65 Years ado today (tonight?)...

[CTMC(ret)]

One of my favorite moments in WWII occurred on this date 65 years ago. The Battle of the Philippine Sea. June 19-20, 1944. Aircraft returning to the fleet after a late a'noon attack on the retiring Japanese fleet. Dusk comes, then nightfall. Aircraft are low on fuel, some running out and crashing into a dark sea. They have flown approximately 600 miles and it's now 2045 on an unusually dark night. Imagine yourself as a pilot - nothing but black sky and sea, out of fuel, out of options, and out of altitude. Hope fading rapidly. Suddenly, a glow on the horizon! Every ship in the fleet illuminates every light it possesses, 5" batteries are firing starshell, 36" searchlights pierce the black sky! And in the middle of all that - the most beautiful sight you've ever seen! Flight decks fully outlined, ready and waiting for YOU! VADM Marc Mitscher, mindful of the risk from ever-present Japanese submarines, decides saving his aircrews is worth the risk and orders "Turn on the lights." Of 209 aircrews that went out on the mission, 160 were either saved by this bold decision or rescued in the following days.

Here's to you, Admiral Mitscher!!

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[jon_norstog]

Thanks, Chief!

I bet Spruance had a fit when he heard about the break in lights out. We did lose a lot of planes before the lights went on. In fact more planes and crews were lost in the dark than were shot down by the Japanse.

The whole reason, IIRC, for the boys being out after dark was they were sent off to hit Ozawa's fleet, which was only located about 16:00. 550 planes went out, sank their oilers and one CVA, damaged 3 others, hit a BB pretty hard too. They all knew they didn't have time to go out, do their good deed, and get back before dark. They went anyway.

Every once in a while, high command does something that shows common sense and a little humanity.

jn

jn