solomon islands campaign

This is no fun, as we had found out during our training in Samoa, because coral reefs are dotted with holes and at any moment your are likely to step into water that is over your head. [34] First Marine Division Commander's Report. At 1038 Admiral Turner received a dispatch announcing that 40 enemy twin-engine bombers were passing Bougainville Island, north of Tulagi-Guadalcanal, and proceeding southeast. Sporhase, Boatswain's Mate, Second Class, and Landing Tank Lighter No. As the planes approached this group, screening ships and transports opened fire. In the confusion the boat got turned around. Lt. Firebaugh and Machinist Warden made forced landings and were subsequently recovered. In a few seconds many glided into the sea in flames, while others crashed precipitously. After this preliminary bombing, half a squadron of dive bombers was maintained over the transport group during daylight to attack targets as directed by the Air Support Director Group. Bougainville was key to neutralizing Rabaul. (2) Tulagi Group: Brig. H.A. 3 5-inch gun. "We reached Gavutu about dusk. Her shells failed, however, to dislodge the Japanese, who were well dug in, so that when Companies A and C reached that point they found their advance held up by heavy machine-gun fire from the hill. E Company (Weapons) of the Raiders, commanded by Capt. After about eight passes, one Zero veered up sharply and made a head-on run which Lieut. These officers set up the communications necessary for direct control of the Air Support Force assigned to Group XRAY off Guadalcanal, and were given the radio call "Orange Base One." Apparently they did not drop any torpedoes or bombs in the Tulagi area, but proceeded in a southwesterly direction toward their major target, the ships off Guadalcanal. Richard Gray, leading, with Ens. In the first such interoperability arrangement in the Pacific, the Royal Navy. W.R. Bell and R.K. Cameron, Seaman Second Class, also fell into the sea while taking off; neither the pilot nor his passenger was saved. It was found that the Japanese had done a remarkable piece of work in developing their Lunga Point positions since occupation of July 4th. We had about 5 minutes of naval gunfire support prior to landing. R.E. Maj. Justice Chambers, who commanded one of the companies scheduled to make the original landing on Tulagi, relates, "I don't think that any of us will forget that last night before we landed. The enemy had concentrated his forces on the steep slopes of Hill 281 and in the shovel-shaped ravine west of the hill and to the north of the cricket ground. [20] Oral statement recorded in Office of Naval Records. TheHopkinswas firing at the beach line of Gavutu, and also landed several near-hits on top of Gavutu hill near an enemy gun. The significance of the other - the report of the approach of a large enemy surface force - does not appear to have been realized until its costly consequences had been felt. When it is also considered that the enemy in 3 air attacks on the transport area was unable to hit and damage more than 3 of the 51 vessels assembled there, it cannot reasonably be said that the protection provided by the carrier air groups was as deficient as some of the fliers, in their more self-critical moments, seemed to believe it was. A hill on Gavutu 148 feet high and another 120 feet high on Tanambogo commanded the beach. Tabberer, Lieut. On June 25th, Admiral Ghormley received orders to initiate the attack as soon as practicable. A group of our senior officers7also made an aerial survey trip to Guadalcanal and Tulagi, but as that district is on the fringe of B-17 radius from Australia, they could remain over the area only a few minutes and arrived at Australia with only 5 minutes' supply of gasoline left.". (e) One fighter crashed into barrier first day; repaired and flown second day. The enemy air attack at noon and several false alarms which kept our fire support groups on antiaircraft alert for an hour or more at a time, handicapped the organization work, however. "[1], The Empire of Japan accomplished its initial strategic objectives in the first six months of the war, capturing Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, Wake Island, New Britain, the northern Gilbert Islands, and Guam. The enemy bombers, it was said, flew in a very tight formation and dropped a good pattern, but distant from their target. Sabine, Capt. This island fortunately had many of the physical characteristics of Tulagi. VS-71, Lt. Comdr. Both operations served their primary purpose of drawing Japanese troops away from Bougainville, but the positions gained in the Treasuries, including valuable Blanche Harbor, were held and strengthened to provide staging for the landings on Bougainville. This was a column of squadrons, with Squadron YOKE, destined for Tulagi, in the lead, and Squadron XRAY, which was to carry out the landing on Guadalcanal, 6 miles astern. The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force [RSIPF] Human Resources Department has completed the Shortlisting Process for the Honiara Candidates. One of the best books on the Solomons Campaign that I have read. Officer who have participated in the operations recounted herein are invited to forward to the Director of Naval Intelligence, via their commanding officers, accounts of personal experiences and observations which they esteem to have value for historical and instructional purposes. The fire-support ships had received instructions not to fire on wharves, pontoons, jetties, bridges, or lighters which were offering no threat to our operations. Samuel N. Moore. The Air Support Director Group of, "Orange Base Two" in theNeville,which was stationed off Tulagi, acted only as a stand-by unit. On July 16th Admiral Ghormley issued the basic operation plan for the expedition. The Pacific Campaign: World War II, The U.S.