The Battle off Samar

Japanese Battleship Yamato off Samar on Oct 25th, 1944

Wally's Distinguished Flying Cross Citation notes that " He flew 340 miles to make a successful bombing attack on a battleship of the NAGATO Class in a strong formation of the Japanese Fleet in the Second Battle of the Philippines. "
 
The Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and in some ways the largest naval battle in history. It is commonly known today as The Battle of Leyte Gulf. The United States suffered 2,800 casualties; the sinking of 1 light carrier, 2 escort carriers, 2 destroyers, 1 destroyer escort and over 200 airplanes. The Japanese lost 12,500 men, 1 fleet carrier, 3 light carriers, 3 battleships, 10 cruisers, 11 destroyers and over 300 airplanes.


It was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon from October 23rd to October 26th,  1944. On 20 October, United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in Southeast Asia, and in particular depriving its forces and industry of vital oil supplies. The Imperial Japanese Navy mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion, but was repulsed by the US Navy's 3rd and 7th Fleets. The Japanese Navy failed to achieve its objective, suffered very heavy losses, and never afterwards sailed to battle in comparable force. The majority of its surviving heavy ships, deprived of fuel, remained in their bases for the rest of the Pacific War (including the mighty Nagato which went to its underwater grave scarred with strafing marks across her deck put there by Wally).

The Battle off Samar was the centermost action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history and the one in which Wally was killed in action. (Lt Scobels citation reads " in the battle for Leyte Gulf, off Samar, October 25th, 1944). It took place in the Philippine Sea off Samar Island, in the Philippines. As the only major action in the larger battle where the Americans were largely unprepared against the opposing forces, it has been cited by historians as one of the greatest military mismatches in naval history.

Wally's ship, the USS Hancock was too far away to participate directly in the Battle off Samar but was within striking distance with her aircraft, which is why Wally's citation states "He flew 340 miles to make a successful bombing attack".