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 . The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific War. Spruance died in Pebble Beach, California, on December 13, 1969, and was buried with full military honors at Golden Gate National Cemetery near San Francisco. Commanded the first Japanese air strike against Midway Island at the beginning of the battle. By then 43 years old, Commander Spruance went to sea againaboard the battleship Mississippi from 1929 to 1931. He never smoked and drank little. I can thank heredity for a sound constitution, and myself for taking care of that constitution. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison believed he was one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history. 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. Japanese aircraft carrier attached to the Main Body of the fleet and saw close to no action. 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. 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. 1, and he commanded her until 1914. He was drafted on short notice for his date with destiny. Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance was a key American naval commander who served in the Pacific Theater of World War II.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. During the joint operations leading to the assault and capture of the important enemy bases, complete integration of Army and Navy units was accomplished under his outstanding leadership, enabling all the forces to perform their closely co-ordinated missions with outstanding success.[24]. My personal congratulations. 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). Flagship of Kakuta. This gave rise to the description of Spruance as "an Admiral's admiral". Japanese escort carrier that was mainly responsible for launching scouts attached to Combined Fleet main body. While both Fletcher and Spruance were rear admirals, Fletcher was senior and nominally in overall command. Japanese Vice Admiral in command of the Japanese Carrier strike force based on the Aircraft Carrier IJN Akagi. Admiral Raymond Spruance on the balcony of the U.S. Embassy, Manila, while serving as U.S. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. I am lazy, and I never have done things myself that I could get someone to do for me. My mind is blank. In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Spruance commanded the four heavy cruisers and support ships of Cruiser Division Five from his flagship, the heavy cruiser USSNorthampton. "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. The correct answer to this open question is the following. Admiral Raymond Spruance served in US Navy during World War Two. Spruance's achievements were acknowledged by the unique distinction of a special act of Congress awarding him Admiral's full pay for life. Hickman, Kennedy. At Midway, Spruance's force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. Towards the end of that year, Spruance commanded a cruiser division supporting Admiral Halsey's carrier, the 'Enterprise', at Wake Island. Japanese submarine I-168 torpedoes and torpedoes a damaged US aircraft carrier and its escorting destroyer. The Navy, by law, was limited to four Fleet Admirals; three of these appointments were obvious: Ernest King, Chester Nimitz and William Leahy. Spruances performance at Midway so impressed Admiral Nimitz that he made him his chief of staff. From 1952 to 1955 Spruance served as the American ambassador to Philippines. Calm, collected, decisive, yet receptive to advice; keeping in his mind the picture of widely disparate forces, yet boldly seizing every opening. He loved to show them to visitors. The Japanese planned to outwit the U.S. forces at Midway. World War II: Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, World War II: Battle of the Philippine Sea. Spruance's seagoing career included command of the destroyers Bainbridge from March 1913 to May 1914, Osborne, three other destroyers, and the battleship Mississippi. He was modest and candid about himself. Close to Japan, Allied planners intended to use Okinawa as a springboard for the eventual invasion of the Home Islands. One exception was Admiral John Towers, a constant critic of Spruance, whom Spruance came to despise for his naked ambition.[18]. . 6 (June 1955): 658-659. [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. On 13 May 1945, Admiral Raymond Spruance put pen to paper and described the second kamikaze attack he experienced at Okinawa. 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. 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. They follow returning American pilots and damage the Yorktown, but receiving more than 50% casualties. But their elation was short-lived, for too many Japanese fighters had descended to deal with the torpedo bombers, leaving a window of opportunity for any American dive bombers that arrived. 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. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511. Spruance was put in command of Task Force 16, which included two carriers: USS Enterprise and USS Hornet, and was instrumental in the decisive US victory in the Battle of Midway. When Yorktown was struck at Midway, however, Fletcher transferred his flag to the cruiser Astoria and placed Spruance tactically in charge. Japanese supporting aircraft carrier in Aleutian islands campaign. northwestward of Midway. In the footnote Morison says, Admiral Spruance, in commenting on the first draft of this volume, requested that I delete victor at and substitute who commanded a carrier task force at, butI have let it stand. Naval Academy in 1906 and received further education in electrical engineering a few years later. United States Aircraft Carrier attached to Task Force 16. At 8:20 a.m., Nagumos observers reported a group of American ships 200 miles away. It was June 4, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance and Admira Fletcher had to engage four Japanese ships in the Battle of Midway. Some people asked why he did not take take advantage of the chaotic scene to attack all of Japans air carriers. When you moved into Admiral Spruance's command, the printed instructions were up to date, and you did things in accordance with them.[19]. He also held several engineering, intelligence, staff and Naval War College positions up to the 1940s. He suggested Spruance replace him as commander of the Fleet carrier force, despite the fact that Spruce had little experience with carriers. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Thus the Americans knew the Japanese planned to move toward Midway. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. Unites States Rear Admiral in command of Task Force 16 on the USS Enterprise. Advertisement Still have questions? The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. Official Navy historian Samuel Eliot Morison characterized Spruance's performance as "superb", and he was nicknamed "electric brain" for his calmness even in moments of supreme crisis, a reputation enhanced by his successful tactics. 