June 19 – Crying in our Beer Day

With Mitscher on bridge of USS RANDOLPH (CV 15), during operations off Okinawa in June 1945

In 1944, Admiral Burke was Chief of Staff to Commander Carrier Division THREE, Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher.

In the retaking of Saipan in June 1944 (Operation Forager), when the Japan main fleet appeared, Admiral Spruance did not release Admiral Mitcsher from covering the invasion to pursue the Japan main fleet.  This reluctance to release the carriers for pursuit greatly irritated the Mitscher’s aviators, who believed this was the black-shoe ignorance of full capabilities of the new fast fleet carriers.  Even as the main Japan force approached, Spruance did not allow Mitscher to position his force for a dawn launch.

Mitscher was very upset.  Admiral Burke, Mitscher’s Chief of Staff, made a pact with Truman Hedding (the former Chief of Staff) that they would forevermore commemorate the anniversary of June 19th by getting together and crying in our beer.

However, this event led into the Battle of Philippine Sea, including the Marianas Turkey Shoot, which ended Japan’s fleet air capability.

Ian Toll, The Conquering Tide