Our planes came at last.

They were only 2 or 3 in number, but gave us a great encouragement.

One enemy destroyer is said to have sunk by them.

The land battle on Saipan is not regarded by historians as having begun in earnest until 13 or 15 June. The air war over the Marianas, of which Saipan was a part, was regarded as a ‘turkey shoot’ with U.S. aviation prevailing in overwhelming fashion.

Force deployments and chronologies may be found via the links below.