23-Oct-42
Japanese naval units piston (12 hrs north, 12 hours back south)
24-Oct-42
0300 hrs: 5 Night Cats (PBY-5s) attack Adm Abe’s force with torpedos, scoring a near miss on Chikuma.
1245 hrs: TF-16 (USS Enterprise) and TF-17 (USS Hornet) join 250 miles NE of Espiritu Santo. Then they head to waters east of Santa Cruz Islands.
25-Oct-42
Guadalcanal: a busy day of full Japanese support against an expected consolidation of the expected seizure of Henderson Field, as well as naval elements on both sides jockey for the positions that create the next day’s Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.
0715 hrs
1 Ki.46 of IJAAF 76th Independent Sqdn comes to Henderson, expecting to land; show down over the field by AA. Kondo and Nagumo at sea know that Lunga has not been taken.
0930 hrs
B-17 spots Kondo 525 miles from Espiritu Sancto. Jumped by 3 Zeros, but it survives.
0940 hrs
Abe is spotted by a PBY. Chased off by two F1M2.
1000 hrs
PBY spots Nagumo – 2 BBs 2CL, 4 DD, and Zuiho.
1103 hrs
PBY (same as at 1000) spots 2 other carriers heading 145 (toward TF-61).
1300 hrs
6 B-17s attack Kirishima without luck. Nagumo turns north (after landing search planes) to avaoid more prying eyes.
1336 hrs
USS Enterprise launches 12 search SDBs and prepares strike.
1415 hrs
R Area searchers find Lee’s TF-64 (BBs) 30 miles E of Rennell Island. Nagumo declines to attack at 340 mile range.
1430 hrs
6 B-17s find Abe heading north. Enterprise strike frustrated; returns.
1550 hrs
Lt Shiga with 12 Vals and 12 A6M2 from Junyo bombs Henderson. No losses, but also no effective damage to Henderson.
1730 hrs
1 Night Tracker PBY + 5 night attack PBYs sent out from Espiritu Sancto
1800 hrs
2 SDB, 2 TBFs, 1 F4F from Enterprise strike ditch due to lack of fuel.
1900 hrs
Kondo turns Junyo group south again.
2000 hrs
Nagumo turns Kido Butai south again. Orders Abe to be 60 miles ahead of Kido Butai.
Night
Night attack by Japanese – last real chance for them to take Henderson Field on the ground.
1st MAW down to 8/12 F4F, 11 SBD-3, 3 P-39, 3 P-400.
(2 F4F shot down, 6 destroyed in bad landings this day.)
Fitch concerned for Epritu Sancto; shifts 12 P-39 (67th FS) & VF-5 to Espiritu Sancto. Some to be shifted the next day to Cactus.
26-Oct-42
Guadalcanal: Cactus Air Force at low ebb: only 3 P-400s, 3 P-39s, 13 Wildcats operational.
Carrier actions of the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (USS Hornet & Enterprise vs Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zuiho and Junyo)
Situation
US expected to strike against Japanese invasion against Lunga. Supporting Japanese CVs expected as no more than 2 light. Japanese expected that US would bring CVs to counter their reinforcement efforts (expected to reinforce already captured Henderson Field, which did not happen). Had 4 CVs and supporting heavy fleet units in seas east of Solomons – mostly looking for US carriers.
Japanese and US air groups both Average.
1201 hrs
Night PBY attacks on Abe, just miss DD Isokaze.
0250 hrs
PBY night attacker misses Zuikaku w/ 4x 500 lb bombs
0330 hrs
10 PBY, 6 B-17s start Dawn search from Espiritu Sancto.
0415 hrs
Abe launches 7 recon seaplanes from Tone and Chikuma.
0445 hrs
Nagumo launches 9 Kates on search, then prepares 1st strike:
- Shokaku: 13 A6M2 20 B5N2 Kates
- Zuikaku: 16 A6M2 22 D3A2 Val
- Zuiho: 18 A6M2 (CAP)
0512 hrs
USS Enterprise launches 16 SBDs IAP & 7 F4F CAP..
0520 hrs
3 Zuiho A6M2 CAP launched.
0551 hrs
USS Hornet puts up 8 F4F CAP.
0617 hrs
2 SBD-3s (Welch, McGraw, RG) spot Abe 275 mi from TF-61. Abe changes course 360 to 300, 30 knots.
0645 hrs
Next pair search SBDs north (Burnett, Williams, RG) attack Tone (w/Abe), missing.
Next pair search SBDs north (Lee, Johnson, RG) find Kido Butai. Zuikaku scrambles 9 A6M2; Shokaku scrambles 8 (+3 already on patrol) to chase, fearing general attack. 2 A6M2 vs 2 SBD-3 at 2200 ft through low clouds. Other search SBDs close on position fended off by roving CAP.
0658 hrs
One "Saratoga" class CV and 15 oter ships spotted.210 miles on 125° from Kido Butai.
0710 hrs
Shokaku launches 4 A6M2, 20 B5N2 Kates w/ Torps under Lt Murata.
0715 hrs
Zuiho launches 5 A6M2 CAP; 9 escort A6M2 (Lt Hideka)
0725 hrs
Zuikaku launches 8 A6M2 (Lt Shirane), 21 D3A2 Val (Lt. Takahashi)
0730 hrs
All gathered together and leave. Zuikaku spots 2nd strike to deck.
