HISTORY

departure until as late as 1000 hours. As

the Japanese formation flew down The

Slot, the aircraft were spotted by the

Australian coastwatchers on the various

islands, who radioed their sightings to

Cactus Control at Henderson Field. By the

time they passed Munda, the defenders

on Guadalcanal would man their fighters

and take off. The Wildcats needed every

minute of warning they could get, since it

took around 45 minutes for the airplanes

to get to 20,000 feet. The enemy formation

would finally arrive between 1100-1300

hours. Given the variability of weather,

there were a few times where the clouds

over The Slot prevented the coastwatchers

from spotting the oncoming Japanese in

time to give sufficient warning.

Photo: NHHC

The Japanese Are Intent on Taking

Guadalcanal Back

The commanding officer of VMF-223, Maj. John Smith after returning from Guadalcanal at NAS Anacostia.

and bombers. Additionally, the weather

in the South Pacific meant they flew

from their bases after the morning cloud

buildups had dissipated, which meant

adherence to a predictable timetable The

route took them from Rabaul to Buka, off

northwestern Bougainville, down to Buin,

overlooking the Shortland Islands, then

straight through New Georgia Sound, soon

to be known as “The Slot.”

Before the war, the Australian Navy

had recruited Australians living in the

Mason's warning and the arrival of the

bombers over Guadalcanal. This schedule

allowed the Marines to count upon several

quiet hours after dawn and before dusk for

getting work done, with at least two hours

during mid-day in which to find cover and

take aim. The Japanese arrived punctually

between 1200-1300 hours, depending

on the weather enroute. Weather in

this equatorial region was marginally

predictable and subject to rapid change

without prior notice.

The Wildcats needed every minute of warning they

could get, since it took around 45 minutes for the

airplanes to get to 20,000 feet.

Solomons to remain behind if the Japanese

appeared and operate a radio warning

system when they spotted Japanese naval

or air forces. Coastwatcher Jack Read,

whose station in the hills of Bougainville

overlooked Buka, was generally first to

send t word of an impending air strike.

Paul Mason, near Buin, was next. There

was invariably two hours between

April 2023

A combat schedule developed since

the Japanese could only fly a large

formation of bombers from Rabaul in

daylight. Weather allowing, the bombers

and their escorting fighters would take

off from their air bases at Rabaul by

0800 hours, though delays were caused

by early morning build-ups of weather

over the Solomon Sea that could delay

Much of the battle noise that had kept

Lieutenant Trowbridge awake that first

night on the island came from the fight

along what the Marines thought was the

Tenaru River but was actually a lagoon.

The Ichiki Battalion - the first Japanese

troops to arrive on the island as part of

Yamamoto’s plans to drive the Americans

into the sea - were engaged by well-dug-in

defenses as they advanced on Henderson

Field. Dawn on August 21 found the

surviving Japanese holding their position.

First Battalion, First Marines, moved

inland around the lagoon and enveloped

the enemy.

As the enemy troops tried to escape down

the beach, they were strafed by newlyarrived VMF-223 Wildcats. All resistance

ended by 1700 hours. When some wounded

Japanese opened fire on the Marines, they

went through the battlefield and shot

every enemy soldier they came across

whether dead or alive, except for 15 taken

prisoner. Thirty Japanese survivors

escaped to tell the tale to their comrades

at Taivu Point. Food, equipment, weapons,

and ammunition were taken from the 871

dead. That evening, Colonel Ichiki buried

his unit's colors, drew a ceremonial

dagger, and disemboweled himself in the

soft sand beside Lengo Channel.

The Marines Meet the Enemy

At mid-day, Admiral Fletcher’s carriers

gave cover so that two transports could

slip into Sealark Channel and unload

supplies. MAG-23’s senior mechanics

were a welcome addition when they

came ashore from the destroyer that had

brought them up from Efate.

Coastwatcher

Jack

Read

radioed

a warning that a strike force was on the

INFO Eduard

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