrusive but undeviating. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. When Yorktown was struck at Midway, however, Fletcher transferred his flag to the cruiser Astoria and placed Spruance tactically in charge. Spruance's rise to fame . Spruance also held several engineering . It was June 4, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance and Admira Fletcher had to engage four Japanese ships in the Battle of Midway. 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. No detail was too small to bring these American prisoners home. He readied himself at Stevens Preparatory School in Hoboken, N.J., and entered Annapolis in July 1903 at age 17. 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. In May 1942, intelligence suggested that the Japanese were planning on assaulting Midway Island. Akagi and Kaga subsequently went down. 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 . The Japanese had been overconfident, and the Americans taught them a bitter lesson. 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. This gave rise to the description of Spruance as "an Admiral's admiral". Spruance rewarded his trust by playing a decisive role in the US victory at the Battle Of Midway. John C. Waldron. https://www.historynet.com/admiral-raymond-a-spruance-modest-victor-of-midway/, Jerrie Mock: Record-Breaking American Female Pilot, How Operation Homecoming Was Sprung into Action to Repatriate American POWs. Spruance did not want to leave troops on the Marianas islands unguarded as he chased Jisaburo Ozawas retreating fleet. Fire control American POWs a member of the second detachment of the officers... 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