{Hermit Note: As many of you know, the WW2 PTO (Pacific Theater of Operations) is one of my favorite Military History topics and one of the best books I ever read on both the Land and Naval Battles for Saipan, Tinian and Guam is James D. Hornfischer’s The Fleet at Flood Tide.}
On this day in 1944, U.S. Marines land on Saipan. The 24-day campaign to capture the island leaves tens of thousands dead but puts Tokyo within striking range of American B-29 bombers.
Saipan was a pivotal engagement in the Pacific Theater of World War II. As part of the Mariana Islands, it held strategic significance due to its location, enabling the U.S. to launch direct air raids on Japan.
The operation began on June 15, 1944, with a massive amphibious assault by the U.S. Marine Corps and Army. The Japanese defenders, aware of the island’s importance, put up fierce resistance.
The battle was marked by heavy fighting, with both sides suffering significant casualties. American forces faced difficult terrain and well-fortified positions, while the defenders relied on massed banzai charges. Tragically, many Japanese civilians on the island, influenced by Japanese propaganda and fearing capture by American troops, committed mass suicide. Families jumped from cliffs, and others took their own lives, adding to the horrific death toll.
U.S. forces secured the island on July 9, 1944. The victory at Saipan was a turning point in the war, allowing the U.S. to establish airfields for B-29 bombers. This enabled a sustained bombing campaign against the Japanese mainland, bringing the war closer to Japan and hastening the eventual Allied victory in the Pacific. The Battle of Saipan remains a significant chapter in World War II history, demonstrating the high cost of strategic military objectives.
