Air Operations, Carolines

• VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Truk Atoll.
• XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Truk and Woleai atolls.

Air Operations, CBI

• 2 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a bridge at Banchaung.
• 11 10th Air Force fighter-bombers attack Myitkyina.
• 5 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s airlift fuel to Kamaing.

• 3 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack shipping in the South China Sea.
• 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 14th Air Force fighter-bombers complete nearly 120 sorties against numerous targets along the Yangtze River and in the Tungting Lake region.
• 24 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Lungling.
• 16 P-40s attack Chenanso and Tengchung.
• 8 P-40s attack rail facilities and motor vehicles in the Yellow River region.

• 13 10th Air Force B-25s airlift ammunition to Imphal.

Air Operations, Europe

• 17 Lancasters and 3 Mosquitos of No. 617 Squadron attempt to attack a large, concrete-covered V-weapon site in a quarry at Wizernes, but the target is covered in cloud and no bombs are dropped.

Air Operations, Marianas

While patrolling over Guam at 0230 hours, 4 VF(N)-77 (USS Essex) F6F night fighters find that the Tiyand airfield on Guam airstrip is lighted, so they strafe the field until the lights go off. When at 0410 hours, the Tiyan airfield is again lit up, the 4 VF(N)-77 F6Fs shoot down 3 of 4 D3A 'Val' dive bombers that attempt to take off.

At dawn, Task Group 58.4 mounts aggressive fighter sweeps against airfields on Rota and Guam. From all appearances, the airfield on Rota is no longer operational, but opposition is encountered over the Orote airfield on Guam, where 18 Japanese Navy aircraft are shot down and 52 are destroyed on the ground.

Closing out the main portion of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the 1st Mobile Fleet is able to remain beyond the range of all US aerial searchers—carrier aircraft launched from Task Force 58, PBMs based at Saipan, and PB4Ys based at the Momote airfield on Los Negros. Nevertheless, at 1540 hours, a VT-10 TBM finally spots the main body of the Japanese fleet, which is refueling well to the west of Saipan. An immediate strike is launched—54 TBMs (all but VT-28’s armed with bombs), 51 SB2Cs, 26 SBDs, and 84 F6Fs. At the extremity of their range and with only a half-hour of daylight remaining, the US carrier aircraft commence their attack at 1840 hours. Despite heavy antiaircraft fire and a defense mounted by an estimated 75 A6M Zeros, VT-28 TBMs sink the fleet carrier Hiyo with 1 or 2 torpedoes. The fleet carriers Junyo and Zuikaku, and light carriers Chiyoda and Ryuho are damaged by bombs, as are 3 fleet oilers. 4 TBMs, 10 SB2Cs, and 6 F6Fs are lost in this action, but—far worse—an additional 28 TBMs, 35 SB2Cs, and 17 F6Fs are forced to ditch when they are unable to land aboard friendly carriers after dark. All but 16 pilots and 33 airmen are recovered within 48 hours, but during the night, a VP-16 PBM based at Saipan is shot down by US destroyers while attempting to locate pilots and crewmen of ditched US carrier aircraft. All 11 men aboard the PBM are lost.

Though the balance of the Japanese 1st Mobile Fleet makes good its escape during the night, its surviving carriers have but 35 aircraft remaining aboard.

Throughout the day, US carrier pilots down 42 Japanese aircraft at sea, over the islands, and over the First Mobile Fleet.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 4 V Bomber Command B-24 squadrons attack Kamiri airfield on Noemfoor, marking the start of an all-out preinvasion aerial offensive against Noemfoor Island. A-20s, V Fighter Command fighter-bombers, and RAAF aircraft attack the Wewak area.
• US Army ground forces capture the Borokoe and Sorido airfields on Biak, and work resumes extending and strengthening the runway at the Biak's Mokmer airfield.

Battle of the Philippine Sea

The Japanese do not realize the extent of their losses and begin to withdraw temporarily to refuel. They believe that most of their aircraft have landed safely on Guam. Mitscher, of course, pursues and in the late afternoon sends 216 planes, high-level bombers, dive-bombers and torpedo-planes, to attack. They meet only 35 defending fighters and break through to sink the carrier Hiyo and damage 2 others, a battleship and a cruiser. In the action 20 American planes are lost. A further 72 crash in attempting to land back on their carriers in darkness despite the flight decks being bravely lit. A feature of the US operations in this and other engagements is the care taken of the pilots - only 16 flyers and 33 aircrew are not picked up and the story in the rest of the battle is similar. By contrast the Japanese have saved almost none of their pilots and although they still have a significant force of ships they cannot possibly train enough men to fly their aircraft. The pattern of all the previous fleet encounters in the Pacific is thus confirmed.