-Japanese Naval War, 1941-1945. The invasion ignited a ferocious struggle marked by The enemy was taken completely by surprise and there was no opposition. The latter, according to General Vandegrift, were well trained and equipped and "the reason for their precipitous flight toward Kokumbona must remain an enigma." The advance proceeded slowly during the afternoon. The course changed slightly to the northwest until on August 5th the one hundred fifty-ninth meridian was reached.10Thereafter the fleet moved almost due north to its destination. A Japanese goal was to establish an effective defensive perimeter from British India on the west, through the Dutch East Indies on the south, and to island bases in the south and central Pacific as its southeastern line of defense. They encountered little opposition and observed no aircraft or patrol boats. nightfall was on the north side of Hill 281, about parallel to A Company to the south. Japan secured a tactical victory, sinking the carrier Hornet, but paid a severe price in aircraft and skilled aircrew. The ships were loaded on the general principle that each transport would carry one combat team and all the equipment and supplies needed to put that team ashore and keep it in action for 30 days. Included in this category were medical supplies, of which enough were taken for 60 days. Soon Admiral Ghormley had established his headquarters in the U.S.S. ThePresident Adamsreported that she saw 7 enemy planes shot down during the attacks on the afternoon of the 7th. John Eldridge, Jr. this position was about 400 miles southeast of the Fiji Islands. These planes received orders as to targets from the Air Group Commander, Lt. Comdr. TheSan Juan's next scheduled firing was to give further support to the two companies advancing along the south shore of the island by another 5-minutes bombardment of Hill 208. Two were placed under the command of Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. (Bibliography of Japanese-language sources), The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 19421944, "TOP OF THE LADDER: Marine Operations in the Northern Solomons", "Vol. Admiral, U.S.N., Two of the Zero fighters which attempted to intercept were shot down. The only enemy personnel he sighted were traveling in 2 armored cars and were apparently trying to reach the cover of thick woods on the edge of Lunga Field. Group 11, automatic supplies (rations for men, gas and oil for vehicles, etc.). [41] From action report ofPresident Adams. While his boat was withdrawing, two of his crew were wounded. The Japanese rushed from their dugouts and caves and stalled the tank by poking a large iron bar into the track. Only three aircraft were seen to pass entirely through or around the transport formation. Bright each accounted for 3 more, or a total of 10 shot down. 56 (1901) Puget Sound, Naval Station to Navy Yard, General Order No. News received of 3 enemy cruisers, 2 destroyers, and 2 gunboats or seaplane tenders sighted at 1127 at 549'S., 15607' E., course 120 T, speed 15 knots. Harry F. Bauer. Combat Narratives:Solomon Islands Campaign: IThe Landing in theSolomons, Office of Naval Intelligence - United States Navy. The tractor was towed into the Tulagi transport area and turned over to a tank lighter for delivery toNeville. This estimate was correct. Task Group ONE of Task Force NEGAT, of which theSaratogawas the principal ship, had left Pearl Harbor July 7th. Helm, Lt. Comdr. 27, USS Chincoteague AVP24 War Damage Report No. Grayson, Lt. Comdr. It was an auspicious occasion, for the last phase of the Battle of the Coral Sea was fought to a victorious conclusion on that day. Bright, Lieut. It seems that theSan Juanwas silencing the battery which had previously fired on our minesweepers, not knowing that it had been dive-bombed, or else that the bombardment was at the request of the fire control party on Tulagi. At the end of 1943, the campaign reached its goal when American troops gained a solid foothold on the island of Bougainville. Dudley H. Adams wounded by explosive bullets and recovered by the Dewey; Radioman-gunner Harry E. Elliott, ARM3c, missing, reported to have been killed before the crash. At midnight they were. Sunset was at 1820 and the Marines hoped to make their landing about 1845 under cover of darkness, but this design was shattered when one of the last shells from our fire support ships30exploded a gasoline tank and brightly illuminated the shore. The Battles of Cape Esperance 11 October 1942 and Santa Cruz Islands 26 October 1942, Battles of Savo Island and Eastern Solomons, Boat Pool 15-1 Manila, P.I. On December 7, 1941, after failing to resolve a dispute with the United States over Japan's actions in China and French Indochina, the Japanese attacked the US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Planes begin bombing Guadalcanal and Tulagi areas. Sweeney's tank, while. (b) In the same period the Enterprise air group lost six planes, all fighters (F4F-4s), four being reported as missing in action and two having made night water-landings while returning from operations. Japans goal was to create a defensive buffer against attack from the United States and its alliesone that would ensure Japan mastery over east Asia and the southwest Pacific. General Vandegrift, in an oral record, said 18 float planes and 2 four-engine bombers, while Admiral Crutchley's report gives the figure as 18. 