The Battle of the Eastern Solomons 23--25 August 1942 Navy Department Office of Naval Intelligence Combat Narrative

The Battle of the Eastern Solomons oil, by John Hamilton. If the American naval forces and in particular the carriers could be destroyed, then Guadalcanal would fall. At the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, Japanese aircraft tried to sink USS Enterprise, seen here with her escort of cruisers and destroyers.

CONTENTS

Forward to the NHC Edition		iii
Preface		v
Foreword		vi
Introduction		49
Disposition of our forces		50
	Task Force FOX	51
	Task Force KING	51
Events of the 23rd		52
Events of the 24th		53
	Air Search and Patrol	54
	The Saratoga Attack Group	56
	Guadalcanal Attacked	58
	The Second Attack Group	59
	Air Combat Patrol	61
	Air Attack on the Enterprise Force	64
	The Retirement	69
Guadalcanal Bombarded		70
Events of the 25th		70
Summary of events		71
Conclusions		72
Appendix I: Victories credited to fighter pilots defending the fleet, 24 August.		77
Appendix II: Designations of United States naval ships and aircraft.		78
Charts and Illustrations
Chart:	Battle of the Eastern Solomons.	47
Illustrations:	Enterprise and screen maneuvering.	48
	Japanese bomber crashes into sea.	48
	Enterprise after second bomb hit.	73
	The battle above the Enterprise.	74
	Second bomb hit on Enterprise.	75
	Third bomb hit on Enterprise.	75
	Fighting fire on Enterprise.	76