Naval History and Heritage Command
Battle of the Philippine Sea Photo Gallery
Task Force 58 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (center background) and SB2C Helldiver dive bombers (foreground) en route to attack the enemy, 20 June 1944 (80-G-238021).
Vapor trails left by fighter planes during the Japanese air attack on TG 58.3, 19 June 1944. Seen from USS Lexington (CV-16) (80-G-236964).
A Japanese bomb explodes close alongside USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in the opening phases of the action, 19 June 1944 (NH-74281).
Heavy anti-aircraft fire from ships of TG 58.3 claims a Japanese plane (small splash in center) during the air attacks of 19 June 1944. Note U.S. light carrier at right. Seen from USS Enterprise (CV-6) (80-G-239273).
Japanese plane disintegrates in the air during attack on TG 58.2, 19 June 1944. Seen from USS Monterey (CVL-26) (80-G-238584).
A Japanese plane is shot down while attacking TG-58.3, 19 June 1944. USS Enterprise (CV-6) is at left and an unidentified light carrier is at right. Note heavy 40-mm flak and larger 5-inch/38-caliber bursts. Seen from USS Lexington (CV-16) (80-G-236945).
A VF-1 "Top Hatters" F6F-3 Hellcat fighter is launched from USS Yorktown (CV-10) to intercept enemy forces during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," 19 June 1944. Note target information board on carrier's island behind the aircraft’s propeller (80-G-248440).
A rescue submarine gets underway after picking up a downed naval aviator off Saipan, 19 June 1944. Note life raft in water to left of prop churn. Photograph taken by a USS Lexington (CV-16) aircraft (80-G-236956).
Japanese plane crashes during a night attack on TG 58.3, 19 June 1944. Seen from USS Lexington (CV-16) (80-G-236876).
Ships of Japanese Carrier Division 3 under attack by Task Force 58 planes on 20 June 1944. Ships present include a carrier, a heavy cruiser, and a battleship. Photographed by an aircraft from USS Monterey (CVL-26) (80-G-238159).
Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku (center) and two destroyers maneuvering while under attack by U.S. Navy carrier aircraft during the late afternoon of 20 June 1944. Zuikaku was hit by several bombs during these attacks, but survived (80-G-238025).
A Japanese heavy cruiser maneuvers while under attack by Task Force 58 aircraft, 20 June 1944. Photograph taken from a USS Monterey (CVL-26) aircraft (80-G-238164).
Planes of TG 58.2 produce high condensation trails while on combat air patrol, just before the Japanese air attack, 19 June 1944 (80-G-238157).
Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher, Task Force 58 commander, aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) during the battle, 19 June 1944 (80-G-236857).
Japanese bomb falls astern of USS Enterprise (CV-6), during the 19 June attacks. Seen from a USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) (80-G-238964).
USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) sustains a near-miss by a Japanese bomb, during the air attacks of 19 June 1944. The Japanese plane, with its tail shot off, is about to crash, at left. Photographed from USS Monterey (CVL-26) (80-G-366983).
An attacking Japanese plane disintegrates in the air between two Task Force 58 carriers, 19 June 1944 (80-G-238018).
A VF-16 F6F-3 Hellcat fighter is towed to the next spot position prior to launching, 19 June 1944 (80-G-236845).
An F6F-3 Hellcat fighter lands aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) during the “Marianas Turkey Shoot” phase of the battle, 19 June 1944. Note manned 40-mm guns in the foreground, and 20-mm guns along the starboard side of the flight deck (80-G-236955).
A Japanese aircraft crashing astern of USS Lexington (CV-16) during an evening air attack, 19 June 1944 (80-G-236882).
Japanese Carrier Division 3 under attack by U.S. Navy aircraft from Task Force 58, in the late afternoon of 20 June 1944. Anti-aircraft shell bursts are visible in the upper right. Photographed from a USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) aircraft (NH-95788).
Japanese carrier Chiyoda is hit aft and sustains several near-misses during air attacks by Task Force 58 aircraft, 20 June 1944 (80-G-238019).
Lieutenant Ronald P. Rip Gift relaxes with other pilots in a ready room on board USS Monterey (CVL-26), after landing on her at night following strikes on the Japanese fleet, 20 June 1944. Note admonition “Get the Carriers” on chalkboard in the background (80-G-474791).
Officers and crew admire Japanese flags painted on the USS Lexington (CV-16) island, commemorating 143 "kills" claimed by her Air Group 16. Photographed 21 June 1944, immediately after the Battle of the Philippine Sea (80-G-236842).
Published: Thu May 23 17:28:35 EDT 2019
