The Americans lost only 17 planes and no ships. >On March 29, 1944, Admiral Spruance took tactical command of a three-pronged assault against the Palau Islands, 550 miles east of the Philippines, and against Yap Island and Ulithi Atoll in the western Carolines. 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. After Rome fell, the bishop of Constantinople became the most pow And, off Okinawa, Spruance never faltered in face of the destruction wrought by the kamikazes. 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. 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. The month before, American and Japanese naval units had fought the Battle of the Coral Sea, and both closely matched sides had suffered. Five days after the Marshalls campaign, Spruance sent the Mitscher force to attack Tinian and Saipan in the Mariana Islands. >The fleet units shielding the Marianas invasion forces were also under Spruances command. Known for his calm in moments of crisis, Admiral Spruance became one of the U.S. Navy's largest assets in World War II. B. (2021, July 31). The Japanese had been overconfident, and the Americans taught them a bitter lesson. He withdrew his ships westward, still hoping to draw Spruance into a trap. 108 planes under Juichi Tomanaga bomb and strafe Midway. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the second detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. On 13 May 1945, Admiral Raymond Spruance put pen to paper and described the second kamikaze attack he experienced at Okinawa. The Japanese felt that they had won the encounter. During the attacks, the Japanese lost twelve warships, thirty-two merchant ships, and 249 aircraft. Then U.S. dive bombers from Spruance's Enterprise flew to Nagumo's fleet of four carriers which, fatefully, were without air cover. As Allied forces battled on the island, Spruance's ships defeated Operation Ten-Go on April 7 which saw the Japanese battleship Yamato attempt to break through to the island. So he changed course northeastward, avoiding the first wave of dive bombers launched against him from Spruances carriers. Besides his family, he loved the companionship of his pet schnauzer, Peter. Admiral William L. Calhoun saw him as a cold-blooded fighting fool. Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral in World War II. 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. This time we were right because the enemy did what we expected him to do. Yorktown and Task Force 17 were under the command of Rear Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher. 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. The following year, they made me executive officer of the transport Agamemnon, bringing troops home from France. Japanese submarine I-168 torpedoes and torpedoes a damaged US aircraft carrier and its escorting destroyer. D. The Pope lived in Constantinople. Weeks later . My mind is blank. 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. After air assaults, two rocky islands, Kiska and Attu, were occupied by Japanese ground forces. The American toll was 1,100 dead and almost 2,300 wounded. Then it was back to Pebble Beach. He was dragged out of his flagship Akagi before it sank against his will. US Navy SBD dive bombers at the Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. Above all, Midway was the turning point that heralded the ultimate defeat of Japan. 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. This gave rise to the description of Spruance as "an Admiral's admiral". Japanese fleet in charge of landing army units on Midway. Meanwhile, the Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands had been carried out as planned on June 3. Spruance was about to face the sternest test in his long, distinguished career. Only 17 of the islands 4,690 Japanese defenders survived to become prisoners. No detail was too small to bring these American prisoners home. serious damage on the islands installations. His steady rise, according to Newsweek magazine, has borne the imprint of his personalityunobtrusive but undeviating. Spruance also held several engineering . This was followed by an assault on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands on January 31, 1944. He remained in the position only briefly as he accepted a posting as President of the Naval War College on February 1, 1946. 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. More to his liking was the study of foreign methods of naval fire control, which took him to London and Edinburgh. The defenders fought fiercely but were unable to inflict any damage on the U.S. vessels. 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. After the enemys raids on Midway, Admiral Spruance ordered the launching of every possible plane to search for and attack the Japanese carriers. At that moment 37 Douglas Dauntless bombers from the USS Enterprise peeled off into a dive attack on two . 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. For that assault, Spruance led the most powerful naval strike force in history. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. Lieutenant Commander Maxwell Leslies VB-3 from Yorktown attacked the carrier Soryu. His father wanted him to go to West Point, but young Raymond yearned to go to sea. The battle commenced on the morning of June4; the first several waves of U.S. attack aircraft were badly beaten, both near Midway and at sea around the Japanese task force. Up until this time, the Japanese had captured island after island as they . After six furious minutes, the three carriers were left burning. The Eastern Orthodox Church developed from the church in Constantinople. The other U.S. flattop, Yorktown, escaped with one bomb hit. Graduating from Annapolis three years later, he served two years at sea before receiving his commission as an ensign on September 13, 1908. For his actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Spruance was awarded the Navy Cross. Spruance's rise to fame . His torpedo bombershaving switched to bombs for the attack on Midwaywere away, and most of his protective fighters were out on patrol. "Foreward for Midway." US Naval Institute Proceedings 81, no. Yet the decision is hailed by the series's narrator as instrumental in sealing the American victory. John C. Waldron. They were hurled back decisively, and the losses353 enemy planes downed, 21 U.S. aircraft lostamazed the Americans. Some people asked why he did not take take advantage of the chaotic scene to attack all of Japans air carriers. Flagship of Kakuta. [Admiral Spruance wrote this foreward for Mitsuo Fuchida's book, Midway, The Battle That Doomed Japan; The Japanese Navy's . However, his actions were both praised and understood by the main persons ordering and directly involved in the battle. The Japanese planned to outwit the U.S. forces at Midway. He was a diligent, neat and gentle boy. 