The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot and (long range) attack on the Japanese fleet June 19 & 20

Loading bombs in the bomb bay

Michael Shea in #95 (2nd in line) about to launch from the USS Yorktown against the Japanese fleet on June 20th 1944. Both planes in this photo were shot down.

Michael Shea, turret ball gunner, gave his life in the historic long-range strike against the Japanese fleet during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Their mission was to drop their bombs on Japanese ships.

Eight VT-1 torpedo bombers participated in the strike. Five armed with torpedoes (a single 2200-pound torpedo each) and three armed with four 500-pound bombs (2000 pounds each) in the bomb bay. They launched late in the day, aware they would test the limits of their fuel range and probably return after dark.

After spotting the Japanese fleet the three VT-1 aircraft with bombs maneuvered to make dive runs on a Japanese aircraft carrier. They commenced their bomb runs through extremely intense anti-aircraft gun fire and Michael Shea's plane was seen to get hit and go down in flames. Of the eight VT-1 planes flown that day none made it back to the USS Yorktown.

Two planes were lost to enemy fire and six squadron members killed
Three planes were lost to fuel starvation & forced to ditch at night (all crew members picked up safely)
Three planes landed on other carriers

Yorktown War Diary pg1

Yorktown War Diary pg2

Yorktown War Diary pg3

Yorktown War Diary pg4

Yorktown War Diary pg5

Yorktown War Diary pg6

This USS Yorktown War Diary entry for June 20th (6 pages above) provides a good general overview of the action. VT-1 aircraft involvement highlighted in yellow.

Aircraft Action Report June 20th 1944 pg1

Aircraft Action Report June 20th 1944 pg2

Aircraft Action Report June 20th 1944 pg3

Aircraft Action Report June 20th 1944 pg4

Aircraft Action Report June 20th 1944 pg5

This VT-1 Aircraft Action Report for 20 Jun 1944 (5 pages above) provides a definitive account of events. Also killed was the pilot Ltjg Robert Carlson and the radioman ARM2c Charles Trau. The aircraft flown that fateful day was a model TBM1-C with side number 95 and bureau number 45539 (sources: Yorktown report, AAIR)

Michael V Shea