Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

quired not only to turn the Japanese thrust but to put Army and
Marine reinforcements on Guadalcanal. To aid the Guadalcanal
garrison, these reinforcements had to be landed on the island and
unloaded before the Japanese boiled down from Buin in any great
strength. Moreover, the transports had to be safely removed again.
Time was extremely short and the whole operation distinctly ticklish.
Fortunately, Admiral Turner, in charge of supplying Guadalcanal,
had developed a fairly accurate estimate of the chronology of Japanese
moves. The predicted enemy timetable ran somewhat like
this: land-based bombing of Henderson starting on io November;
naval bombardment on the night of the iith; a carrier air attack on
the field on the 12th, with naval bombardment and landings that
night. The invasion force was expected on Friday the i 3th.
Since the U. S. transports had to clear Guadalcanal by Thursday
night, cargo vessels were to be off Lunga Point at dawn of Wednesday,
the iith; transports from Noumea would arrive Thursday morning.
The escorts of these groups, combined under Rear Adm. Daniel J.
Callaghan, were to deal with any Japanese naval force poking around
in Sleepless Lagoon. A great deal depended on the speed of unloading
and on the Japanese doing nothing unexpected.
The cargo vessels moved in on schedule and commenced unloading.
At 0935, they were attacked and slightly damaged by divebombing
Aichi 99's, the Marines losing six planes in the fight with
bombers and escort. At 1127 the high-level raid occurred; eight of
the 67th's pilots were forced to sit this one out at 12,ooo while the
Marines went up to destroy six of the raiders. That night, Admiral
Callaghan swept Savo Sound without incident.
The American transports anchored off Kukum beach at 0530 on
Thursday the 12th, screened by cruisers and destroyers. At 1340, on
warning of an approaching enemy formation, the ships got under way
and formed in antiaircraft disposition. High above the island, concealed
in a cloud, waited Capt. Joe Foss and his Grummans. Not
far below cruised eight P- 39's ready, after their bombing and strafing
routine, for aerial combat. The combination of naval antiaircraft
guns and Henderson's fighters proved lethal to the Japanese airmen.
At 1405, upwards of 20 torpedo bombers appeared low from behind
Florida Island. In a long line abreast, they headed for the transports,
eight Zeros covering. Diving into the combat, the P-39's found their
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