Seventy Years Ago: Henderson Field Operational

Guadalcanal, August 17, 1942.

It didn't look like much. When the marines stormed ashore near Lunga Point on Guadalcanal August 7, 1942, their main objective was a primitive air strip begun by Japanese construction workers. Marines took custody of the unfinished field and named it Henderson Field in honor of a marine pilot who died in defense of Midway two months earlier.



This was to become one of the most costly pieces of real estate in history.

The second night after the marines landed, a force of Japanese heavy cruisers and destroyers under cover of darkness surprised the American combatant fleet guarding the transports and sank four US Navy heavy cruisers in about half an hour.

1270 American sailors lost their lives that night, more than the marine ground force lost in six months of combat. They held the Japanese force at bay. Fearing daylight attacks by US carrier aircraft, the Japanese admiral took his force out of danger, leaving the US transport ships unscathed.

Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner withdrew his transport ships the evening of August 9th, with more than half of their cargo still not unloaded. A few days later, on August 14th, a convoy of four high-speed destroyer transports landed crucial supplies of aviation fuel and bombs, and many needed technicians.

On August 17th, 1942 the base was declared operational. It would be three more days before flight operations began in earnest.

In the meantime, Admiral Yamamoto realized Japan's plans in the Southwest Pacific would come to nought if the Americans remained on Guadalcanal. Japan fought doggedly to dislodge the Americans.

Marines remember Guadalcanal as a land battle, their first victory, full of personal and unit heroism. In reality, it was a prolonged sea battle. The two navies lost 49 warships, about evenly divided. The losses included 3 carriers, 2 battleships, 12 cruisers, 25 destroyers, 6 submarines. More than 3,200 USN sailors died. No one knows the overall count of lives lost at sea, as Japan did not keep records of sailors or soldiers lost at sea. The toll was enormous, and included a number of admirals on both sides. 

The outcome was not assured. The Japanese were well trained, experienced and well equipped. They had 10 carriers to the Allies' 4; 12 battleships to the Allies' 8, yet the US and Royal Navies kept Japanese reinforcements from overwhelming the Marines. 

It was not yet the end. But as Churchill was to report to Parliament in November, it was at least the end of the beginning. 

So long as the Allies held Henderson Field, Japan could not seriously threaten the sea lanes from the US West Coast to Australia.