Welcome to Forgotten Fronts. This is a blog dedicated to uncovering the small yet significant battles that shaped the outcome of WW2. We’re your hosts Griffin Allred and Esteban Villa.
History books focus primarily on major events such as D-Day and the Battle of Stalingrad but smaller battles proved essential for Allied victory. The battles fought in remote villages, open seas, and mountainous terrain often determined the outcome of entire military operations. Historical records have forgotten these battles because time has hidden them under more prominent news headlines.
The blog exists to address this oversight. The Forgotten Fronts website will expose these underrecognized battles through detailed examinations of their historical background, key figures, strategic importance and enduring effects. This blog will demonstrate how small-scale battles including the Siege of Lille, The Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Gothic Line Mountain Campaign influenced worldwide outcomes. The Forgotten Fronts blog presents stories about courageous military plans and wartime losses which need to be remembered by students of history as well as enthusiasts and anyone interested in WW2’s lesser-known aspects.
Time attempted to erase these battles from memory yet they established the foundation for our present-day world.
The time has arrived to discover the unacknowledged aspects of the greatest human conflict in history. Let’s begin.
May 9th, 2025 – Turning the Tide
The Battle of Philippines Sea. The majority of Pacific WW2 discussions focus on Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima and Midway. But there’s one battle which was equally decisive. The Battle of the Philippine Sea stands as a crucial yet forgotten naval battle that occurred from June 19 to 20, 1944.
Despite receiving much less attention then more known Iwo Jima and Midway, the battle proved crucial in turning the tide for the Pacific. To dive into the battle, American forces moving toward the Mariana Islands encountered a fierce Japanese counterattack. This counterattack aimed to stop their advance. The aerial confrontation resulted in hundreds of planes engaging in combat during what became famous as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. Japanese air forces lost more than 300 aircraft during that day. The Japanese air fleet suffered a devastating defeat which resulted in the loss of three aircraft carriers, as well as numerous experienced pilots. The crippling loss of these aircraft and skilled pilots made it impossible for Japan to perform extensive naval operations against the Allies.
The U.S. Navy used its advanced radar systems, trained pilots and coordinated aircraft operations to achieve total victory against the Japanese fleet.The battle remains less famous than Midway but its effects became crucial for the allies during the war. The U.S. invasion of the Philippines became possible after this battle, while American forces gained proximity to attack Japanese territory directly. The battle marked the end of Japanese participation in carrier warfare.
There are several stories from soldiers who witnessed the battle firsthand. One of those is from Aviation Radioman Second Class John Conrad Bramer, Jr. According to the United States Navy’s history page, he was on board the carrier Wasp. In his journal entries he was really able to capture the lengthy mission nicknamed, Operation Forger, (Battle of the Philippines Sea). Bramer and his pilot, Lieutenant (junior grade) Albert Walraven, left Wasp’s deck at 1630. Arriving over the enemy, Walraven picked his target and initiated his dive bombing run:
““Then the fireworks started. More anti-aircraft fire came up at us from those ships below than I ever had the misfortune to dodge up until that time,” ‘Bramer wrote. After dropping his bomb on an oiler, Walraven exited the area.’ “The ‘ack-ack’ followed us for quite a while and when it stopped I thought my worries were over. In reality our troubles were only beginning.” ‘Fighters of the Japanese combat air patrol descended on the SB2C, prompting evasive action by Walraven as Bramer fired his .30-caliber machine guns at the enemy planes. Fortunately, F6F Hellcats that had escorted the strike group arrived on the scene, driving off the Japanese fighters.’”
The Battle of the Philippine Sea should be remembered because it permanently shifted the war momentum to the Allies while demonstrating its large scale effects. The battle represented a crucial but often forgotten or overshadowed moment in WW2 history.
