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. Raymond A. Spruance emerged from the battle one of the greatest admirals in American naval history". D. The Pope lived in Constantinople. I was shanghaied ashore in November of the next year to take over as electrical superintendent at the New York Navy Yard, said Spruance. This gave rise to the description of Spruance as "an Admiral's admiral". It Didnt End Well. But we went in and took their possessions in a few days, without the loss of a single ship. B. Jim Crow Laws 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. In one incident a distraught officer rushed to report, "Captain, we've just dropped a depth charge over the stern!" Admiral Spruances last campaigns were the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. In this position, he traveled to London and Edinburgh. Though the fourth, Hiryu, managed to launch bombers which caused critical damage to Yorktown, it too was sunk when American aircraft returned later in the day. Retribution was not long in coming. His tour of sea duty ended in 1921, and he spent the next three years with the Navy Departments Bureau of Engineering and the Doctrine of Aircraft board. [9] On the other hand, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz knew he must intercept the Japanese invasion fleet, and that he must give battle to the enemy aircraft carriers before they could project their overwhelming power against the naval air station at Midway. If this happened, it would enable the Japanese to pinch the Americans between their two carrier forces. 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. 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. I finally wangled two months at sea, in 1918, before the war was over. A. 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. His flagship was badly damaged by the Japanese and was hit by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine before sinking. His chance would come. It was hit and shortly after destroyed by American dive bombers. This time we were right because the enemy did what we expected him to do. Morison, "Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions: May 1942 August 1942". In 1949, naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison noted that Spruance was subjected to criticism for not pursuing the retreating Japanese and allowing the surface fleet to escape. "[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]. Moving forward in mid-1944, Spruance embarked on a campaign in the Marianas Islands. 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. Having attained the rank of commander, Spruance attended the Senior Course at the Naval War College in July 1926. After further schooling at the Stevens Preparatory School in New Jersey, Spruance applied to and was accepted by the US Naval Academy in 1903. 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. US Navy SBD dive bombers at the Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. It was his job to protect the landing force.[8]. 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]. Although he broke the back of the Japanese naval air force by sinking three carriers, two oilers and destroying about 600 enemy airplanes (so many that the remaining Japanese carriers were used solely as decoys in the Battle of Leyte Gulf a few months later due to the lack of aircraft and aircrews to fly them) Spruance has been criticized for not being aggressive enough in exploiting his success in the Philippine Sea. Spruance was calculating and cautious. Naval Academy in 1906 and from the Naval War College in 1927 where he taught for a few years. At Midway, dive bombers from the Enterprise crippled sank four larger carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. [28], His achievements in the navy were well known, but himself much less. These raids were critical to moralesetting a new tone of aggressiveness by U.S. commanders while providing invaluable battle experience for the commanders and sailors of the U.S. 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. Despite this, some detractors argued that Spruances tactics at Philippine Sea were overly cautious. From the remaining enemy carrier, Hiryu, Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi launched bombers and torpedo planes against Yorktown. Pratt, F. "Spruance: Picture of the Admiral," Harpers Magazine 193, no. [25], Spruance was President of the Naval War College from February 1946 until he retired from the Navy in July 1948. Leaving, he assumed command of USS Mississippi. At Midway, Spruance's force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. Lt. Kabayashi leads Japanese bombers from the Hiryu to attack the USS Yorktown. A number of torpedo squadrons from the airfields and carriers launch attacks on the Japanese carriers but score no hits and almost all planes involved were shot down. 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. 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. Japanese fleet under the direct command of Admiral Yamamoto with over 5 battleships and escort carrier Hosho. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance displayed outstanding leadership and command capabilities during the battle that turned the tide in the Pacific. About his intellect he was equally unpretentious: "Some people believe that when I am quiet that I am thinking some deep and important thoughts, when the fact is that I am thinking of nothing at all. 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. Japanese fleet in charge of landing army units on Midway. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Admiral Yamamoto commanded the combined invasion fleet from aboard his flagship Yamato. The main auditorium of the U.S. 6 (June 1955): 658-659. The gloomy reports from Nagumo and his other commanders led Yamamoto to suspend his assault on Midway. The Japanese managed to inflict only superficial damage on three ships. He graduated from the U.S. The assault began at dawn on November 20, 1943, and the fighting raged for 76 hours. Raymond Ames Spruance was born in Baltimore, Maryland on July 3, 1886, to Alexander and Annie Spruance, but grew up in Indianapolis. 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. Finishing the course, he completed a tour in the Office of Naval Intelligence before being posted to USS Mississippi (BB-41) in October 1929 as executive officer. At that time, Admiral Nimitz instituted a unique arrangement in which the command of the vessels which made up the "Big Blue Fleet" alternated between Admiral William Halsey Jr., at which time it was identified as the Third Fleet and Task Force 38, and Admiral Spruance, when it became the Fifth Fleet and Task Force 58. serious damage on the islands installations. 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. In May 1942, intelligence suggested that the Japanese were planning on assaulting Midway Island. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. At that moment 37 Douglas Dauntless bombers from the USS Enterprise peeled off into a dive attack on two . 