page_title: USS Biloxi
section_title: Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19–20 June 1944
hierarchical_section_title: USS Biloxi / Service history / Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19–20 June 1944
caption_attribution_description: English: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Biloxi (CL-80) firing her 6"/47 main battery guns while steaming in a turn, during her shakedown cruise, October 1943.
context_page_description: USS Biloxi was a United States Navy Cleveland-class light cruiser, the first ship named after the city of Biloxi, Mississippi.
  The ship was laid down on 9 July 1941 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. and launched on 23 February 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Katharine G. Braun, wife of the Mayor of Biloxi. She was commissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard on 31 August 1943, with Captain Daniel M. McGurl in command.
context_section_description: Although American search aircraft could not find the approaching enemy carriers, the presence of reconnaissance aircraft near the American carriers indicated the Japanese had found them. Late in the morning of 19 June, the first of 14 enemy raids registered on radar and began closing the task force. Most of these raids were destroyed or broken up by American fighters, severely disrupting the ensuing Japanese attacks, but several raids did get through.
  Around noon, six Yokosuka D4Y "Judy" dive bombers evaded the American fighters and closed TG 58.2. Biloxi, along with several other escorts, fired on the two attacking Bunker Hill and both were shot down. At least four more Judys pounced on the task group later that afternoon but all were shot down by anti-aircraft fire without inflicting any damage. These were but a small portion of the 300 or so Japanese aircraft lost in the battle dubbed the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot."
  The next day, the American task force discovered the Japanese carrier force had retired west during the night. Late in the day, a sighting report at 16:13 led to a last-ditch 206-aircraft strike. These aircraft caught the retreating Japanese at dusk and sank the light carrier Hiyō and damaged another. The American aircraft then flew east for a difficult night landing. Many were later ditched owing to darkness or lack of fuel and Biloxi joined other warships in recovering crews from the water. After a futile stern chase of the Japanese on the 21st, the American warships gave up the pursuit and retired, arriving at Eniwetok on 27 June.
caption: Biloxi firing 6 inch guns during shakedown, 1943
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