During the night the Japanese withdraw and are not followed. After this great victory by Spruance and Mitscher the Japanese realize that the outcome of the war is decided.

Burma-China

On the Salween front the Chinese 36th Div takes Watien in the Shweli valley.

Diplomatic Relations

The US Vice-President, Henry A. Wallace, arrives in Chungking for discussions with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and Gen Claire Chennault, Chief of the US air forces in China.

Eastern Front

Viipuri (Vyborg) falls to the Leningrad Front of the Red Army. The Russian 32nd Army attacks the Finns north of Lake Onega. The safety of Leningrad and the opening ot the Gulf of Finland to the Russian fleet are assured. In the central sector the Russians are preparing to launch their great summer offensive.

Soviet forces reach and capture Vipurii, leaving the Finnish South Eastern Army shattered. The scale of the defeat compels the Finns to draw forces away from the Army of Karelia, exactly as anticipated by the Stavka. The next phase in the destruction of the Finnish army is about to begin.

There has been more than 10,000 partisan attacks on the railways behind Army Group Center since June 19.

Italy

Units of the US 5th Army have reached half-way between the Tiber and the Arno. While some units of the French Expeditionary Corps are held up on the Orcia River, a tributary of the Omborne, the 1st Motorized Div is replaced during the night by the 2nd Moroccan Div so that it can take part in Operation ANVIL. Perugia falls to the British 6th Arm Div of the British X Corps.

Marianas

On Saipan the 4th Marine Div continues its sweep to the north, linking up with the 2nd Div. The enemy has formed a line across the island from Garapan, in the west, to the northwest end of Magicienne Bay in the east. The 27th Div has been given the task of clearing the south of the island to Point Nafutan, but its progress is suddenly held up by the Japanese.

New Guinea

On Biak the US 162nd Inf attacks the Japanese positions in the western caves area, but with no success. The 34th Inf occupies the airfields and the villages at Borokoe and Sorido. They then block the road by which the Japanese might dispatch reinforcements to the western caves area.

In the Aitape beachhead area the Japanese reinforce their positions and in the area of Wadke and Sarmi the US 6th Div advances to the west across the Tirfoam River.

Occupied Soviet Union

Partisans in Byelorussa launch a devastating 3-day campaign against the rail communications of the German Army Group Center.

Western Front

The American 4th and 79th Divs are only 5 miles from Cherbourg and are becoming embroiled in the outer defenses of the town. While the US VII Corps offensive continues against Cherbourg, units of the 29th Div of the American XIX Corps try in vain to advance in the direction of St Lô.

Images from June 20, 1944

Watching Contrails over the US Fleet as the ‘Great Marianas Turkey Shoot’ Unfolds Before Them

Air Combat Off the Marianas – Where US Planes Dominated

Japanese Ships Taking Sharp Evasive Action During the 20 June Attack

The 20th June Attack on the Japanese Fleet

A Helldiver Approaching the USS Yorktown

Adm Marc Mitscher in Command of Task Force 58 during the battle

A Knocked-out Sherman Tank in the Center of Lingèvres, 20 June 1944

Women of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMS) eating in the open at No 79 General Hospital near Bayeux, 20 June 1944.

Nurses Eating in the Open near Bayeaux

Corporal W. Lennox, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, at a front-line machine gun post, Bretteville-Orgueilleuse, France, 20 June 1944.

Front-line Machine Gun Post

Priest M-7 SP Gun A3, 34th Bty, 14th Fd Regt, RCA, France, 20 June 1944

An American infantryman picks up a wounded German soldier on the road to St. Lo, France, and helps him into a half-track. The Nazi was abandoned by his own troops after being wounded. 20 June 1944.

Helping a Wounded Enemy

Light Tanks Move Up to Attack Nafutan Ridge, Saipan, 20 June 1944

Knocked-out German Panther Tanks on the Outskirts of Lingevres, 20 June 1944

B-24 Liberator 42-94757 'Dugan Wagon', and 41-29500 'Ramblin' Reck' on mission to Blanchemont, France, 20 June 1944

B-24s On Mission

Two paratroopers, most probably pertaining to the 507th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division, meet with GIs of 90th Inf. Div. 'Tough 'Ombres', preparing to relieve the 'All American' troopers. Cretteville-Baupte Sector, Utah Beach, Normandy, France. 20 June 1944.

Relief Has Arrived

A Knocked-out German Panther Tank in the Center of Lingevres, 20 June 1944