Wet Landing at Saipan

North & Central Pacific

bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Japan > North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands, updated by RAC 11 Sep 2020.

​The map below, which is not to scale, shows the major islands of the Mariana chain, namely Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan.

Today, Guam remains an American territory, while the Mariana Islands to its north are part of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

Below the Marianas, you see:

• The Republic of Palau, which includes the tiny island of Peleliu, site of one of the deadliest Pacific battles.
• The Federated States of Micronesia, formerly the Caroline Islands. Chuuk was called Truk in WW II.
• A portion of the Republic of Marshall Islands.

Micronesia Today

The Mariana Invasions

During the period 15 Jun - 10 Aug 1944, Saipan, Guam and Tinian, were invaded in turn by a combination of Marine and Army troops. Japanese defenders resisted vigorously but were eventually overwhelmed. Saipan was an especially brutal battle. Rota was not invaded.

Casualties were heavy. Estimates of the dead follow:

• 15 Jun - 10 Jul, Saipan: 3,400 Americans, 24,000 Japanese military, 5,000-7,000 Japanese civilians.
• 21 Jul - 10 Aug, Guam: 1,800 Americans, 18,000 Japanese military.
• 24 Jul - 1 Aug: Tinian: 300 Americans, 5,000 Japanese military; 4,000 Japanese civilians.

Starting in October, air bases in the Marianas, especially on Tinian, were used by the new B-29 very heavy bombers flying strategic bombing missions over Japan.

Conquest of the Marianas

The Battle of the Philippine Sea

The battle on Saipan was already underway when the Japanese Navy arrived west of Saipan with a large striking force, precipitating the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Like the Battle of Midway two years earlier, this was an overwhelming American victory. Like Midway, the Japanese again lost a third of their aircraft carriers. Unlike Midway, the United States lost no ships.

Battle of the Philippine Sea

Sources for the Mariana Islands webpage:

• The webpage header photo, Wet Landing at Saipan, is courtesy of the Japan Times.
• The Micronesia Today map is courtesy of micronesiatours.com.
• ​The Gilbert & Marshall Islands map is courtesty of history.army.mil.
• The Battle of the Philippine Sea map is courtesy of Warfare History Network.

​
​Pottawattamie County, Iowa Area WW II Dead - The Mariana Islands:

• Taken from the bigpigeon.us WW II Dead webarea.​​

06-03 - North & Central Pacific - The Mariana Islands: (four dead, updated 24 Jul 2020)
† Chuda, Jack Richard, SN 371595, USMC, Douglas Co., NE
Co. C, 4th Marine Regt.; KIA 26 Jul 1944 Guam; Marianas Campaign.
† Jensen, Charles Eugene, SN 361395, USMC, Pott. Co.
Co. C, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Bn.; KIA 16 Jun 1944 Saipan; Marianas Campaign; posthumous Silver Star; Marianas Campaign.
† Sluyter, Harry Alfred, SN 428233, USMC, Pott. Co.
Co. B, 6th Marine Regt., 2nd Marine Div.; DOW 27 Jun 1944 Saipan; Marianas Campaign.
† Steward, Gerald, SN 441664, USMC, Pott. Co.
Co. F, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; KIA 25 Jul 1944 Guam; Marianas Campaign.