The war. The home front. The people
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A loosely chronological photo gallery of the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
The US NAVY mighty Task Force 58 on Philippine Sea - June 10th 1044
A snapshot of carrier life aboard. Aircraft maintenance men work on planes and bombs, while other men watch a film in the background
A Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber rides shotgun over Task Force 58 en route from Majuro in the Marshall Islands to the Marianas, June 15th, 1944. US ground forces landed on Saipan that day
A General Motors TBM Avenger torpedo bomber watches over Task Force 58 on the fleet's way to invade Saipan
Aboard UUS Monterey (CVL-26) in June 19th, 1944, Avengers assigned to bomb Japanese land-based aircraft Tinjan in the Maranas await the takeoff signal
Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aboard the Monterey wears a drop tank filled with extra fuel on its belly as it prepares to take off on a bomb raid againt Japanese aircraft based on Guam
Pilots keep busy in a ready room aboard the Monterey during a break, while other pilots are out hitting land-based aircraft.
A Japanese attack plane flies high over the task force's Task Group 58.3 on the morning of June 19th, off Saipan.
An Avenger lifts off from a carrier deck, heading out to meet coming Japanese carriers on their way to attack Task Force 58
A Hellcat rises to confront approaching Japanese fighters
Machine-gun bullets kick up water searching their target while a Japanese plane attacks a Task Group 58.3 ship on the morning of June 19th.
Anti-aircraft gunners aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) man their posts on June 19th, guarding against Japanese air attack, while a Hellcat touch down on the carrier's deck
Finding rest whenever and wherever they can, busyplane-handlers aboard Lexington flop on deck between take-offs and recoveries on June 19th
(continue)
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Photographic researches R.Cipson
