Known for his calm in moments of crisis, Admiral Spruance became one of the U.S. Navy's largest assets in World War II. 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. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Naval Academy, graduating in 1906. When not in command of the fleet the admirals, and their staffs, were based at Pearl Harbor and planned future operations. B. Jim Crow Laws However, his actions were both praised and understood by the main persons ordering and directly involved in the battle. The month before, American and Japanese naval units had fought the Battle of the Coral Sea, and both closely matched sides had suffered. Then he returned to the Naval War College as a staff member. When she went to sea in 1916, he went with her. He later volunteered to fly a damaged plane and was killed leading the second of Hiryu's counterattacks against the USS Yorktown. However, Spruances fleet was also charged with guarding the amphibious landings at Saipan and Tinian. The Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis has a meeting room named for Spruance as well as displays honoring his career and that of the USS Indianapolis. erful leader. 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. Spruance was calculating and cautious. 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. The two admirals were a contrast in styles. Commanding the battleship for nearly two years, Spruance was aboard when World War II began in Europe. Akagi class Japanese aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of Admiral Nagumo. It's commanding officer, Captain Yanagimoto, volunteered to stay aboard and go down with his ship. The three-day operation was the most extensive ever undertaken by carriers. After working to defend neutral American shipping from German U-boats, Spruance received orders to take over Cruiser Division Five in September 1941. D. Suburban America, 100 POINTS! 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. Michio Kobayashi The Eastern Orthodox Church developed from the church in Constantinople. 2015. As part of this reorganization, the force became known as the Fifth Fleet when Spruance was in charge and the Third Fleet when Halsey was in command. 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. ThoughtCo. Weeks later . Spruance's first duty assignment was aboard the battleship USSIowa, an 11,400 ton veteran of the SpanishAmerican War. The Gilberts attack was planned and directed by Spruance, with the assistance of Rear Adms. With World War I raging, he became Assistant Engineer Officer of the New York Navy Yard. 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. After six furious minutes, the three carriers were left burning. But due to a printing error on the executive calendar of nominations, Spruance was officially promoted only to his former rank of vice admiral. While one was at sea, the other would be planning their next operation. Raymond A. Spruance. He never smoked and drank little. 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. The American losses were Yorktown, destroyer Hammann and 147 planes. [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. Known as "island hopping," U.S. forces moved from island to island, using each as a base for capturing the next. The young, ambitious officer was then assigned to Bainbridge, U.S. destroyer No. Thus the Americans knew the Japanese planned to move toward Midway. Furthermore, Spruance ordered that the air squadrons fly directly to their targets before assembling every squadron into a proper formation, gambling that the attacks would leave the enemy carriers in disarray and delay the launching of their own counterstrike. He studied hard, and when he graduated in September 1906, he stood 26th in his class. C. American Dream Aboard the battleship Yamato, Admiral Yamamoto received word that the U.S. fleet was at Midwaynot Pearl Harbor as he had thought. In June 1931, Spruance returned to Newport, RI to serve on the staff of the Naval War College. 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]. It was bombed by dive bombers from the Enterprise and as scuttled shortly after Nagumo was forced by his staff to evacuate. 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. During World War II, he was commander in the . He served as an instructor at the Naval War College from 1935 to 1938. Admiral Raymond Spruance served in US Navy during World War Two. When Midway began on June 4, 1942 the first few waves of U.S. aircraft were greatly outnumbered by Japanese forces. Retribution was not long in coming. At Midway, Spruances force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. Admiral Spruance explained the U.S. victory at Midway in the following way. Japanese naval force tasked with the invasion of the Aleutian Islands under Vice Admiral Kakuta with aircraft carriers Junyo and Ryuho. My mind is blank. society in the 1950s? 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. He was fond of symphonic music, and his tastes were generally simple. During the operation, the Fifth Fleet burned up 630 million gallons of fuelmore than the entire Pacific Fleet used in 1943. On October 16, 1946, the former Secretary of War, Robert P. Patterson, presented the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral Spruance, with citation as follows: Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, U.S. Navy, as Task Force Commander during the capture of the Marshall and Marianas Islands, rendered exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services from January to June 1944. United States airbase targeted by the Japanese in preparation to invade Hawaii. 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. At 0530 June 4, a scout plane from Midway sighted the Kido Butai, however the scout only reported sighting "Two carriers and battleships", and giving course and speed. Admiral Spruance died on 13 December 1969, at his home in Pebble Beach , California. All three were eventually scuttled. Spruances fleet had prevented the Japanese from reinforcing the Saipan garrison. catalogued as someone to watch; there was never any possibility that he would be passed over in the lists for promotion. A. 