Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

of 3 November had the following participants: 15 SBD's, 4 P-39's, 2
P-4oo's, i TBF, and 7 F4 F's-all out after the Japanese who had come
ashore near Koli Point. Such conglomerations constituted the primary
weapon against the Express.
The afternoon of 7 November, ii southbound Japanese warships
were sighted northeast of Santa Isabel and the composite force went
into action. Out from Henderson flew 7 SBD's with i,ooo-pounders,
3 torpedo-laden TBF's, and 8 P-39's lugging 5oo-pound bombs, the
whole escorted by 22 Wildcats. Th! Army pilots' instructions specified
they were first to bomb the warships, identified as i light cruiser
and io destroyers, pull out, and join the Grummans as high cover.
However, the P-39's were held up on the take-off and were overtaking
the rest of the formation when they saw 3 float Zeroes and 2 float
biplanes about to attack 2 F4F's. Jettisoning their bombs, the P-39's
shot down all 5. Ahead, the strike was succeeding. The TBF's put
2 torpedoes into the cruiser and i into a destroyer, while the SBD's
planted a i,ooo-pounder on the cruiser. In the air battle, the enemy
lost 15 float planes, the Marines 4 F4F's.
The B-17's continued their searches from Espiritu. Daily six were
out, occasionally eight to provide a broader coverage. Air opposition
had for the time diminished, but to vary the routine there might be
a surfaced sub to strafe or a flight of float Zeros to dispute the passage.
So far as bombing was concerned, without the necessary fuel
at Henderson the B-17's could not get up to Buin-Tonolei from
where the Japanese would mount any further offensive.
laps Plan Offensive
That the Japanese were contemplating such an offensive was obvious.
By 9 November, reports of concentrations began to come in.
As of 12 November, when the battle was already under way, estimates
put the enemy's strength at two carriers, four battleships, five
heavy cruisers, and all the escort and shipping needed for a major
attempt on Guadalcanal. Against such a force, Admiral Halsey's resources
were slim, his principal units being the apparently indestructible
Enterprise, under repair, the Washington, and the South
Dakota.
Additional complication was the fact that COMSOPAC was re-
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