Seventy Years Ago: Battle Of The Eastern Solomons

August 24, 1942 - Japanese force of two heavy and one light aircraft carrier, two battleships, sixteen heavy cruisers, twenty-five destroyers, a seaplane tender, four patrol boats and three troop transports, supported by 177 airplanes, approached Guadalcanal. Their intent: destroy the American fleet and expel American forces from the island, recapturing Henderson Field.

They were met by a much smaller American force under Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, consisting of aircraft carriers Saratoga and Enterprise, battleship North Carolina, four heavy cruisers, eleven destroyers and 176 aircraft.

The ensuing battle was the third major aircraft carrier battle of the war. Like Coral Sea and Midway, neither side's ships ever saw the other. The engagement was fought entirely by aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery. Enterprise was hit with three bombs and suffered serious damage, though the ship remained able to launch and recover aircraft. Japanese attempts to bomb USS North Carolina were unsuccessful, resulting in only near misses.

Fletcher's 29 warships defeated Yamamoto's 58, sinking light aircraft carrier Ryujo, a destroyer and a troop transport, and heavily damaging one light cruiser and the seaplane tender.

Of more lasting significance, Japan lost 75 airplanes, including 61 scarce and hard to replace aircrew members. The US lost 20 aircraft and 7 aircrew members.

Another victory for Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, who bagged his sixth Japanese aircraft carrier in three battles.  He only lost two carriers himself.

Why haven't we heard more about Admiral Fletcher? That's a question for another day.