Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office
Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office
Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office
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of 3 November had the following participants: 15 SBD's, 4 P-39's, 2<br />
P-4oo's, i TBF, and 7 F4 F's-all out after the Japanese who had come<br />
ashore near Koli Point. Such conglomerations constituted the primary<br />
weapon against the Express.<br />
The afternoon of 7 November, ii southbound Japanese warships<br />
were sighted northeast of Santa Isabel and the composite force went<br />
into action. Out from Henderson flew 7 SBD's with i,ooo-pounders,<br />
3 torpedo-laden TBF's, and 8 P-39's lugging 5oo-pound bombs, the<br />
whole escorted by 22 Wildcats. Th! Army pilots' instructions specified<br />
they were first to bomb the warships, identified as i light cruiser<br />
and io destroyers, pull out, and join the Grummans as high cover.<br />
However, the P-39's were held up on the take-off and were overtaking<br />
the rest of the formation when they saw 3 float Zeroes and 2 float<br />
biplanes about to attack 2 F4F's. Jettisoning their bombs, the P-39's<br />
shot down all 5. Ahead, the strike was succeeding. The TBF's put<br />
2 torpedoes into the cruiser and i into a destroyer, while the SBD's<br />
planted a i,ooo-pounder on the cruiser. In the air battle, the enemy<br />
lost 15 float planes, the Marines 4 F4F's.<br />
The B-17's continued their searches from Espiritu. Daily six were<br />
out, occasionally eight to provide a broader coverage. <strong>Air</strong> opposition<br />
had for the time diminished, but to vary the routine there might be<br />
a surfaced sub to strafe or a flight of float Zeros to dispute the passage.<br />
So far as bombing was concerned, without the necessary fuel<br />
at Henderson the B-17's could not get up to Buin-Tonolei from<br />
where the Japanese would mount any further offensive.<br />
laps Plan Offensive<br />
That the Japanese were contemplating such an offensive was obvious.<br />
By 9 November, reports of concentrations began to come in.<br />
As of 12 November, when the battle was already under way, estimates<br />
put the enemy's strength at two carriers, four battleships, five<br />
heavy cruisers, and all the escort and shipping needed for a major<br />
attempt on Guadalcanal. Against such a force, Admiral Halsey's resources<br />
were slim, his principal units being the apparently indestructible<br />
Enterprise, under repair, the Washington, and the South<br />
Dakota.<br />
Additional complication was the fact that COMSOPAC was re-<br />
47