Saipan July 7 1944

The U.S. 2nd Marine Division, 4th Marine Division, and 27th US Army Infantry Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Holland Smith, defeated the 43rd Division of the Imperial Japanese Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito.

We were two days away from this win on the 7th of July, 69 years ago.

Fighting became especially brutal and prolonged around Mount Tapotchau, Saipan's highest peak, and Marines gave battle sites in the area names such as "Death Valley" and "Purple Heart Ridge." When the U.S. finally trapped the Japanese in the northern part of the island, Japanese soldiers launched a massive but futile banzai charge. On July 9, the U.S. flag was raised in victory over Saipan.

From an airfield on this small island, we launched the two B29s that ended WWII.

In late summer 1944 the Imperial Japanese Navy was pushed to the edge. Lacking supply, materiel and trained airmen, they lashed out desperately with suicide missions. Poorly trained and poorly able pilots guiding their aircraft as human bombs into superior forces.

It was effective and horrific. Seems like something we should know. And learn from.

CORRECTION: commenter faggot Buzzsaw90 reminds me that the bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man were launched from Tinian.

Saipan was a base for lots of B-29 bombardments, but not those.

I suspect Buzz has some Batman underoos, but I would rather not go there.

Look, if they make you feel brave.. run with it..

And all my stupid aside thanks.

posted by Dave In Texas at 04:13 PM

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