Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 1/5' (June 19, 1944, at 8:31)

(Monday, June 19, 1944, 5:50 a.m. ChST; part of World War II, Pacific War) — The Battle of the Philippine Sea, a decisive naval battle which eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy’s ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions, began today.

The battle was nicknamed the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot by American aviators for the severely disproportional loss ratio inflicted upon Japanese aircraft by American pilots and anti-aircraft gunners.

Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 2/5' (June 19, 1944, continued at 0:00-2:33)