06/01 Thu. Submarine NARWHAL (SS-167), lands men and supplies on
southwest coast of Mindanao, P. I.
06/02 Fri. Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Frigate AWAJI, by submarine GUITARRO (SS-363), off
Formosa,
22 d. 34' N., 121 d. 51' E.
06/03 Sat. United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer REID (DD-369), by dive bomber, western
New Guinea area,
01 d. 13' S., 136 d. 13' E.
06/04 Sun. German submarine U-505 is captured by hunter-killer
group 150 miles off the coast of Rio de Oro, Africa.
Hunter-killer group (Capt. D. V. Gallery) consists of
escort carrier GUADALCANAL (CVE-60, Capt. D. V.
Gallery), and escort division (Comdr. F. S. Hall),
composed of destroyer escorts PILLSBURY (DE-133, Lt.
G. W. Casselman), POPE (DE-134, Lt. Comdr. E. H.
Headland), FLAHERTY (De-135, Lt. Comdr. M. Johnston),
CHATELAIN (DE-149, Lt. Comdr. D. S. Knox), and JENKS
(DE-665, Lt. Comdr. J. F. Way).
Japanese aircraft attack Allied cruiser and destroyer
force (Rear Adm. V. A. C. Crutchley, RN) off Biak,
New Guinea; two United States light cruisers area
damaged.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Light cruiser NASHVILLE (CL-43), by horizontal
bomber, western New Guinea area,
01 d. 05' S., 136 d. 05' E.
Light cruiser PHOENIX (CL-46), by horizontal
bomber, western New Guinea area,
01 d. 00' S., 136 d. 00' E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Transport No. 128, by Army aircraft, Philippine
Sea,
04 d. 09' N., 129 d. 45' E.
06/05 Mon. Submarine NAUTILUS (SS-168) lands supplies at
Tucuran, Mindanao, P. I.
United States naval vessel sunk:
Minesweeper OSPREY (AM-56), by mine, off Normandy,
France,
50 d. 12 N., 01 d. 20' W.
United States naval vessel damaged:
LST 981, by mine, off Normandy, France,
50 d. 45' N., 00 d.43' E.
06/06 Tue. Allied Expeditionary Force under the supreme command
of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, USA, invades Western
Europe. Landings are made on beaches of Normandy,
France, following pre-invasion minesweeping and
bombardment by Allied warships, and under the cover
of Allied aircraft and naval gunfire. The invasion
fleet of thousands of naval vessels, merchant ships,
and landing craft under the command of Adm. Sir
Bertram H. Ramsay, RN, is divided into a Western
(American) Task Force and an Eastern (British) Task
Force. The Western Task Force, commanded by Rear
Adm. A. G. Kirk, USN, and composed to two assault
forces, "O" under the command of Rear Adm. J. L Hall,
USN, and "U" under the command of Read Adm. D. P.
Moon, USN, lands the First United States Army
commanded by Lt. Gen. O. N. Bradley, USA, on "Omaha"
and "Utah" beaches. Naval gunfire support groups
commanded by Rear Adm. M. L. Deyo, USN, and Rear Adm.
C. F. Bryant, USN effectively prevent the Germans
from moving up reinforcements and cover the troops
advancing inland. After the beachheads are
established, the primary naval responsibility is the
landing of men and supplies.
United States naval vessels sunk, Normandy invasion:
Destroyer CORRY (DD-463) by mine,
49 d. 31' N., 01 d. 12' W.
Submarine chaser PC-1261, by mine,
49 d. 30' N., 01 d. 10' W.
United States naval vessel damaged, Normandy
invasion:
LST 375, by collision,
42 d. 31' N., 00 d. 50' W.
[United States naval vessels listed as sunk or
damaged in the Normandy invasion do not include
amphibious types smaller than the LST.]
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Destroyer MINAZUKI, by submarine HARDER (SS-257),
Celebes Sea,
04 d. 05' N., 119 d. 30' E.
