Also Know As, but that is not the real WOD for today, just a way to start.

The battle fought 65 years ago today has two different names. Sometimes a person is so fixated on one name thy think the two were different events. So to set the record straight, the Marianas Turkey Shoot took place during the Battle of Philippine Sea.

The turkey shoot took part during the overall battle on June 19, 1944. The Battle of Midway was a sever blow to Japan with her loosing 4 carriers. More importantly Japan lost aircrews and aircraft. That was the main focus of this operation for them. Get land bases aircraft into the area so they could try to keep the American’s in check.

During the attacks on the American fleet Japan lost nearly 600 aircraft. The planes failed to inflict sever damage to any major US warship. The SoDak was hit by one bomb which did minor damage. US fighters and warships effectively stopped Japanese air attacks on the fleet. The turkey shoot is considered the end the Japanese Naval Aviation. After this battle they no longer had the airpower to be effective against the American fleet.

US Submarines provided early reports of the approaching enemy fleet and even knocked off Japan’s newest carrier, Taiho. Another American sub sank the carrier Shokaku. Japanese pilot Sakio Komatsu saw the torpedoes heading toward his carrier Taiho and actually crashed his plane into one. However one torpedo did hit the carrier and eventually caused her to sink.

In a bold move, which has been questioned even today, Mitscher launched an attack a 6:30pm. The planes would have to land in the dark. The attacking force of 550 planes met only token resistance and was able to sink another Japanese carrier, Hiyo, damage three carriers, and one battleship. The American planes were forced to return in the dark. Mitscher ordered every available light turned on to help guide the planes home. Still over 80 were lost.

As a result of the Marians Turkey Shoot during the Battle of the Philippine Sea Japan was never able to recover. They were forced switched to gun battles and by extension provoking the US fleet into a gun fight.