On June 15, 1944, U.S. Marines stormed the beaches of this strategically significant Japanese island of Saipan
On This Day 77 Years Ago... On June 15, 1944, U.S. Marines stormed the beaches of this strategically significant Japanese island of Saipan with a goal of gaining a crucial air base from which the U.S. could launch its new long-range B-29 bombers directly at Japan’s home islands. Saipan, the second largest island in the Marianas, was a major Japanese base and sugar production area, complete with a fairly extensive road network and narrow-gauge rail system. There was a large Japanese civilian population, numbering about 20,000, in addition, there were about 4000 Chamorros on the island. By the time of the American invasion, Saipan had a garrison of about 32,000 men. It was about twice the size of American intelligence estimates. Facing fierce Japanese resistance, Americans poured from their landing crafts to establish a beachhead, battle Japanese soldiers inland and force the Japanese army to retreat north. Fighting became especially brutal and prolonged around Mount Tapotchau, Saipan’s ...