Coastal defense vessel No. 15, by submarine RATON
(SS-270), South China Sea,
08 d. 58' N., 109 d. 30' E.
06/07 Wed. Construction of artificial harbors and sheltered
anchorages from sunken blockships and concrete
caissons begins off Normandy beachheads.
United States Naval Advanced Base, Hollandia, New
Guinea, is established.
United States naval vessels sunk:
Submarine GUDGEON (SS-211), Pacific Ocean area,
reported as presumed lost.
Minesweeper TIDE (AM-125), by mine, Normandy area,
49 d. 37' N., 01 d. 05' W.
Transport SUSAN B. ANTHONTY (AP-72), by mine,
Normandy area,
49 d. 33' N., 00 d. 49' W.
United States naval vessels damaged, Normandy area:
Destroyer HARDING (DD-625), by grounding,
49 d. 31' N., 00 d. 50' E.
Minesweeper PHEASANT (AM-61), by collision,
49 d. 37' N., 01 d. 05' W.
PT-505, by mine,
49 d. 30' N., 01 d., 09' W.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer HAYANAMI, by submarine HARDER (SS-257),
Celebes Sea,
04 d. 43' N., 120 03' E.
06/08 Thu. Beginning shortly before midnight and continuing on 9
June, an Allied naval force (Rear Adm. V. A. C.
Crutchley, RN), including 2 United States light
cruisers and destroyers, intercepts and turns back 5
Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Biak
Island, in the Schouten Islands off New Guinea.
Submarine HARDER (SS-257) evacuates coast-watchers
from northeast coast of North Borneo.
United States naval vessels sunk, Normandy area:
Destroyer escort RICH (DE-695), by mine,
49 d. 31' N., 01 d. 10' W.
LST-499, by mine,
49 d. 30' N., 01 d. 10' W.
United States naval vessels damaged, Normandy area:
Destroyer GLENNON (DD-620), by mine,
50 d. 32' N., 01 d. 12' W.
Destroyer MEREDITH (DD-726), by mine,
49 d. 33' N., 01 d. 06' W.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Destroyer HARUSAME, by Army aircraft, Biak area,
New Guinea.
Destroyer KAZAGUMO, by submarine HAKE (SS-256),
Mindanao, P. I.,
06 d. 03' N., 125 d. 57' E.
06/09 Fri. Destroyers bombard Japanese repair facilities in the
Fangelawa Bay area, New Ireland.
United States naval vessel sunk, Normandy area:
Destroyer MEREDITH (DD-726), by horizontal bomber
and as a result of mine damage suffered 8 June,
49 d. 26' N., 01 d. 04' W.
LST 314, by torpedo from surface craft,
49 d. 43' N., 00 d. 52' W.
LST 376, damaged by torpedo from surface craft,
49 d. 50' N., 00 d. 50' W.;
sunk by United States forces.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Motor minesweeper YMS-305, by coastal defense gun,
Normandy area,
49 d. 31' N., 00 d. 50' W.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Destroyer MATSUKAZE, by submarine SWORDFISH (SS-
193), off Bonin Islands,
26 D. 59' N., 143 d. 13' E.
Destroyer TANIKAZE, by submarine HARDER (SS-257),
Celebes Sea,
05 d. 42' N., 120 d. 41' E.
06/10 Sat. United States naval vessels sunk, Normandy area:
Destroyer GLENNON (DD0620), by coastal defense gun,
50 d. 32' N., 01 d. 12' W.
Japanese submarine sunk:
RO-42, by destroyer escort BANGUST (DE-739),
Marshall Islands area,
10 d. 05' N., 168 d. 22' E.
06/11 Sun. United States battleships off Normandy give gunfire
support to Army forces 10 miles inland at Carentan,
France.
United States Naval Base, Biak Island, Schouten
Islands, is established.
Battleship MISSOURI (BB-63) is commissioned at New
York, N. Y.