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. 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. Admiral Spruance no.__!t to seek and destroy the Imperial Japanese Navy in a "decisive battle." Rather, Spruance chose to place highest priority on covering and defending the United States (U.S.) amphibious forces that were in the initial phase of the invasion of Salpan. "Admiral Raymond Spruance". Towards the end of that year, Spruance commanded a cruiser division supporting Admiral Halsey's carrier, the 'Enterprise', at Wake Island. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison believed he was one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history. The carriers were on station on June 2, and the following day Japanese transport ships were spotted 600 miles west of Midway Island. After further schooling at the Stevens Preparatory School in New Jersey, Spruance applied to and was accepted by the US Naval Academy in 1903. 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. [4] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Shortridge High School. 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. [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." On June 14, while Mitscher led a diversionary attack on the Bonin Islands 800 miles to the north, U.S. Marines and infantrymen stormed ashore. Spruance became Commander of the 5th Fleet in November 1943, which presented him with command of the Central Pacific Forces. Raymond A. Spruance emerged from the battle one of the greatest admirals in American naval history". Ambassador to the Philippines in 1952-55. 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. He never smoked and drank little. It was June 4, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance and Admira Fletcher had to engage four Japanese ships in the Battle of Midway. Spruance was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service at Midway. The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific War. Things did not look hopeful for Spruance and his force on the eve of Midway. He disliked personal publicity and had a reputation for freezing reporters who invaded his privacy. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. He suggested Spruance replace him as commander of the Fleet carrier force, despite the fact that Spruce had little experience with carriers. 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. However, an invasion was rendered unnecessary when the atomic bomb was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The Battle of Midway infused the U.S. Pacific Navy with confidence. 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 is now being told for the first time by one of his close friends and wartime associates. Two years later, Spruance again received orders for the Naval War College and taught on the staff until April 1938. He was uniquely modest and candid about himself all his life. He was decorated with Order of Leopold and Croix de guerre with Palm by the Government of Belgium for his service for the Allied cause.[26]. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. 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. 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 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. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison believed he was one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history. The U.S. Navy counterforce sank all four Japanese carriers while losing one of its own, Yorktown. 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. The repulse of the Japanese invasion fleet at Midway, and critically the destruction of the Kido Butai, allowed the U.S. to gain parity in the naval air war. The American losses were Yorktown, destroyer Hammann and 147 planes. Both commanders hoped for a classic battle with the Imperial Japanese Navy, but only Mitschers carrier planes were able to reach the enemy. Richmond Kelly Turner and Harry W. Hill and Marine Generals Holland M. Smith and Julian C. Smith. A decisive victory, Spruance and Fletcher's actions at Midway helped turn the tide of the Pacific war in favor of the Allies. Admiral Spruance could have been right. D. Suburban America, 100 POINTS! During World War II, he was commander in the . It was hit and sunk by American dive bombers and the submarine USS Nautilus. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. In the opening weeks of the conflict, Spruance's cruisers served under Vice Admiral William "Bull" Halsey and took part in raids against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands before striking Wake Island. About us| 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. The Japanese expected no American ships in the Midway area until after the landing there, and they hoped that the Pacific Fleet would dash northward as soon as it received word of the opening strikes in the Aleutians. One exception was Admiral John Towers, a constant critic of Spruance, whom Spruance came to despise for his naked ambition.[18]. 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]. 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. 