June 1944

Marianas

LCI gunboats and Marine artillery defeat the efforts of the Japanese to move reinforcements from Tanapag Harbor to the front early in the day. The 2nd Marine Division remains in place except on the right where the coconut grove in the 8th Marines' sector is cleared.

The 4th Marine Division drives to the east coast of Saipan at Magicienne Bay, cutting the island in two. The 25th and 24th Marines, on the right and in the center, respectively, drive to the O-3 line, which lies partly along the east coast but the 23rd Marines, on the division left, fights hard to get 400 yards east of Lake Susupe, short of the objective.

The 27th Division's 165th Infantry takes the ridge west and southwest of the Aslito airfield and airfield itself during the morning against light resistance as the enemy has pulled back to Nafutan Point. The field is renamed Conroy Field for Col Gardiner J. Conroy, commander of the 165th Infantry, who was killed at Makin. It will later be renamed Isely Field for Comdr Robert H. Isely, naval aviator lost over Saipan, and misspelled 'Isley' consistently. The main attack, later in the day, is made by the 165th RCT on the left and the 105th RCT on the right. The 165th RCT gets almost to Magicienne Bay without opposition, but the 105th RCT is slowed down by terrain.

Transports with the 106th Infantry are detached from the Southern Attack Force and ordered to Saipan.