United States naval vessels sunk, Normandy area:
LST 496, by mine,
49 d. 30' N., 00 d. 50' W.
Ocean tug PARTRIDGE (ATO-138), by torpedo,
49 d. 30' N., 00 d. 30' W.
United States naval vessels damaged, Normandy area:
Destroyer NELSON (DD-623), by torpedo,
49 d. 31' N., 00 d. 50' W.
LST 538, by torpedo,
49 d. 48' N., 00 d. 31' W.
Japanese submarine sunk:
RO-111, by destroyer TAYLOR (DD-468), north of
Bismarck Archipelago,
00 d. 26' N., 149 d. 16' E.
German submarine sunk:
U-490, by aircraft (VC-95) from escort carrier
CROATAN (CVE-25), and destroyer escorts FROST (DE-
144), HUSE (DE-145), and INCH (DE-146), North
Atlantic area,
42 d. 47' N., 40 d. 08' w.
06/12 Mon. Aircraft from 15 carriers of fast carrier task force
(Vice Adm. M. A. Mitscher) bomb enemy air facilities
and coast defenses on Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Rota, and
Pagan Islands in the Marianas Islands. Two Japanese
convoys area attacked and damaged. Carrier aircraft
continue strikes in the Marianas Islands on 13 and 14
June.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer KALK (DD-611), by horizontal bomber,
western New Guinea area,
01 d. 19' S., 136 d. 19' E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Torpedo boat OTORI, by carrier-based aircraft,
Marianas Islands area.
06/13 Tue. Battleship and destroyer task group (Vice Adm. W. A.
Lee) bombards Japanese installations on Saipan and
Tinian, Marianas Islands.
Cruiser and destroyer force (Rear Adm. E. G. Small)
bombards enemy positions on Matsuwa Island in the
Kurile Islands.
Submarine NARWHAL (SS-167), shells oil tanks at Bula,
Ceram Island, Netherlands East Indies.
Japanese submarine sunk:
RO-36, by destroyer MELVIN (DD-680), Marianas
Islands area,
15 d. 21' N., 147 d. 00' E.
06/14 Wed. Two task groups of battleships, cruisers, and
destroyers (Rear Adm. J. B. Oldendorf and Rear Adm.
W. L. Ainsworth) bombard Japanese installation on
Saipan and Tinian, Marianas Islands.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Battleship CALIFORNIA (BB-44), by coastal defense
gun, Marianas Islands area,
15 d. 12' N., 145 d. 42' E.
Destroyer BRAINE (DD-630), by coastal defense gun,
Marianas Islands area,
15 d.02' N., 145 d. 50' E.
LST 280, by submarine torpedo, Normandy area,
49 d. 55' N., 00 d. 30' W.
06/15 Thu. Naval task force (Vice Adm. R. K. Turner) lands
Marines (Lt. Gen. H. M. Smith) on Saipan, Marianas
Islands, under cover of intensive naval gunfire and
carrier-based aircraft.
Carrier-based aircraft from two task groups (Rear
Adm. J. J. Clark and Rear Adm. W. K. Harrill) bomb
Japanese installations on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands,
and Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands;
attack on Iwo Jima is repeated 16 June.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Battleship TENNESSEE (BB-43), by coastal defense
gun, Saipan, Marianas Islands,
15 d. 02' N., 143 d.50' E.
United States naval vessels damaged, Normandy area:
LST 2, LST 266, LST 307, LST 331, LST 360 by
coastal defense guns, and LST 133, by mine.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Minelayer No. 101, by surface craft, Marianas
Islands area,
15 d. 15' N., 145 d. 45' E.
German submarine sunk:
U-860, by aircraft (VC-9) from escort carrier
SOLOMONS (CVE-67), South Atlantic area,
25 d. 27' S., 05 d. 30' W.
06/16 Fri. Battleship, cruiser and destroyer force (Rear Adm. W.
L. Ainsworth) bombards Japanese installations on
Guam, Marianas Islands.
