Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

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,
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