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US Marines Invade Saipan
Battle fought on Saipan island of the Marianas in the Philippines. The island was vital to US action in the Pacific, as it would allow bombing runs to reach the Japanese homeland. The US was able to secure the island, but not without sustaining the highest casualties of the Pacific War to date. The US eventually had a force of 100 bombers regularly assaulting Japan and their holdings, this being instrumental in the Allied victory in the Pacific. -
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The Pacific War
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US forces recapture the Mariana Islands
The US military began the invasion of the Mariana Islands with the Battle of Saipan, which ended on July 9th and then began to recapture Guam on July 21st. Following was the Battle of Tinian on July 24th which proved to be significant because it provided a platform for the Enola Gay, the plane chosen to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima in a years time. All three invasions allowed the US the ability to bomb the Japanese mainland. -
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Battle of Leyte Gulf
To isolate the Japanese army from its connections in Southeast Asia, Us and Australian forces invade the island of Leyte. It was one of the last sea battles of its scale in the Pacific, and for the Japanese they had mustered the remainder of its naval force for a decisive battle. By losing, the Japanese were crippled and deprived of oil supply lines that spelled the grounding of much of their fleet. In addition this left the Philippines and Ryukyu Islands under threat. -
Beginning of Kamikaze pilots
One of the first uses was in the Battle of the Leyte Gulf, where a squadron of 40 managed to sink and damage several ships and carriers. Due to this success, the kamikaze program was expanded to over 2000 planes. The tactic was quoted by US Admiral Halsey as “The only weapon I feared in war.” The importance of this event was the development en masse of extremely damaging weapons by the Japanese, and the waste of human life that made it possible. -
Soviet Union Agrees to Enter Pacific
Soviet Union agrees to enter war with Japan 90 days after Germany’s surrender. The soviet agreement with Roosevelt to enter the Pacific War was crucial allied victory in the Pacific as the 1,000,000 strong force was one of two “shocks” that forced the Japanese surrender. The other “shock” being the atomic bomb. In addition, the entry allowed the USSR to gain influence in the Pacific following the war, which Truman vehemently tried to avoid. -
Marines Invade Iwo Jima
The battle for Iwo Jima island was essential as it allowed America to acquire its three airfields crippled Japan’s ability to deploy planes and allowed America to attack the main Japanese isles. The battle seemed won from the start, but it stands as an example of the Japanese commitment to never surrender even in the face of death. With this being the first assault on Japanese home soil, the battle was gritty and tough. American casualties were for once, even higher than those of the Japanese. -
US and Filipino Troops Take Manila
Known for its bloody conflict, and its historic ending of a 3 year Japanese reign in the area. Another significance of the struggle, was that in US efforts to flush out the Japanese, their artillery and tanks levelled many parts of the city and killed many civilians in the crossfire. The Japanese also added to the total 100,000 that died during the conflict through violent killings, rape, and hostage holding.