Japanese submarines sunk:
RO-44, by destroyer escort BURDEN R. HASTINGS (DE-
19), Marshall Islands area,
11 d. 13' N., 164 d. 15' E.
RO-114, by destroyer MELVIN (DD-680) and WADLEIGH
(DD-689), Marianas Islands area,
15 d. 02' N., 144 d. 10' E.
06/17 Sat. Allied task force (Rear Adm. T. H. Troubridge, RN),
including United States naval vessels, lands French
troops on island of Elba off Italy.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Escort carrier FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70), by horizontal
bomber, off Marianas Islands,
15 d. 00' N., 145 d. 00' E.
Motor minesweeper YMS-377, by mine, Normandy area,
49 d. 29' N., 01 d. 08' W.
LST 84, accidentally by United States naval
gunfire, Marianas Islands,
15 d. 10' N., 145 d. 58' E.
Japanese submarine sunk:
RO-117, by naval land-based aircraft (VB-109) from
Eniwetok,
11 d. 05' N., 150 d. 31' E.
06/18 Sun. United States naval vessels sunk:
PT-63 and PT-107, fire, off New Ireland,
01 d. 45' s., 150 d. 01' E.
United States naval vessels damaged, Marianas
Islands area:
Destroyer PHELPS (DD-360), by coastal defense gun,
14 d. 58' N., 146 d. 21' E.
Oilers NESHANIC (AO-71), and SARANAC (AO-74), by
horizontal bomber,
14 d. 45' N., 146 d. 10' E.
06/19 Mon. Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June) opens as
Japanese carrier-based aircraft attack Fifth Fleet
(Adm. R. A. Spruance) covering Saipan operation. Two
United States battleships, two carriers, and a heavy
cruiser are damaged. Japanese lose over 300
aircraft, and two aircraft carriers are sunk by
United States submarines.
[Do we refer to this as "the Marianas Turkey-Shoot?
LWJ]
Artificial harbor area Normandy, France, is severely
damaged by storm. (See 7 June 1994.)
United States naval vessel sunk:
LST 523, by mine, Normandy area,
49 d. 30' N., 01 d. 10' W.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Battleship SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), by dive bomber,
Battle of the Philippine Sea,
14 d. 10' N., 143 d. 15' E.
Battleship INDIANA (BB-58), by suicide plane,
Battle of the Philippine Sea,
14 d. 04' N., 143 d. 23' E.
Carrier BUNKER HILL (CV-17), by dive bomber, Battle
of the Philippine Sea,
14 d. 46' N., 143 d. 02' E.
Carrier WASP (CV-18), by dive bomber, Battle of the
Philippine Sea,
14 d. 19' N., 143 d. 48' E.
Heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36), by horizontal
bomber, Battle of the Philippine Sea,
14 d. 11' N., 143 d. 09' E.
Destroyer HUDSON (DD-475), accidentally by United
States naval gunfire, Battle of the Philippine
Sea,
14 d. 11' N., 143 d. 09' E.
Motor minesweeper YMS-323, by coastal defense gun,
Saipan, Marianas Islands,
15 d. 10' N., 145 d. 58' E.
Ocean tug ATR-15, by grounding, Normandy area,
49 d. 22' N., 00 d. 26' W.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Carrier SHOKAKU, by submarine CAVALLA (SS-244),
Battle of the Philippine Sea,
11 d. 50' N., 137 d. 57' E.
Carrier TAIHO, by submarine ALBACORE (SS-218),
Battle of the Philippine Sea,
12 d. 22' N., 137 d. 04' E.
I-184, by aircraft (vt-60) from escort carrier
SUWANNEE (CVE-27), Central Pacific area,
13 d. 01' N., 149 d. 53' E.
06/20 Tue. Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June) continues.
