Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

assault. Over-all command of these groups was vested in Vice Adm.
Frank Jack Fletcher on the Saratoga.
On 31 July the amphibious force had left Koro Island in the
Fijis, where it had proceeded from New Zealand to hold landing
rehearsals. As the fleet cleared the New Hebrides the weather
changed to a complete overcast, effectively hiding the force from
enemy search planes. Navy PBY's, meanwhile, operating from
Ndeni in the Santa Cruz group towards enemy bases to the north,
reported no hostile concentrations. At 0133, 7 August the dim bulk
of Guadalcanal could be made out, and the assault forces slid past
Savo Island, the one to the north headed for Tulagi, the southern
standing in for the Lunga area. The surprise was complete.
At o613, the cruiser Quincy opened on targets near Kukum on
Guadalcanal and 2 minutes later carrier planes, appearing on schedule,
joined the attack. Simultaneously the bombardment of Tulagi
commenced. The landing at Guadalcanal occurred without opposition.
Carrier-based aircraft from the Enterprise and the Saratoga
shielded the operation. Instead of the 5,000 enemy estimated on the
island, a mere 6oo Japanese were reported by prisoners and these
promptly took to the hills. The Marines met relatively light opposition
on Guadalcanal during the first day, but at Gavutu and Tulagi,
across Sealark Channel, resistance was fierce and these islands were
not mopped up for several days.
On the 8th the Marines occupied Lunga airdrome. 2 The runway,
damaged from iith Group attacks, was rapidly reparable, and in addition
to this important field, large semi-permanent camps, finger
wharves, machine shops, radio sets, and an ice and power plant fell
to the Marines. These gains, however, were not to be consolidated in
peace. The Japanese reacted promptly with air and naval forces, and
on the afternoon of D-day hurled two heavy air attacks at the transports
lying off Guadalcanal.
The evening of the 8th, Admiral Fletcher requested permission to
withdraw his carriers. Combat with raiding enemy aircraft and
other causes had reduced his carrier strength from 99 to 78 fighters.
' On 17 August this field was unofficially designated Henderson Field after Marine Maj. Lofton
Henderson. Construction begun by the Japanese was carried on by the Marine 5st Engineer
Battalion until the arrival of the 6th Naval Seabee Battalion. In November 1942 Fighter #1,
one mile East of Henderson, was rendered operational by the 6th Seabee Battalion and had been
used in emergencies as early as October. Before the end of the year Fighter #2, west of
Henderson, was also in operation.
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