-
Doolittle's Raid
VICTORY: Allied
- Goal: Air attack on Japanese cities
- 16 bomber planes launched from US Navy's aircraft carrier Hornet; bombed major military targets in Japan and proceeded to land in China
- Turnout: Negligible material damage to Japan; boosted American and Allied morale and made Japan doubt its strength -
Coral Sea
May 4-8, 1942
VICTORY: Allied
- Goal: Japanese wanted to strengthen their defensive position for their South Pacific empire
- Japanese try to invade Port Moresby in New Guinea and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands; they entered the Coral Sea and proceeded to engage in a two day airstrike against Allied planes.
- Turnout: Japanese invasion repelled; both sides lost major fleet carriers -
Midway
June 4-7, 1942
VICTORY: Allied
- Goal: Japanese wanted to occupy Midway Atoll and lure U.S. aircraft carriers into a trap.
- U.S. codebreakers discovered time and location of the attack; U.S. Navy was prepared to ambush it.
- Turnout: U.S. Victory; Four Japanese aircraft carriers and a heavy cruiser sunk; only one U.S. aircraft carrier and one destroyer destroyed. -
Guadalcanal
August 7, 1942-February 3, 1943
VICTORY: Allied
- Goal: U.S. wanted to attack Guadalcanal, a major Japanese stronghold in the Solomon Islands.
- Marines land on beach at Guadalcanal and secure the beach in three months; an Army unit joined them and proceeded to help further push the Japanese out.
- Turnout: U.S. defeated Japanese troops and reinforcements. -
Saipan
June 15-July 9 1944
VICTORY: Allied
- Goal: Strategical step in defeating the Japanese Emperor; wanted to establish a base on the Chinese Coast.
- Japanese had expected a southern attack and were surprised by the bombardment of Saipan; Saipan was hopeless but fought to the last man.
- Turnout: Japanese had a final suicide banzai charge; Saipan successfully secured by U.S. -
Iwo Jima
February 19-March 26, 1945
VICTORY: Allied
- Goal: Capture the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire.
- U.S. attacked with a greater amount of arms and left nowhere for the Japs to retreat.
Turnout: 3 Iwo Jima airfields all successfully captured. -
Okinawa
April 1-June 21 1945
VICTORY: Allied
- Goal:U.S. wanted Okinawa as a base for air operations on the Japanese mainland.
- Four Army divisions fought on the island while a marine division remained offshore.
- Turnout: Capture of Okinawa successful; Japan surrenders weeks later after bombings