U.S. Marines land on Saipan 70 years ago this hour (June 15 1944)


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(Thursday, June 15, 1944, 7:00 a.m. ChST; during the Battle of Saipan, part of World War IIPacific War) — U.S. Marines stormed the beaches of the strategically significant Japanese island of Saipan this morning in an attempt to capture an air base from which the U.S. could launch its new long-range B-29 bombers directly at Japan’s home islands.

Facing fierce Japanese resistance, Americans poured from their landing crafts to establish a beachhead, battle Japanese soldiers inland and force the Japanese army to retreat north.


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