I read this essay on Task Force 58, Battle of the Phillipine Sea, June 18-19 1944, with appreciation. It makes me wonder if Spruance didn't avoid a Halsey like lunge for empty Japanese carriers that so nearly caused extreme disaster at the Battle Off Samar Island. (The Leyte landing could have been annihilated, something like 40,000 Americans killed and captured.) Looks like Halsey fell for the bait Spruance resisted.
Again, SAM, a good job. I just finished Michael Smith's Bloody Ridge, a very thorough job on the Edson's Ridge battle of 13-14 September 1942 (Guadalcanal). Smith uses sources I've never seen, including Japanese documents and survivor interviews. Best telling of the story I've seen.
I haven't read a book about Guadalcanal in years. I think the last one was Edwin Hoyt's.
It makes me wonder if Spruance didn't avoid a Halsey like lunge for empty Japanese carriers that so nearly caused extreme disaster at the Battle Off Samar Island. (The Leyte landing could have been annihilated, something like 40,000 Americans killed and captured.) Looks like Halsey fell for the bait Spruance resisted. That was exactly my thought as I read the post. Halsey darn near got the invasion force destroyed when he went galloping after the Japanese fleet. Had the Japanese been commanded by an officer as aggressive as Halsey or Spruance, we probably would have lost those men and ships. Spruance made the right call IMHO.