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. Lieutenant in command of the USS Enterprise air group. The USS Enterprise ambushes and sinks the Hiryu. At Midway, Spruance's force inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Navy its worst setback in 350 years. At the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese won a tactical victory, but suffered an operational-level defeat: it did not invade Port . Admiral Yamamoto commanded the combined invasion fleet from aboard his flagship Yamato. 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). In this state the Japanese carriers would be extremely vulnerable. 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. McClusky led one squadron, VB-6, against the carrier Kaga, while the other Enterprise squadron pounced on Nagumos flagship, Akagi. His next assignment was command of the destroyer Aaron Ward, and then USS Perceval. 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. Admiral Spruance was buried with full honors alongside Admirals Nimitz and Kelly Turner in a military cemetery overlooking San Francisco Bay. It Didnt End Well. The US intelligence services could predict the way the Japanese carriers and planes would be approaching the battle. Naval Academy in 1906,[5] and received further, hands-on education in electrical engineering a few years later. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. 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. 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. Overseeing the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943, he guided Allied forces as they advanced through the Gilbert Islands. From the remaining enemy carrier, Hiryu, Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi launched bombers and torpedo planes against Yorktown. Navy.[4]. Calm, collected, decisive, yet receptive to advice; keeping in his mind the picture of widely disparate forces, yet boldly seizing every opening. [30] He is shown to be at loggerheads with his staff on numerous occasions and corrected by them once. John C. Waldron. 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. Three bombs hammered her. That is how the US navy could inflict great damage to the Japanese fleet and aircraft. Clarence McClusky, swooped from 19,000 feet onto Nagumos ships. 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. 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]. The U.S. fleet lost fewer men, but it lost a fleet carrier while the Japanese lost only the light carrier Shoho. These attacks were followed by a raid against Marcus Island. The Turning Point in the Pacific. 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 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. 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. Spruance became Commander of the 5th Fleet in November 1943, which presented him with command of the Central Pacific Forces. He suggested Spruance replace him as commander of the Fleet carrier force, despite the fact that Spruce had little experience with carriers. Moving forward in mid-1944, Spruance embarked on a campaign in the Marianas Islands. He never did things the same way twice. He was then 55. 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. 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. Japanese escort carrier that was mainly responsible for launching scouts attached to Combined Fleet main body. [3] After the war, Spruance was appointed President of the Naval War College, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines. Japanese fleet under the direct command of Admiral Yamamoto with over 5 battleships and escort carrier Hosho. The Battle of Midway infused the U.S. Pacific Navy with confidence. Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance was a key American naval commander who served in the Pacific Theater of World War II. 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. He did not discuss his private life, feelings, prejudices, hopes or fears, except perhaps with his family and his closest friends. With the end of the war, Spruance aided in returning American troops home before moving through a succession of engineering postings and destroyer commands. He attended grade and high schools in East Orange, N.J., and in Indianapolis. During the last year of World War I he was assigned as Assistant Engineer Officer of the New York Naval Shipyard, and carried out temporary duty in London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. [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." 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 decorated with Order of Leopold and Croix de guerre with Palm by the Government of Belgium for his service for the Allied cause.[26]. The Japanese managed to inflict only superficial damage on three ships. Yorktown and Task Force 17 were under the command of Rear Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher. After further schooling at the Stevens Preparatory School in New Jersey, Spruance applied to and was accepted by the US Naval Academy in 1903. Following the war, Spruance served as US Ambassador to the Philippines from 1952 to 1955. 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. 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 . Four fleet carriers and the heavy cruiser Mikuma were sunk; a cruiser, three destroyers, an oiler and a battleship were damaged. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. Spruance expressed his personal feelings on this matter as follows: So far as my getting five star rank is concerned, if I could have got it along with Bill Halsey, that would have been fine; but, if I had received it instead of Bill Halsey, I would have been very unhappy over it. More to his liking was the study of foreign methods of naval fire control, which took him to London and Edinburgh. [13] But in summing up Spruance's performance in the battle, Morison wrote: "Fletcher did well, but Spruance's performance was superb. From there, he went on to graduate from the U.S. 