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22-Aug-42 |
5 P-400s of 67th Fighter Sqdn fly into Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Hiyo + 2 destroyers turns back to Truk. |
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23-Aug-42 |
Bad weather cancels Japanese daily raid. 1510 hrs: USS Saratoga launches 31 SBDs and 6 TBFs after the Japanese advanced force (Fletcher had been told there were no carriers). They found no carriers and then could not find Saratoga. Instead, they flew to Guadalcanal (which didn't move). 2 SBD-3s spot a Mavis at low level. Clouds only 2-3,000 ft;SBDs start behind. They shoot it down before itcan spot carrier. USS Wasp turns south to refuel, missing the battle. |
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24-Aug-42 |
Battle of Eastern Solomons: Japanese 1st Carrier Div + Ryujo go after US carriers expected to come after convoy. US Mk 13 air-launched torpedo slow and erratic. Japanese and US air groups both Average. |
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0930 hrs- |
The strike force from the Saratoga that over-nighted on Guadalcanal returns to the USS Saratoga. |
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1213 hrs |
An Emily flying boat shot down near USS Enterprise. |
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1220 hrs |
Ryujo launches a strike of 15 Zeros and 6 Kates vs Guadalcanal. |
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1320 hrs |
The Ryujo Raid is seen by Saratoga's radar. |
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1345 hrs |
Saratoga launches a raid of 30 SBDs and 8 TBFs under Cmdr Felt. 1 SBD & 1 TBF turn back before reaching the target. |
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1400 |
Japanese spot US carriers. |
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1420 hrs |
15 Zeros, 8 Kates from Ryujo hit Guadalcanal from 9000 ft. Intercepted by 16 F4Fs & 2 P-400s mostly in 1s and a few 2s. Lost 3 F4Fs, 3 Zeros, 4 Kates. |
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1455 hrs |
Japanese strike of 27 Vals, 10 Zeros bound for Enterprise. (18/4 from Shokaku; 9/6 frm Zuikaku). |
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1500 hrs |
2 SDBs locate Shokaku and Zuikaku. They attack and miss - and report position. |
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1536 hrs |
21 SBDs + 6 TBFs from Saratoga vs Ryujo; 7 SBDs + 2 TBFs vs Tone. SBDs attack from 14000 ft; TBFs near surface. 7 Zeros at sea level appear midway through attack. Final TBF attack at 200 ft, 200 knots. 4 bombs hit plus 1 (maybe 3 torps). Ryujo founders 2000 hrs. Survivors of Ryujo's attack forced to ditch and are picked up the escorting destroyers. |
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1600 hrs |
2nd Japanese strike leaves for Enterprise with 18+7 Vals, 6+3 Zeros. |
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1620 hrs - |
Enterprise launches 11 SDBs, 7 TBFs under Max Leslie heading for Japanese carriers. 11 SDBs go to Guadalcanal. |
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1602 hrs |
1st Japanese strike spotted on radar 88 miles out. Saratoga and Enterprise launch 53 F4Fs. |
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1629 hrs |
53 F4Fs at 12,000 ft intercept 1st Japanese strike at 16000 ft. 25 miles out. Only 1/3 of interceptors make contact before Jap Vals reach Enterrpise (5-7 hit Vals before dive bomb attack; 10 hit them duirng the dive bomb attack; the rest are busy with the Zeros). |
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1642 hrs |
1st Strike reaches Enterprise course SE. BB North Carolina in formation 2500 yds behind. CA Portland & DD Grayson nearby. 7 Vals attack North Carolina to no effect. Dives pressed home to 1500/2000 ft. 3 bombs hit Enterprise. 17 Vals, 6 Zeros lost. 2nd Japanese raid undetected. |
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1735 hrs |
7 TBFs from Enterprise attack cruisers of the Advanced Force. All miss, 2 splash. 2 SBDs attack Chitose; 1 hits. Chitose then returns to Truk. |
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1750 hrs |
Shokaku and Zuikaku under 30 minutes ineffective bombing by 7 B-17s in 2 elements. |
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1827 hrs |
2nd Japanese strike misses Enterprise in the dark. |
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| Nagumo felt his air losses and headed north to refuel. The US feared for the damage to Enterprise compromising her air operations and headed south. The carrier battle spotted the japanese troop convoy for Guadalcanal, who attacked it twice for minor damage. 8th Fleet HQ in Truk ordered Tanaka to cease his advance (without air cover). | |||