The
World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf between
October 23 and
October 26,
1944 was the largest air-sea battle in history. American and Allied forces preparing for the recapture of the
Philippine island of
Leyte were met by the massed forces of Imperial
Japan. Despite significant losses, Allied ships and aircraft destroyed most of the Japanese fleet and ended its power as an effective fighting force.
Having defended the landing force against the air and naval challenge, the way was opened for the reconquest of Leyte by the land forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. See Battle of Leyte.