81 (1866) Requirements of Guardians for Boy to Enlist, General Order No. Attacks on British Empire possessions in the Pacific, beginning with an attack on Hong Kong almost simultaneously with the Pearl Harbor attack, brought the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand into the conflict. Lieut. Installations consisted of docks at Kukum and Lunga Point. The airfield southeast of Lunga was believed to have been completed, with another at Tetere and possibly a third at Tenaru under construction. In conjunction with their troop landings, Japanese naval forces were assigned to bombard Henderson Field in order to destroy U.S. aircraft that posed a threat to the convoy. George B. Ashe: Transports: Neville, Capt. The main landing in this area was to be made at Beach BLUE on the southwest shore of Tulagi, which of all the islands bore the most marks of civilization. As our two squadrons drew near to their respective objectives, our transports made ready. The final offensive to clear the Japanese from the New Georgia area, which opened on 30 June, was the first continued land, sea, and air effort undertaken by our forces in the Solomons since the capture of Guadalcanal. 62, USS Quincy CA39, Astoria CA34 & Vincennes CA44 War Damage Report No. The nearby island of Gavutu served as the headquarters of Lever Pacific Plantations, Ltd., which had extensive coconut groves throughout the islands. 10 Japanese dive bombers attack transports. 2, less Battery E Eleventh Marines), Col. LeRoy P. Hunt, USMC, commanding. Torpedo Squadron EIGHT attached to theSaratogamade two flight over Malaita. Harold N. Williams. At least once American B-17s, part of Task Force MIKE and operating from shore bases, swept low over the ships so that the personnel aboard might learn to recognize them. At 0830 (H plus 30 min.) The decision to make Tulagi our principal objective in the Solomons was reached in April. Charlie P. McFeaters. He was later picked up in the water off Tulagi. He intended the bombardments to keep the enemy off-balance and prevent air harassment of the landing force. Orange Base and myself attempted to get repeats, the former ordering an authentication and it was decided that the Orange Base 'Three' message should be disregarded. Traffic in beach areas was to be controlled by Shore Party Commanders; inland traffic by units of military police. The corresponding figures for August 8th were 135 and 136. This was to be made by the remainder of Combat Team A of the Second Marines from theJackson(the other part of the team had landed at Haleta.) These troops were ordered to land on Beach BLUE (on the southwest coast of Tulagi) at H-hour and seize the northwest section of the island. It was anticipated that most of the Raiders could then be reembarked for an assault upon Makambo Island. Robert H. Thomas took over command. Erle V. Dennett. By 2200 Tulagi and both Gavutu and Tanambogo were completely in our hands, except for a few isolated nests of snipers. If their activity was not seen by our ships, it was possibly because much of it occurred high in the sky and many miles beyond the ships' range of observation. Ens. 9-29-322, Unit 296 B.S. The enemy plane burst into flames, passed close under his left wing, and crashed among the boats. Due to the large number of Shortlisted Candidates, Applicants are advised to check for their names at any nearby Police Station within Honiara City including Henderson Police Station. The other Marines followed the tank ashore, a few falling as their small line was raked by enemy fire. Lieut. Hartt on theHopkinsimmediately hosted the emergency signal to commence fire. During the afternoon that island was hit by both our planes and our destroyers so that "hardly a tree was left standing on the island.". On its southeastern end were grouped the physical appurtenances of the white man's rule, including a cricket ground which. According to Capt. Loading operations were centralized at a single large wharf, Aotea Quay, which could accommodate five ships at once. Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, commander of Task Force 61 (left), and Major General A. The missing VF made an emergency landing on theEnterprise, refueled and returned home later. According to her report, "No shots were fired, no patrol boats encountered, no signs of life were evident until Group XRAY opened fire on Guadalcanal objectives across the channel about 20 miles away, then a cluster of red rockets went off from the direction of Tulagi.". To utilize to the utmost the troop-carrying capacity of the ships available, all excess supplies and equipment were eliminated and even normal supplies were radically curtailed.

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