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. I am lazy, and I never have done things myself that I could get someone to do for me. Capturing and occupying Midway was the brainchild-plan of commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Then Nagumos force was spotted by torpedo bombers from Hornets squadron VT-8, led by Lt. Cmdr. On April 28, the last day of the invasion, Spruances command was redesignated as the Fifth Fleet. He also commanded Task Force 16 at the Battle of Midway, comprising the carriers Enterprise and Hornet. Yamato class battleship that served as the Japanese Combined Fleet's Flagship, housing Admiral Yamamoto. Some people asked why he did not take take advantage of the chaotic scene to attack all of Japans air carriers. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. 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. 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 . About his intellect he was equally unpretentious: Some people believe that when I am quiet that I am thinking some deep and important thoughts, when the fact is that I am thinking of nothing at all. Just before the planned invasion of Midway island in June 1942, Halsey suddenly became ill with shingles. With the battleship's completion, Spruance joined its crew and remained aboard until November 1917. 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. He commanded U.S. naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Lieutenant in command of the USS Yorktown air group. Spruance was portrayed by Glenn Ford (a US Naval Reserve officer himself) in the 1976 film Midway, and by Jake Weber in the 2019 film Midway. Weeks later . Advertisement Still have questions? His division was an element of the task force built around the aircraft carrier USSEnterprise and commanded by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. 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 was appointed as Ambassador to the Philippines by President Harry S. Truman, and served there from 1952 to 1955. It was interesting work, but I wouldnt want to do it for a living. Lieutenant in command of the USS Enterprise air group. The surviving carrier, Hiry, gave the Japanese some brief respite by sending strikes that again damaged Yorktown. In the course of a two-hour interview, he stood or walked about all the timenot restlessly, but slowly and deliberately. Nagumo ordered his planes rearmed on their return. 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 defeat effectively destroyed the Japanese Navy's air arm. In this state the Japanese carriers would be extremely vulnerable. Raymond A. Spruance. He lived quietly at Pebble Beach until December 13, 1969, when he died of arteriosclerosis at the age of 83. They would draw them north to deal with a Japanese invasion in the bleak Aleutian Islands, and then strike at unprotected Midway. One commentator said: The quick success of the offensive was attributed to the strategic daring by which Vice Admiral Spruances forces cut behind the eastern chain of the Marshalls. B. For most of the war, Spruance preferred to use the heavy cruiser USSIndianapolis, named for his hometown, as his flagship. Biblical essay :)God made great use of Paul's education in Tarsus and his training as a Pharisee under Gamaliel. 7 reviews. In May 1914, Spruance received a posting as Assistant to the Inspector of Machinery at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Commanding the battleship for nearly two years, Spruance was aboard when World War II began in Europe. Spruances naval guns started their bombardment two days later. He was survived by his wife and a daughter, Mrs. Gerald S. Bogart of Newport, R.I. His only son, Navy Captain Edward D. Spruance, who served for 30 years, was killed in a car accident in Marin County, Calif., in May 1969. Spruance graduated from the U.S. Admiral William L. Calhoun saw him as a cold-blooded fighting fool. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the first detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. 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. But several hours laternear the end of daylight hoursa U.S. scout plane located Hiry again. He began attendance at the Naval War College in 1926, and graduated in 1927. The Japanese had been overconfident, and the Americans taught them a bitter lesson. That is how the US navy could inflict great damage to the Japanese fleet and aircraft. Besides his family, he loved the companionship of his pet schnauzer, Peter. Following the war, Spruance served as US Ambassador to the Philippines from 1952 to 1955. Fit and spare in his 70s, Spruance spent most of his retirement days wearing old khakis and work shoes and working in his garden and greenhouse. He was fond of symphonic music, and his tastes were generally simple. A total of 1,132 enemy planes were put out of action. That December he was elevated to rear admiral, and in February 1940 he was placed in command of the 10th Naval District (Caribbean), with his headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Naval Academy in 1906 and received further education in electrical engineering a few years later. About us| This saw Allied forces move against Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. In October 1946 he was awarded the Armys Distinguished Service Medal for his exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services during the capture of the Marshall and Mariana islands. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was the flagship of the second detachment of the carrier strike force. The month before, American and Japanese naval units had fought the Battle of the Coral Sea, and both closely matched sides had suffered. He studied hard, and when he graduated in September 1906, he stood 26th in his class. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . No matter what other people tell you, your decision was correct". [17], The Battle of Midway is considered by many to be a turning point of the war in the Pacific, along with the Guadalcanal campaign. At 8:20 a.m., Nagumos observers reported a group of American ships 200 miles away. 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. 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. Historian Morison later described Spruances performance at Midway as superb. 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. >The fleet units shielding the Marianas invasion forces were also under Spruances command. The Eastern Orthodox Church developed from the church in Constantinople. Once theBattle of the Philippine Sea came to an end, Spruance returned to Pearl Harbour to help plan other landings in the future. The battle would open in the mist-shrouded Aleutians with airstrikes against Dutch Harbor on June 3, followed by landings at three points on June 6. No detail was too small to bring these American prisoners home. In 1939 he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. 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. 2015. 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