Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

Fuel was running low and the presence of large numbers of enemy
bombers in the area presented a serious menace. Admiral Ghormley
agreed to the request late that night and towards morning the Air
Support Force began retirement to the south. Its withdrawal left the
amphibious force dangerously exposed to enemy air, and the decision
was consequently taken to withdraw the remainder of the invasion
fleet at o6oo the following day. Previously it had been planned that
the transports would unload until D plus 4.
On the 8th the Japanese Navy took a hand. Through the moonless,
Solomons night a Japanese task force, slipping down past Savo Island,
closed with the Allied cruisers protecting the transports off Guadalcanal.
Searchlights and flares illumined the sea; then the sudden
shock of shell and torpedo-and when the Japanese fleet retired into
the night it had sunk four heavy cruisers and one destroyer, the core
of the forces patrolling off Savo Island. The beachhead was uncovered.
The Marines were left to shift for themselves, and on 9
August the transports up-anchored for the safety of Noumea.
For a time, the ixth settled back into its search routine. On days
immediately following the landings, the bombers covered the Lower
Solomons on sectors ranging from 286' over to 316' from Espiritu
to a depth of 700 to 8oo miles. Ordinarily, contact was with friendly
surface forces. However, on 9 August, two light cruisers, two destroyers,
and a number of seaplane tenders were reported heading for
Rekata Bay on Santa Isabel. Eight B-17's were bombed up and took
off but, despite ideal visibility, failed to sight the enemy. Daily
searches through 14 August failed to reveal anything significantonly
a handful of landing barges on Florida Island.
By the I 5th the Japanese were more in evidence. Destroyers, cargo
vessels, even light cruisers began to frequent the central Solomons,
and Gizo Island and Gizo Bay in the New Georgia group became
favorite target areas for the iith. Moreover, the tedium of the long
searches was apt to be broken by engagements with the huge Japanese
patrol aircraft, the four-engine Kawanishi 97's, or their only
slightly smaller successors. These Goliaths were slower and less
maneuverable than the B-17's; their 20-mm. cannon were outranged
by the .50-calibers. Invariably Colonel Saunders' pilots attempted to
close with them. The first victim fell to the crew of Capt. W. Y.
Lucas when, after a 25-minute combat the Kawanishi, attempting to
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