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 tr4ied to sink USS Enterprise, seen here with her escort of cruisers and destroyers.

United States Navy
Combat Narrative

The Battle of the Eastern Solomons
23-25 August 1942

NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
1994


Contents

Introduction 1
Disposition of our forces 2
  Task Force FOX 3
  Task Force KING 3
Events of the 23rd 4
Events of the 24th 5
  Air search and patrol 6
  The Saratoga Attack Group 8
  Guadalcanal attacked 10
  The Second Attack Group 11
  Air Combat Patrol 13
  Air attack on the Enterprise force 16
  The retirement 21
Guadalcanal bombarded 22
Events of the 25th 22
Summary of results 23
Conclusions 24
Appendix I: Victories credited to fighter pilots defending the fleet, 24 August 29
Appendix II: Designations of United States naval ships and aircraft 30


The Battle of the Eastern Solomons
23-25 August 1942


Enterprise and screen maneuvering during attack.

Japanese dive bomber crashes off starboard bow of Enterprise.


The Battle of the Eastern Solomons
August 23-25, 1942

Introduction

A period of relative inactivity followed our successful occupation of the lower Solomons on 7-8 August and our severe losses in the night action off Savo Island on the 9th.
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Enterprise after second bomb hit (taken from Portland.)
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The battle above the Enterprise; enemy dive bomber exploding in mid-air.
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Second hit on Enterprise.

Third hit on Enterprise.
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Fighting fire resulting from second hDamage from hit visible in foreground.
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APPENDIX I
Victories Credited to Fighter Pilots Defending the Fleet, 24 August

Pilot Plane Type Number
Fighting Squadron SIX
Lieut. Louis H. Bauer Aichi type 9 VBM 1
Fighting Squadron FIVE
Lieut. Hayden M. Kensen Aichi type 99 VB 3
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APPENDIX II
Symbols of U.S. Navy Ships

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APPENDIX III
Designations of U.S. Naval Aircraft

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Footnotes

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Compiled and formatted by Ray Herring, for the HyperWar Foundation