bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Japan > North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands, updated by RAC 7 Oct 2020.
The map below, which is not to scale, shows the major islands of the Mariana chain, namely Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan.
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:
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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:
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. |
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. |
Sources for the Mariana Islands webpage:
Pottawattamie County, Iowa Area WW II Dead - The Mariana Islands:
† Chuda, Jack Richard, SN 371595, USMC, Douglas Co., NE
- 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.
† Chuda, Jack Richard, SN 371595, USMC, Douglas Co., NE
- Co. C, 4th Marine Regt., 1st Provisional Marine Brigade; KIA 26 Jul 1944 Guam, Mariana Is.; North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.
- Co. C, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Bn., 2nd Marine Div.; KIA 16 Jun 1944 Saipan, Mariana Is.; North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.
- Co. B, 6th Marine Regt., 2nd Marine Div.; DOW 27 Jun 1944, Saipan, Mariana Is.; North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.
- Co. F, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; KIA 25 Jul 1944 Guam, Mariana Is.; North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.