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]. In April 1942 he offered support to carriers that launched the Doolittle Raid, an air raid on Tokyo and other parts of Honshu island. [12] Spruance assumed command of Task Force 16 with its two carriers, USSEnterprise and USSHornet, under battle command of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. At the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese won a tactical victory, but suffered an operational-level defeat: it did not invade Port . Then U.S. dive bombers from Spruance's Enterprise flew to Nagumo's fleet of four carriers which, fatefully, were without air cover. 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. Word of the sacrifice of VT-8 stunned the United States, and Churchill was reported to have wept when he heard about it. Japanese Admiral in command of the second division of the carrier strike force based on Aircraft Carrier IJN Hiryu. This was in July 1938, and this time he was the battleships commander. The gloomy reports from Nagumo and his other commanders led Yamamoto to suspend his assault on Midway. Following a stint aboard USS Cincinnati, Spruance was made commander of the destroyer USS Bainbridge in March 1913 with the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). She went down with Admiral Yamaguchi, an outstanding flag officer who, it was said, would have been Yamamotos successor had he lived. The US intelligence services could predict the way the Japanese carriers and planes would be approaching the battle. The assault began at dawn on November 20, 1943, and the fighting raged for 76 hours. At 10.26am on 4 June 1942 the course of World War Two in the Pacific changed utterly. He's one of the finest officers I know of. His steady rise, according to Newsweek magazine, has borne the imprint of his personalityunobtrusive but undeviating. Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Spruance, Raymond A. The main auditorium of the U.S. He disliked personal publicity and had a reputation for freezing reporters who invaded his privacy. 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. A. He died on 13 December 1969 at the age of 83. He was uniquely modest and candid about himself all his life. 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 In August 1943 Spruance was placed in command of the Central Pacific Force, which, on April 29, 1944, was redesignated as the Fifth Fleet. He was fond of symphonic music, and his tastes were generally simple. The American losses were Yorktown, destroyer Hammann and 147 planes. Spruance was a dedicated sailorthorough in his absorption of all aspects of training and techniques. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Admiral William L. Calhoun saw him as a cold-blooded fighting fool. Spruance was detached from command of the Fifth Fleet on November 8, 1945, and he relieved Fleet Admiral Nimitz as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean areas. 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 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. Yamamoto himself was based on the battleship Yamato, which is the largest warship built to date. The Japanese had been battered for weeks by aerial bombardment, and knew the invasion was imminent. 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. Five days after the Marshalls campaign, Spruance sent the Mitscher force to attack Tinian and Saipan in the Mariana Islands. He was responsible for leading the 5th Fleet into the pivotal Battle of the Philippines Sea, nicknamed the 'Great Marianas Turkey Shoot' because a total of 365 Japanese planes were brought down. The following year, the new admiral was ordered to the Pacific. Carrier units of his force penetrated waters of the Japanese homeland and Nansei Shoto. United States Admiral in command of naval units on the Pacific Theatre in 1942. 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. [3] After the war, Spruance was appointed President of the Naval War College, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines. McClusky led one squadron, VB-6, against the carrier Kaga, while the other Enterprise squadron pounced on Nagumos flagship, Akagi. . The airstrips in the Gilberts were put to good use two months later when they were used in the invasion of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The Gilberts attack was planned and directed by Spruance, with the assistance of Rear Adms. Though this gamble paid off, Enterprise air squadrons would pay a heavy price, flying in piece-meal and mostly without fighter escort. Hickman, Kennedy. [7], Spruance ran a quiet bridge, without chit-chat; he demanded that orders be given concisely and clearly. In this state the Japanese carriers would be extremely vulnerable. It was hit and sunk by American dive bombers and the submarine USS Nautilus. When Midway began on June 4, 1942 the first few waves of U.S. aircraft were greatly outnumbered by Japanese forces. His squadron successfully ambushed and sank 3 Japanese Aircraft Carriers, Lieutenant in command of the USS Hornet air group. Morisons text refers to Spruance, victor at Midway. 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. 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. However, an invasion was rendered unnecessary when the atomic bomb was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. help him spread the Gospel?Here is your goal for this assignment:Write a report discussing how education can be a key ingredient of effective ministryIn a report of 250-500 words, i.e., one-half to one-page, provide at least three ways in which Paul's education helped him to be more effective in his ministry. The American offensive in the Pacific theater was now enjoying considerable momentum, aided in no small measure by Rear Adm. Marc Mitschers Task Force 58, the most powerful and destructive unit in the history of sea warfare. It was hit multiple times by aircraft from the IJN Hiryu and later torpedoed by a Japanese submarine before sinking. Admiral Nimitz praised Spruance for a remarkable job. Lt Tomanaga leads Japanese Torpedo Bombers to attack the remaining carriers. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. As the war progressed, Spruance became one of two primary . For his actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Spruance was awarded the Navy Cross. Before Midway, a small and fractional U.S. Navy faced an overwhelmingly larger and battle-hardened Japanese Combined Fleet. With the battleship's completion, Spruance joined its crew and remained aboard until November 1917. The Japanese lost 19 ships sunk, seven probably sunk and more than 200 aircraft destroyed, and their installations were bombed and strafed. >A few days later, Mitscher rejoined Spruance and the Fifth Fleet. That same month, he directed Operation Hailstone which saw American carrier aircraft repeatedly strike the Japanese base at Truk. Yet because of his modest, retiring nature, Spruance was never a popular hero in the manner of Admirals Nimitz, William F. Halsey and Marc A. Mitscher. Fletcher, World War Two in the Pacific changed utterly Fletcher, World War II Admiral! 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