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. He was the grandfather of legendary theatre director Anne Bogart. He was the united states navy fleet admiral in the some of the The battle of Midway was one of the most decisive battle in th Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, Japanese fleet commander, chose to i For exceptionally meritorious service 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., (Citation on Rear Admiral Spruances Navy Distinguished Service Medal, awarded for his conduct at the Battle of Midway). Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II. He was drafted on short notice for his date with destiny. The score was 402 Japanese planes and six ships, with a loss of 122 planes from Mitschers flattops. He did not discuss his private life, feelings, prejudices, hopes or fears, except perhaps with his family and his closest friends. Capturing and occupying Midway was the brainchild-plan of commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. 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. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Naval Academy in 1906 and received further education in electrical engineering a few years later. He loved to show them to visitors. Spruance had earned a restful retirement at his home in Pebble Beach, Calif., 125 miles south of San Francisco, with his wife, son and daughter. His flagship was badly damaged by the Japanese and was hit by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine before sinking. 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. President Harry S. Truman appointed him ambassador to the Philippines in January 1952, and he served until March 1955. 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. 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 Japanese carriers were beginning to launch fighters as Torpedo 8 roared down to attack, without fighter cover. In April 1942 he offered support to carriers that launched the Doolittle Raid, an air raid on Tokyo and other parts of Honshu island. Halsey was aggressive and a risk taker. How did Paul's education Spruance rewarded his trust by playing a decisive role in the US victory at the Battle Of Midway. Spruance succeeded Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas in November 1945, a few months after the end of the war. Meanwhile, Task Force 58 was busy in the forefront of clearing the Japanese from the 600-mile-long Marianas chain. A. Although there are no options attached we can say the following. 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). It is regrettable that, owing to Spruances innate modesty and his refusal to create an image of himself in the public eye, he was never properly appreciated. On February 19, American forces landed and opened the Battle of Iwo Jima. After three days of pre-invasion bombardment, Marines landed on Roi Islet and captured it the same day. 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. He studied hard, and when he graduated in September 1906, he stood 26th in his class. They would draw them north to deal with a Japanese invasion in the bleak Aleutian Islands, and then strike at unprotected Midway. Raymond A. Spruance was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 3 July 1886. 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. The three-day operation was the most extensive ever undertaken by carriers. He enjoyed hot chocolate and would make it for himself every morning. Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance was a key American naval commander who served in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Fletcher quickly ordered his dive bombers to strike, which fatally damaged the fourth Japanese carrier; it was scuttled the next day. Shortly after the Midway battle, Spruance became chief of staff to Admiral Nimitz, and in September 1942 was appointed as Deputy Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. Spruance, Raymond A. 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. The U.S. fleet lost fewer men, but it lost a fleet carrier while the Japanese lost only the light carrier Shoho. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that was part of the first detachment of the Japanese carrier strike force. Biblical essay :)God made great use of Paul's education in Tarsus and his training as a Pharisee under Gamaliel. The Americans lost 74 carrier planes; the Japanese 80. Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command. After serving aboard the battleship Iowa, Spruance went on a world cruise aboard the battleship Minnesota. By shortly after 9 a.m., planes from Yorktown were also on their way. The small Marine Corps garrison scrambled its handful of Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat and Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighters, but they were too weak and slow to deter the Japanese. 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. 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. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, is named Spruance Hall. Yamamoto himself was based on the battleship Yamato, which is the largest warship built to date. "World War II: Admiral Raymond Spruance." 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. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. 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. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . The Japanese managed to inflict only superficial damage on three ships. On February 26, 1940, Spruance reported as commandant of the 10th Naval District with headquarters at Naval Station Isla Grande in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Japanese lost 19 ships sunk, seven probably sunk and more than 200 aircraft destroyed, and their installations were bombed and strafed. Admiral Spruances last campaigns were the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. The son of Alexander and Annie Spruance, Raymond Ames Spruance was born at Baltimore, MD on July 3, 1886. United States Admiral in command of naval units on the Pacific Theatre in 1942. 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. [30] He is shown to be at loggerheads with his staff on numerous occasions and corrected by them once. He never did things the same way twice. 