Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

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Official Photo USAAF Brig. Gen. LaVerne G. Saunders, former commanding officer of the iith Bombardment Group (H). 33
of ioo-pounders on the strip and parkways. Eight days later, another mission hit the field more solidly; the bombs splashed along the runway and io parked aircraft were assessed as destroyed. Only two Zeros rose from the surprised airdrome and only one got back. On the i 3th 6 more Forts repeated the mission, putting 6 tons on the Buka strip. The day when the Guadalcanal gas supply could back up a sustained offensive still lay in the future. During late September and early October, the Japanese continued to run the Express, filtering reinforcements into Guadalcanal at a low but steady rate. Marine air at Henderson enjoyed only limited success in coping with it. The Express did not get within range until late afternoon; ordinarily only one strike could be accomplished before nightfall and weather often interfered, but whenever moon and clouds permitted, the dive and torpedo bombers roared out for night attacks. Back at Espiritu, Colonel Saunders found himself at a more serious disadvantage; by the time his B-17's could cover the distance to Guadalcanal, the Express would be out of range and dispersed up The Slot. On 5 October, another method of derailing the Express was tried. The Hornet was dispatched to the north of the Solomons chain. Her aircraft struck at Kieta and depots in the Shortland area, and at Faisi hit hard at a naval force preparing for a southward voyage. Still that night the Express made its run, and on succeeding nights as well. But on ii October it met disaster at the other end of the line. Cape Esperance Army reinforcements were moving up to Guadalcanal in the second week of October. Partly to cover the flank of this convoy, but expressly to seek battle with Japanese units on the Guadalcanal run, a task force under Rear Adm. Norman Scott went hunting in the Solomons. The eyes of this force were the B-i7's covering Bougainville's southern tip. Current search routine of the B-17's was roughly as follows. Four planes departed daily from Espiritu and Henderson Field. Those from Espiritu took off at 0500, searched i,ooo miles between 2940 and 324', then landed at Henderson. Next morning, out of Guadalcanal, these same Forts covered an arc 450 miles deep between 3000 and 3400, 34
Page 1 and 2: .. .. .. .. . .. .. ..... ..... ..
Page 3 and 4: Wings at War Series, No. 3 DISTRIBU
Page 5 and 6: Foreword Pacific Counterblow tells
Page 7 and 8: Lt. Gen. Millard F. Harmon, former
Page 9 and 10: first from Rabaul, secured by the e
Page 11 and 12: stepping stones to Australia, units
Page 13 and 14: efore the departure of the Marines
Page 15 and 16: Colonel Saunders, the Forts flew th
Page 17 and 18: Fuel was running low and the presen
Page 19 and 20: Nine maintenance men for nine aircr
Page 21 and 22: HEADING FOR HOME. After a successfu
Page 23 and 24: At 1745 the three-plane flight atta
Page 25 and 26: Leaving Blaines des Gaiacs on 21 Au
Page 27 and 28: the cigarettes, and even the carame
Page 29 and 30: out; seven cruised the towering cum
Page 31 and 32: No Army or Marine aircraft then ext
Page 33 and 34: gether a total of 25 landing craft
Page 35 and 36: in fact, he even asked for more P-4
Page 37 and 38: Navy turned back in the Battle of t
Page 39: were already up over Shortland Isla
Page 43 and 44: another sustained two flat tires; a
Page 45 and 46: On instructions from Marine headqua
Page 47 and 48: of precious fuel was burned before
Page 49 and 50: These days, prelude to a big enemy
Page 51 and 52: enemy intentions clarifies the role
Page 53 and 54: o - - A -- -J (6
Page 55 and 56: quired not only to turn the Japanes
Page 57 and 58: to Guadalcanal. Command of the 67 t
Page 59 and 60: 52Z ,-0 cr- . 4) tu 41-, "r6 0Uen.
Page 61 and 62: SBD's and the B-26's. All five dive
Page 63: to clear the way. The 67th had reti

Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

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