1155 (August 1946): 144-157. Known for his calm in moments of crisis, Admiral Spruance became one of the U.S. Navy's largest assets in World War II. 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. He was fond of symphonic music, and his tastes were generally simple. He is responsible for the Japanese battle plan to attack Midway and the Aleutian Islands. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the second detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. Mounting a tenacious defense, the Japanese held out for over a month. Three bombs hammered her. President Harry S. Truman appointed him ambassador to the Philippines in January 1952, and he served until March 1955. Locating the Japanese carriers as they were rearming and refueling their aircraft, American bombers inflicted massive damage and sank three. His work would bring him a gold star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. He readied himself at Stevens Preparatory School in Hoboken, N.J., and entered Annapolis in July 1903 at age 17. In January 1945, Spruance resumed command of the fleet and began moving against Iwo Jima. . And with this battle the American forces gained, and afterwards continued to gain, hard combat experience; so the Japanese lost that crucial advantage as well. 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. [13] But in summing up Spruance's performance in the battle, Morison wrote: "Fletcher did well, but Spruance's performance was superb. 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. Samuel Eliot Morison agreed: Power of decision and coolness in action were perhaps Spruances leading characteristics. The gloomy reports from Nagumo and his other commanders led Yamamoto to suspend his assault on Midway. Fletcher would command Task Force 17, but the task force flag ship, USSYorktown, had been badly damaged at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the formation's other carrier, Lexington, had been sunk, but at Nimitz's behest Yorktown was patched-repaired in "rush" time purposefully to join the Midway operation.[11]. Spruance was a dedicated sailorthorough in his absorption of all aspects of training and techniques. The US intelligence services could predict the way the Japanese carriers and planes would be approaching the battle. Having been promoted to rear admiral in December 1939, he was directed to assume command of the Tenth Naval District (San Juan, PR) in February 1940. 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. These attacks were followed by a raid against Marcus Island. His flagship was badly damaged by the Japanese and was hit by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine before sinking. Yamamoto himself was based on the battleship Yamato, which is the largest warship built to date. Advertisement Still have questions? Admiral Chester W. Nimitz called him a fine man, a sterling character, and a great leader, and said, nothing you can say about him would be praise enough. Naval Academy in 1906,[5] and received further, hands-on education in electrical engineering a few years later. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. 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 The Navy, by law, was limited to four Fleet Admirals; three of these appointments were obvious: Ernest King, Chester Nimitz and William Leahy. His steady rise, according to Newsweek magazine, has borne the imprint of his personalityunobtrusive but undeviating. Admiral Spruance could have been right. The U.S. Navy intercept force centered on the three carriers Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown, and their air-attack squadrons. [3] After the war, Spruance was appointed President of the Naval War College, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines. Before Midway, a small and fractional U.S. Navy faced an overwhelmingly larger and battle-hardened Japanese Combined Fleet. But what was important about this actionthe first naval battle in history fought by fleets that never came within sight of each otherwas that the U.S. Navy had thwarted the enemys planned capture of Port Moresby in strategic New Guinea. Spruance was an active man who thought nothing of walking eight or 10 miles a day. 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. US Naval Task Force under Frank Fletcher with aircraft carrier Yorktown. 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. 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. 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. The attack fails to destroy any airfields or major targets. During this period, Spruance served aboard USS Minnesota (BB-22) during the cruise of the Great White Fleet. (2021, July 31). Not till many months later did American intelligence ferret out the facts."[33]. >The fleet units shielding the Marianas invasion forces were also under Spruances command. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. I was shanghaied ashore in November of the next year to take over as electrical superintendent at the New York Navy Yard, said Spruance. He later volunteered to fly a damaged plane and was killed leading the second of Hiryu's counterattacks against the USS Yorktown. However, his actions were both praised and understood by the main persons ordering and directly involved in the battle. 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. His air group is credited with the sinking of 4 Japanese aircraft carriers during Midway. The US navy ended up winning the battle and historians consider this a major turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command. Admiral Spruances last campaigns were the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. Japanese supporting aircraft carrier in the corresponding Aleutian Islands Invasion. Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Spruance, Raymond A. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D. 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. Four fleet carriers and the heavy cruiser Mikuma were sunk; a cruiser, three destroyers, an oiler and a battleship were damaged. Unites States Rear Admiral in command of Task Force 16 on the USS Enterprise. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. In June 1931, Spruance returned to Newport, RI to serve on the staff of the Naval War College. They met practically no opposition because most of the Zeros were still close to the water, not having had time to climb and counterattack. Halsey was aggressive and a risk taker. Five days after the Marshalls campaign, Spruance sent the Mitscher force to attack Tinian and Saipan in the Mariana Islands. Some people asked why he did not take take advantage of the chaotic scene to attack all of Japans air carriers. C. The Roman Catholic Church developed in Constantinople. 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. The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. Historian Morison later described Spruances performance at Midway as superb. Navy.[4]. [4] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Shortridge High School. He lived quietly at Pebble Beach until December 13, 1969, when he died of arteriosclerosis at the age of 83. He suggested Spruance replace him as commander of the Fleet carrier force, despite the fact that Spruce had little experience with carriers. HistoryLearning.com. Yet the decision is hailed by the series's narrator as instrumental in sealing the American victory. In June 1942 the United States and Japan fought for control of Midway Island in the South Pacific. 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. But his service was not yet finished. Yorktowns planes hit Soryu as she was turning into the wind to launch aircraft. It's commanding officer, Captain Yanagimoto, volunteered to stay aboard and go down with his ship. World War II: Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, World War II: Battle of the Philippine Sea. 1, and he commanded her until 1914. From the remaining enemy carrier, Hiryu, Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi launched bombers and torpedo planes against Yorktown. Japanese supporting aircraft carrier in Aleutian islands campaign. Then he returned to the Naval War College as a staff member. I can thank heredity for a sound constitution, and myself for taking care of that constitution. The Japanese were trying to tow Soryu to safety when she was torpedoed and sunk by the U.S. submarine Nautilus. He was drafted on short notice for his date with destiny. The victory at Midway, meanwhile, was a tonic for American morale, which had not yet recovered from the disastrous December 7, 1941, raid on Pearl Harbor. She went down with Admiral Yamaguchi, an outstanding flag officer who, it was said, would have been Yamamotos successor had he lived. Serving in Manila, Spruance remained abroad until resigning his post in 1955. Yorktown and Task Force 17 were under the command of Rear Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher. [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." 7 reviews. Was the site of a naval battle between the United States and Japan in 1942. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The Japanese intercepted this and soon started sending messages that "AF was short on water. Early on, Halsey had led his task force on hit-and-run raids against the Japanese in the western Pacific: striking the Gilbert and Marshall islands in February 1942, Wake Island in March, and projecting the air power of the Doolittle Raid against the Japanese homeland in April. When she went to sea in 1916, he went with her. 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. 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. The American losses were Yorktown, destroyer Hammann and 147 planes. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison believed he was one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history. 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. He's one of the finest officers I know of. The US intelligence services could predict the way the Japanese carriers and planes would be approaching the battle. Its commanding officers Admiral Yamaguchi and the ship's captain both stayed aboard their ship. Lieutenant in command of the USS Yorktown air group. Raymond A. Spruance was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 3 July 1886. Admiral William L. Calhoun saw him as a cold-blooded fighting fool. After further schooling at the Stevens Preparatory School in New Jersey, Spruance applied to and was accepted by the US Naval Academy in 1903. He attended grade and high schools in East Orange, N.J., and in Indianapolis. society in the 1950s? In April 1942 he offered support to carriers that launched the Doolittle Raid, an air raid on Tokyo and other parts of Honshu island. From 1952 to 1955 Spruance served as the American ambassador to Philippines. Spruance received the Navy Cross for his actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.[23]. "Foreward for Midway." US Naval Institute Proceedings 81, no. The Mariana Islands was based on the staff of the Bath, Spruance sent Mitscher... Naval Academy in 1906, [ 5 ] and received further, hands-on education in engineering! December 13, 1969, when he died of arteriosclerosis at the of. To suspend his assault on Midway and Naval history & amp ; Heritage command of Hiryu 's counterattacks against USS! 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