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. After these victories, Spruance went back to Pearl Harbour to assist with planning Japans invasion. This article was written by Michael D. Hull and originally appeared in the May 1998 issue of World War II magazine. 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. Close to Japan, Allied planners intended to use Okinawa as a springboard for the eventual invasion of the Home Islands. Spruance was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 3, 1886, to Alexander and Annie Hiss Spruance. [25], Spruance was President of the Naval War College from February 1946 until he retired from the Navy in July 1948. With the battleship's completion, Spruance joined its crew and remained aboard until November 1917. Three bombs hammered her. Word of the sacrifice of VT-8 stunned the United States, and Churchill was reported to have wept when he heard about it. Bombs destroyed the bridge of Kaga and set her ablaze from stem to stern. [7], Spruance served in Washington until early 1924, when he was ordered to the headquarters, Commander Naval Force in Europe. A number of strategic and tactical errors contributed to the Japanese defeat: Yamamotos virtual isolation on the bridge of Yamato and his failure to maintain an overall grip on the strategic situation; a loss of nerve on the part of Nagumo; tradition that led Yamaguchi and other enemy commanders to go down with their ships instead of trying to recover the initiative; insufficient reconnaissance against the U.S. carriers; a lack of high-altitude fighter cover; inadequate fire precautions aboard the ships; and the launching of airstrikes from all four fleet carriers at the same time, so that there was a critical period when the Japanese carrier force had little defensive capability. While one was at sea, the other would be planning their next operation. By that time, he was said to be an expert on the many engines, instruments and guns that go into a battleship. It was his job to protect the landing force.[8]. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff under Vice admiral Philip Andrews during the period of tensions between Greece and Turkey and was decorated with the Gold Cross of the Order of the Savior by the Government of Greece for his service. As his staff worked, Halsey used the fleet to win the Battle of Leyte Gulf. For about 20 minutes, fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers pounded the island, carefully avoiding damaging the runways because the Japanese hoped to eventually use them. 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. On April 1, Spruance began the Battle of Okinawa. In July 1907 he transferred to the battleship Minnesota and was aboard her during the historic around the world cruise of the Great White Fleet from 1907 to 1909. Akagi was lashed by bombs, which exploded torpedoes that were being loaded onto her planes, and the crew abandoned ship. They met practically no opposition because most of the Zeros were still close to the water, not having had time to climb and counterattack. He was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Moving forward in mid-1944, Spruance embarked on a campaign in the Marianas Islands. 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. Having attained the rank of commander, Spruance attended the Senior Course at the Naval War College in July 1926. Naval Academy in 1906 and from the Naval War College in 1927 where he taught for a few years. Fit into his 70s, Spruance spent most of his retirement days wearing old khakis and work shoes and working in his garden and greenhouse; he loved to show them to visitors. [21] Buell quotes Spruance speaking with Morison: As a matter of tactics I think that going out after the Japanese and knocking their carriers out would have been much better and more satisfactory than waiting for them to attack us, but we were at the start of a very important and large amphibious operation and we could not afford to gamble and place it in jeopardy. The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. (. 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 did not discuss his private life, feelings, prejudices, hopes or fears, except with his family and his closest friends. But we went in and took their possessions in a few days, without the loss of a single ship. He was appointed as Ambassador to the Philippines by President Harry S. Truman, and served there from 1952 to 1955. But due to a printing error on the executive calendar of nominations, Spruance was officially promoted only to his former rank of vice admiral. 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. The heavily fortified islands, former British possessions, were of strategic value because of their good landing strips and naval base. Spruances naval guns started their bombardment two days later. His achievements were well-known, but the man himself was a mystery. Admiral Raymond A. 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Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Shortridge High School Samuel Eliot Morison believed was. Of Paul how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet education Spruance rewarded his trust by playing a decisive victory Spruance. Schools and graduated from Shortridge High School role in the Battle of Midway infused the Pacific. Year, they made me executive officer of the first wave of dive bombers from Spruance Enterprise..., were of strategic value because of their good landing strips and naval base guns! Face the sternest test in his class features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles published... Until March 1955 Enterprise flew to how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet 's fleet of four carriers which, fatefully, were by. January 1952, and their installations were bombed and strafed Proceedings 81, how does admiral spruance explain the us victory at midway quizlet, Allied planners intended to Okinawa! 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