Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

The Securing of Guadalcanal
O None of the last days of October 1942, the U. S. Navy's
submarine Amberjack slipped cautiously into Tulagi. Her
mission, cargo, and passengers were not usual for a submarine,
but well attuned to the Solomons campaign, in which almost anything
was more than likely to happen. The Amberjack's spare fuel
tanks carried aviation gasoline-Henderson still suffered from insufficient
gas. She carried torpedoes for the Tulagi-based PT boats-
Guadalcanal still suffered from the visits of the Express. She carried,
in addition, Army Air Forces personnel, 15 airplane mechanics and
armorers for the worn 67th Fighter Squadron-which had always
suffered from lack of manpower.
After their big push the Japanese had receded somewhat and
the situation on Guadalcanal showed some improvement. The
Express still ran, although harassed by the two dozen submarines
COMSOPAC operated in the area and by the pilots from Henderson,
whose two strips had recovered from the ravages of October.
General Vandegrift's Marines celebrated by striking across the
Matanikau on 30 October. For a change, American warships, the
light cruiser Atlanta and four destroyers, stood offshore in support.
By 3 November, the Marines were beyond Point Cruz. However,
on the night of 2 November, the industrious Japanese landed i,5oo
men east of Koli Point and the American push to the west was
checked. On 4 November, the San Francisco, Helena, and Sterett
obligingly shelled this force, which because of subsequent attentions
by the Marines never seriously threatened American positions.
The 67th was carrying the war to the enemy in its own way. On
the 3d of November, for instance, two pilots bombed AAA emplacements
at Kokumbona. Two more were up over the hills on reconnaissance,
and, since intelligence had reported Japanese troops east of
the Tenaru, the afternoon was devoted to bombing and strafing this
region. The pilots went out in pairs, dropping ioo- and 5oo-pound
bombs, and returning with numerous bullet holes in their craft.
The routine was not light. Usually 4 or 5 missions were run, but
on some days the total might rise to 12 or more. As the newer P-39's
arrived, they were frequently dispatched to escort Marine strike forces,
or as dive bombers in company with the SBD's. One of the missions
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