Japan's fifty aircraft on Guam offered the mobile fleet a land-based extension of its striking power. A Zero found Task Force 58 early on June 19 and radioed the sighting, but the island force and Ozawa's carrier groups did not combine their attacks. American radar detected the Guam launch, and Hellcats from Belleau Wood reached the airfield while Japanese aircraft were still taking off. Thirty-five Japanese aircraft were shot down for one Hellcat before the main carrier raids arrived. Divided command converted nominal aircraft strength into a series of isolated, vulnerable attacks.
Notable Point · 1:11:48-1:14:28
Guam aircraft reveal a split air-command failure
Japan's Guam-based aircraft found Task Force 58 but launched without coordinating with the carrier force, allowing Hellcats to catch them around their own airfield.