Appendix II
Chronology

1944
30 January-23 February U. S. Marines and Army troops seize Marshalls Islands.
17-18 February Task Force 58 strikes Truk, revealing weakness of that base. Decision to by-pass comes soon after.
22-23 February Task Force 58 strikes Southern Marianas.
29 February U. S. Army troops land at Los Negros in the Admiralties.
12 March Joint Chiefs of Staff direct that Southern Marianas be seized, target date 15 June.
20 March 4th Marines (Reinforced) seizes Emirau.
Admiral Nimitz issues FORAGER Joint Staff Study setting forth the purpose of the Marianas Operation.
22 March U. S. Army troops land at Hollandia.
23 March Admiral Nimitz issues operation order for Marianas; Admirals Spruance and Turner follow suit.
30 March-1 April Task Force 58 strikes Western Carolines.
26 April Expeditionary Troops operation order states mission ". . . to capture, occupy and defend Saipan, Tinian and Guam. . ."
1 May Northern Troops and Landing Force issues operation order; 2d and 4th Marine Divisions to land on Saipan's western beaches in the Charan Kanoa vicinity.
17-19 May Landing Force maneuvers and rehearses at Maui and Kahoolawe, Hawaiian Islands.
21 May Six LST's, embarking assault elements of the two Marine divisions, burn at Pearl Harbor.
25 May LST's, carrying assault elements of the two Marine divisions, LVT's and artillery, depart Pearl Harbor.
29-30 May Portions of the two divisions not embarked in LST's, depart Pearl Harbor.
6-11 June Joint Expeditionary Force at Eniwetok for final staging.
11-13 June Task Force 58 executes preparatory bombardment of Saipan.
14 June Fire support ships of the Northern and Southern Attack Forces arrive at Saipan and commence bombardment.
15 June 2d and 4th Marine Divisions land at Saipan.
16 June 27th Infantry Division begins landing at Saipan.

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16-17 June Japanese launch strong, unsuccessful tank-infantry night attack against 6th Marines.
17 June First observation planes (OY's) land at Charan Kanoa airstrip.
18 June 165th Infantry captures Aslito Airfield.
19-20 June Battle of the Philippine Sea. Japanese Navy suffers decisive defeat.
22 June Aslito airfield becomes operational for fighter aircraft.
24 June Major General Ralph C. Smith relieved as commander, 27th Infantry Division; Major General Sanderford Jarman assumes command.
25 June Mt. Tapotchau, Saipan's key terrain feature, captured by 8th Marines. Kagman Peninsula seized by 4th Marine Division.
28 June Major George W. Griner, Jr. assumes command of the 27th Infantry Division, relieving Major General Sanderford Jarman.
4 July Advance reaches Tanapag Seaplane Base; 2d Marine Division pinched out of lines.
6-7 July Japanese launch savage all-out banzai attack along Tanapag Plain; 105th Infantry and 3d Battalion, 10th Marines hardest hit.
8 July 2d Marine Division passes through 27th Infantry Division for mop-up of Tanapag Plain.
9 July 4th Marine Division reaches Marpi Point; Admiral Turner announces Saipan secured; mop-up begins; 2d and 4th Marine Divisions get ready for Tinian operation.
12 July Major General Harry Schmidt assumes command of Northern Troops and Landing Force when Lieutenant General Holland Smith decides to go to Guam; Major General Clifton B. Cates assumes command of 4th Marine Division.
13 July 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, captures Maniagassa Island.
9 August Aslito Airfield becomes operational for Liberator bombers (B-24).
15 October Aslito airfield becomes operational for B-29's.
24 November Saipan-based B-29's raid Tokyo.

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