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. |
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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