June 15
Pacific, Marianas
The US Northern Attack Force arrives off Saipan. In response, the Japanese Combined Fleet is ordered to gather. On the island itself, landings are conducted on the west coast by the US 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions.

Air War, Japan
The iron and steel works at Yahata on the mainland is bombed by B-29s of the US 20th Army Air Force, which is operating from bases in China.

June 16
Far East, Burma
The 22nd Division, part of Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell's Chinese force, has taken Kamaing, the first of his three objectives - the others being Mogaung and Myitkyina.

June 18
Western Front, France
US forces reach the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy, trapping the German garrison in Cherbourg. Hitler has ordered the garrison to fight to the death.

Pacific, Marianas
The warships of US Task Force 58 rendezvous west of Saipan.

A Japanese ship under American air attack during
the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which fatally
wrecked Japanese naval air strength in the Pacific

June 19-21
Pacific, PHILIPPINE SEA
On hearing of the US assault on Saipan, the Japanese Combined Fleet, under Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa, puts to sea immediately with five heavy and four light carriers, five battleships, 11 heavy and two light cruisers, and 28 destroyers. The US 5th Fleet, under Admiral Marc Mitscher's tactical command, numbers seven heavy and eight light carriers, eight heavy and 13 light cruisers, and 69 destroyers. Aircraft on either side total 573 Japanese (including 100 based on Guam, Rota, and Yap) and 956 American.

Ozawa's search planes locate the 5th Fleet at daybreak, 300 miles (480 km) from his advance element of four light carriers and 500 miles (800 km) from his main body. Ozawa launches an attack in four waves, while Mitscher, on discovering the enemy aircraft, sends out his interceptors.

Disaster strikes Ozawa immediately, for US submarines sink the carriers Taiho and Shokaku, and US fighters shoot down many of his aircraft. In the Battle of the Philippine Sea, nicknamed the 'Great Marianas Turkey Shoot' by the Americans, the Japanese lose 346 aircraft and two carriers. US losses are 30 aircraft and slight damage to a battleship. Meanwhile, Mitscher's bombers neutralize the Japanese airfields on Guam and Rota. On the 20th, Mitscher launches 216 aircraft, which sink another carrier and two oil tankers, and seriously damage several other vessels. While the Americans lose 20 aircraft, Ozawa loses another 65, although many US aircraft are forced to ditch into the sea. Ozawa's costly battle deals a crippling blow to the Japanese naval air arm, not least through the loss of 460 trained combat pilots.

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