Aircraft from Fifth Fleet carrier task force (Vice
Adm. M. A. Mitscher) strike Japanese fleet. One
enemy carrier is sunk. In the 2-day Battle of the
Philippine Sea the engaged Japanese Fleet loses 395
(92%) of its carrier planes, and 31 (72%) of its
float planes. Only 35 carrier planes and 12 float
planes remain operational. Besides the losses
afloat, an estimated 50 land-based Japanese aircraft
from Guam are destroyed. The United States Fleet
loss is 130 planes and a total of 76 pilots and
crewmen for the 2 days. [After the Battle of the
Philippine Sea the Japanese high command thoroughly
understood that the war was lost. Adm. R. A.
Spruance and Vice Adm. M. A. Mitscher won a great
victory.]
Submarine NARWHAL (SS-167) and NAUTILUS (SS-168) land
supplies and evacuate certain personnel from Negros
and Panay, P. I.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer PHELPS (DD-360), by coastal defense gun,
Marianas Islands area,
15 d. 10' N., 145 d. 58' E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Carrier HIYO, by carrier-based aircraft, Battle of
the Philippine Sea.
06/21 Wed. United States Coast Guard vessels sunk:
Cutters 83415 and 83471, by storm, off Normandy.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer DAVIS (DD-395), by mine, Normandy area,
49 d. 23' N., 00 d. 46' W.
06/22 Thu. United States naval vessels damaged:
Battleship MARYLAND (BB-46), by aircraft torpedo,
Marianas Islands area,
15 d. 13' N., 145 d. 39' E.
LST 119, by coastal defense gun, Marianas Islands
area,
15 d. 10' N., 145 d. 58' E.
Japanese submarine sunk:
I-185, by destroyer NEWCOMB (DD-586) and high-speed
minesweeper CHANDLER (DMS-9), Marianas Islands
area,
15 d. 50' N., 145 d. 08' E.
06/23 Fri. Aircraft from carrier task group (Rear Adm. J. J.
Clark) bomb enemy air facilities on Pagan Island in
the Marianas Islands.
06/24 Sat. Aircraft from carrier task groups (Rear Adm. J. J.
Clark and Rear Adm. A. E. Montgomery) strike Japanese
airfields and facilities on Iwo Jima, Volcano
Islands, and Pagan Island, Marianas Islands.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-193, damaged by grounding, western New Guinea
area,
00 d. 55' S., 134 d. 52' E.;
sunk by United States forces.
Japanese submarine sunk:
I-52, by aircraft (VC-69) from escort carrier BOGUE
(CVE-9), Atlantic area,
15 d. 16' N., 39 d. 55' W.
[Any idea of the mission here? LWJ]
06/25 Sun. United States battleship, cruiser, and destroyer
force (Read Adm. M. L. Deyo) bombards German shore
batteries and coastal defenses at Cherbourg, France.
United States naval vessels damaged, Cherbourg
operation:
Battleship TEXAS (BB-35) and destroyers BARTON (DD-
722), LAFFEY (DD-724), and OBRIEN (DD-275), by
coastal defense gun.
06/26 Mon. Cruisers and destroyers (Rear Adm. E. G. Small)
bombard enemy positions at Kurabu Zaki, Paramushiro,
Kurile Islands.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Cargo ship MERCURY (AK-42), by aircraft torpedo,
Marianas Islands area,
15 d. 10; N., 145 d. 58' E.
06/28 Wed. Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Coast defense vessel No. 24, by submarine
ARCHERFISH (SS-311), western Pacific area,
24 d. 44' N., 140 d. 20' E.
06/29 Thu. United States naval vessel sunk:
Coast minesweeper VALAOR (AMc-108), by collision,
off Newport, R. I.,
41 d. 28' N., 70 d. 57' W.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Minelayer TSUGARU, by submarine DARTER (SS-227),
Netherlands East Indies area,
02 d. 19' N., 127 d. 57 E.
06/30 Fri. Naval vessels on hand (all types) - 46,032.
Personnel: Navy - 2,981,365; Marine Corps - 472,582;
Coast Guard - 169, 258. Total personnel - 3,623,205.