War in the Pacific

ARTICLES AND DISCUSSIONS

"4 May to 8 May 1942: Carrier War: Battle of the Coral Sea" by Scott Lyons

The Battle of the Coral Sea--a turning point for the War in the Pacific? Yes, as Japan lost two key aircraft carriers which would later prove costly at the Battle of Midway in June of 1942. This epic sea battle took place from 4 May to 8 May 1942. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) faced off against the United States and Australian naval and air forces, engaging in a revolutionary shift in tactics. It was the first naval battle in history where opposing fleets never sighted nor fired upon one…

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"9 April 1942: Walk to Live: The Bataan Death March Begins" by Scott Lyons

The Bataan Death March is a tragic event that marked one of the darkest moments of the Second World War. In April 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army ordered nearly 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers, who had surrendered in the battle of Bataan, to march 65 miles through the sweltering heat of the Philippines without food, water, or medical care. The aim of this forced march was to take the prisoners to different prison camps where they would be held captive under brutal and inhumane…

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"30 January 1945: To Freedom: Launching of The Raid at Cabanatuan" by Scott Lyons

The Raid at Cabanatuan, also known as the Great Raid, was one of the most daring and successful rescue missions of World War II. The mission, which took place on 30 January 1945, involved a small force of United States Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas who traveled over thirty miles behind Japanese lines to liberate over 500 American and other Allied prisoners of war and civilians from the Cabanatuan prison camp in Nueva Ecija, Philippines.In a daring and heroic mission during…

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"1 April 1945: The Setting Sun at Okinawa: World War II's Last Battle Begins" by Scott Lyons

The Battle of Okinawa took place from 1 April to 22 June 1945 and had a profound impact on the outcome of World War II. The island of Okinawa, situated around 350 miles from Japan's home islands, was a strategic location for the United States and the site of the largest land, air, and sea battle in history, as well as the longest in the Pacific War. The United States' goal was to secure the island, as its airfields and waters were essential staging areas for the planned invasion of Japan, known…

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"9 January 1945: Beginning of the End in the Philippines: The Battle of Luzon Begins" by Scott Lyons

In the early months of 1942, the Japanese Army successfully invaded and conquered all areas of the Philippines. However, the tide of the war shifted when Allied forces launched a daring amphibious operation on the island of Leyte on 20 October 1944. This was a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle for the Philippines, as it marked the beginning of a concerted effort to liberate the country from Japanese occupation. The mission involved significant strategic planning and the coordination of…

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"19 February 1945: 'Uncommon valor was a common virtue' and 'A Marine Corps for the next 500 years'; The Battle of Iwo Jima Begins" by Scott Lyons

The Battle of Iwo Jima was a pivotal moment in the Pacific War during World War II. The United States military launched Operation Detachment on 19 February 1945, with the objective of capturing the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army. The island had two airfields, South Field and Central Field, that the Americans needed to capture as they would provide important airstrips for their planes. In the following weeks, the battle saw some of the most vicious fighting of the Pacific…

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"31 January to 3 February 1944: Island Hopping; The Marshall Islands Campaign and the Battle of Kwajalein" by Scott Lyons

The Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign marked a significant chapter in the Pacific theatre of World War II, with a series of battles spanning from August 1942 to February 1944. Led by the United States Pacific Fleet and Marine Corps, the primary objective was to establish airfields and naval bases, vital for air and naval support operations across the Central Pacific. Under the code names Operation Galvanic, Kourbash, Flintlock and Catchpole, the campaign involved seizing control of…

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"26 December 1943 - 16 January 1944: Green Hell: The Battle of Cape Gloucester" by Scott Lyons

Right: U.S. Marines cross a raging stream. Cape Gloucester USMC Photo No. 5. From the Frederick R. Findtner Collection (COLL/3890), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections. OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH. On the second day after D-day, the action report of 27 December read "'Rains continued for the next five days. Water backed up in the swamps in rear of the shoreline, making them impassable for wheeled and tracked vehicles. The many streams which emptied into the sea in the beachhead area became…

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"20–23 November 1943: Three Days of Hell; The Battle of Tarawa" by Scott Lyons

The Battle of Tarawa, fought on 20-23 November 1943, was another turning point in the Allied campaign against Japan during World War II. Tarawa, an atoll in the Gilbert Islands, was the most fortified island that the Americans attempted to invade during the Pacific Campaign. The Japanese garrison at Betio, the main island of Tarawa, was heavily fortified with concrete bunkers, seawalls, trenches, and an airstrip, supported by a variety of artillery including heavy and light machine guns and…

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15 September 1944: The Battle of Peleliu begins

Overview The Battle of Peleliu was a pivotal moment in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Codenamed Operation Stalemate II, the battle was fought between the United States and Japan from 15 September to 27 November 1944. The objective was to capture the airfield on the small coral island, which was a part of a larger offensive campaign known as Operation Forager. However, the fierce resistance from the Japanese Army, which had developed new island-defense tactics and well-crafted…

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