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. 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. In 1939 he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. Meanwhile, his search planes found no sign of any American warships. He was fond of symphonic music, and his tastes were generally simple. Successfully concluding operations, Spruance was promoted to admiral in February. 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. D. The Pope lived in Constantinople. C. The Roman Catholic Church developed in Constantinople. Terms of Use| Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, is named Spruance Hall. The Japanese had been overconfident, and the Americans taught them a bitter lesson. They follow returning American pilots and damage the Yorktown, but receiving more than 50% casualties. The Americans lost 74 carrier planes; the Japanese 80. 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. It was hit and shortly after destroyed by American dive bombers. "[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]. His air group is credited with the sinking of 4 Japanese aircraft carriers during Midway. Hiryu class Japanese aircraft carrier that was the flagship of the second detachment of the carrier strike force. Japanese supporting aircraft carrier in the corresponding Aleutian Islands Invasion. The defeat effectively destroyed the Japanese Navy's air arm. Admiral William L. Calhoun saw him as a cold-blooded fighting fool. At 8:20 a.m., Nagumos observers reported a group of American ships 200 miles away. Ambassador to the Philippines in 1952-55. Things did not look hopeful for Spruance and his force on the eve of Midway. Naval Academy at Annapolis. https://www.thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511 (accessed March 1, 2023). Admiral Spruance could have been right. The Battle of Midway was the first major victory for the United States over Japan and is seen by many as . 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. "Well, pick it up and put it back," was Spruance's measured response.[8]. He readied himself at Stevens Preparatory School in Hoboken, N.J., and entered Annapolis in July 1903 at age 17. US Naval Task Force under Frank Fletcher with aircraft carrier Yorktown. Only 17 of the islands 4,690 Japanese defenders survived to become prisoners. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Admiral Halsey was given command of the Third Fleet, and later that year Task Force 58 was transferred to Halseys fleet. In the seven-week campaign, 55 Japanese ships were sunk, five probably sunk and 74 damaged. "World War II: Admiral Raymond Spruance." With the battleship's completion, Spruance joined its crew and remained aboard until November 1917. By 1939, at the age of 53, Spruance had spent 18 years at sea. 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. The Japanese felt that they had won the encounter. He's one of the finest officers I know of. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. The two admirals presented a contrast in styles as Spruance tended to be quiet and meticulous while Halsey was brash and more impetuous. 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. And, off Okinawa, Spruance never faltered in face of the destruction wrought by the kamikazes. The gallant carrier was crippled but nearly succeeded in reaching safety before torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-68 finally sank her three days later. These plans proved moot when the war came to an abrupt end in early August with the use of the atom bomb. Notwithstanding their different personalities, Spruance and Halsey were close friends. He graduated from the U.S. 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. Spruance launched an assault on February 16-17 against Truk, the Japanese Pearl Harbor, at the same time that Admiral Turners forces were attacking Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls, about 700 miles to the west. U.S. losses were low: 25 airplanes and 18 lives. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison believed he was one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American naval history. Once theBattle of the Philippine Sea came to an end, Spruance returned to Pearl Harbour to help plan other landings in the future. President Harry S. Truman appointed him ambassador to the Philippines in January 1952, and he served until March 1955. The Japanese were trying to tow Soryu to safety when she was torpedoed and sunk by the U.S. submarine Nautilus. In January 1945, Spruance resumed command of the fleet and began moving against Iwo Jima. He advanced quickly through the ranks, becoming an admiral in 1944. His work would bring him a gold star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. 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. Aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of Task Force 17 and Admiral Fletcher. Admiral Spruance commanded with deadly precision, reported an observer. He was a diligent, neat and gentle boy. Two years later, he aided in the fitting out of USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) then under construction in the yard. Fifteen Buffaloes and two Wildcats were lost, but the garrisons anti-aircraft fire was effective. In May 1914, Spruance received a posting as Assistant to the Inspector of Machinery at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. World War II: Admiral Raymond Spruance. Akagi was lashed by bombs, which exploded torpedoes that were being loaded onto her planes, and the crew abandoned ship. He began attendance at the Naval War College in 1926, and graduated in 1927. Mounting a tenacious defense, the Japanese held out for over a month. While both Fletcher and Spruance were rear admirals, Fletcher was senior and nominally in overall command. The Saipan campaign began with air attacks on June 10, 1944. The following year, they made me executive officer of the transport Agamemnon, bringing troops home from France.