Saturday, June 15, 2024

Thursday, June 15, 1944. Saipan.


The U.S. 2nd Marine Division, 4th Marine Division, and the Army's 27th Infantry Division, commenced landing on Saipan.   The Marine elements landed first.


The degree to which these island battles against the Japanese were hard fought is almost indescribable.  


An interesting detail in Marine Corps photos from this period, and on through the end of the war, is the number of M1 Carbines that appear in them.


Iwo Jima was hit again from the air.


B-29s operating out of China bombed Yawata.  By some accounts (but not all) this was the first U.S. bombing of the Japanese home islands since the Doolitle Raid.

From this point on, the air war was being brought to Japan.  It was a significant development.  Japan could no longer keep the war from the home islands.


The British attempted to advance near Caen after successful air strikes, but were held back by German armor.  U.S. advances slowed.

The Germans suffered heavy naval losses due to an RAF attack on Boulogne.

The HMS Blackwood was fatally damaged by the U-764 off of Brittany.

The Socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was elected to office in Saskatchewan, the first such success in Canada by a socialist party.


The CCF is now the center left New Democratic Party.

Filming of Anchors Away commenced.

Last prior edition:

Wednesday, June 14, 1944. Flag Day

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