0740 hrs
2 search SBDs at 14000 ft attack Zuiho w/500 lbrs. 1 hit on flight deck closes Zuiho. 3 A6M2 chase the SBDs for 40 miles, losing 1 A6M2.
0747 hrs
USS Enterprise launches 11 CAP F4Fs.
0755 hrs
1st Hornet strike departs: Cdr Widhelm leading 15 SBDs (7VS-8, 8 VB-8) w/4 F4F (Sanchez VRRG); 6 VT-6 TBF w/ 4 F4F). Starts preparing 2nd strike.
0800 hrs
USS Enterprise launches strike: LCdr Gaines leading 9 VT-10 TBF, 3x VS-10 SDB, 8x F4F (Flately)
0807 hrs
2nd Hornet strike departs: Cdr Rodee leading 9 SBDs w/ 1000 lbrs; 9 VT-6 TBF w/ 4x 500lbr, 7 F4F).
0820 hrs
Junyo launches Lt Cdr Seki w/19 Vals & Lt Shingo w/ 6 A6M2. Adm Kondo’s Support Force (Junyo) turns toward Kido Butai.
0830 hrs
1st Hornet & 1st Shokaku strkes pass. Hornet SBDs at 12,000 ft, Shokaku.TF-61 warned, but did not hear.
0835 hrs
Enterprise
strike (5 mins back & a few miles east) attacked by Lt. Hideka’s 9
A6M2:
VT-10 in stepped down diamonds. F4Fs slightly ahead and abobe at 9,000 ft. Lt Hideka attacks from above and behind, out of the sun in a long string (14th, 15th, 16th Shotai). Lead VT & Hideka’s 2nd wingie go down. VT10&11 hit, the 6 Zeros hit Reaper 6; 3 of 4 F4Fs shot down, 1 retreats.
Hideka’s 5 Zeros return to carrier.
2nd Hornet strike sees attack, but only feints with fighters to ward off attacks. Strike continues on.
0837 hrs
TF61: Kinkaid orders launch of fighters.
0840 hrs
Kido Butai: Shokaku radar finds 1st Hornet strike inbound at 135, 78 miles out. Jap FDO posts CAP (23 Zeros) at various altitudes right over carriers (w/i sight). Excellent spotting (for Japanese radar).
0844 hrs
TF61: CAP control passed to Hornet. 22 CAP at or climbing to 10.0 – but no higher.
0850 hrs
Kido Butai: Widhelm (1st Hornet) sights Adm Hara’s 8th Cruiser group in line abreast.
0853 hrs
TF61: Lt Murata spots US ships (TF17). 20 Kates at 20,000 ft w/ 4 A6M2 escort. 21 Vals at 17,000ft, watched by Lt. Shirane’s 8 Zuikaku Z6M2 at 21,000 ft.
0855 hrs
TF17: Murata is 20 miles out.
0858 hrs
TF17: "Target spotted." 8 F4F coming in from below. 9 Kates (2nd Chutai, under Lt. Washimi) attack from north; 11 with escort (4 A6M2), from south. Vals in 3 chutai (of 7 each) in shallow dives.
0900 hrs
Kido Butai: 2nd Zuikaku strike (Lt. Imajuku) departs: 17 Kates w/ torps, 4 A6M2 escort.
TF17: 8 F4Fs under Red Hessel meet diving Vals – and their escorts. 3 Vals shot down, 3 damaged for 3 F4Fs.
0905 hrs
Vanguard: Widhelm (1st Hornet strike) sights Adm Abe’s force in line abreast.
TF61: 7 CAP miss incoming raid, turn and give chase.
0910 hrs
Vanguard: Isokaze alerts Abe of the US aircraft. US aircraft spot Okamoto’s shotai, which passes below and comes up above and behind and dives on the last 2 F4Fs with big speed advantage. Johnson killed. Roberts wounded & F4F leaking. Souza gets Okamoto. Other two A6M2 make pass on TBF escort (2000 ft above VT-6, which is still down low), shooting down Bower (flt lead). 3 other F4F abort. Bombers now unescorted.
TF17: Tsuka’s 6 Vals dive on Hornet, emerging from clouds at 5,000 ft diving steeply (45° ). 3 hits with 250 kg. 3 Vals lost.
Washimi’s 2nd Chutai of Kates attacks from the north. As they passed through 7,000 ft, they were spotted by 2 F4Fs (Reaper 8), who chased them, damaging Washimi. Another F4F jumped the 2nd Shotai, who dove out, but ran into Gordon of Reaper 8, who claimed one.
0914 hrs
TF17: Murata’s first Chutai begins to attack, led in by 4 A6M2; meet various F4Fs lower down. Lost 1 A6M2, 2 F4F. 2 of 40th Shotai lost, including Murata, for 2 torpedo hits.
2nd Chutai zooms over DD Morris, intent on Hornet. Survivors launched torpedos, but all missed.
0915 hrs
Kido Butai: Widhelm, having turned north to avoid Okamoto, spots carriers.
Vanguard: Estes & 2 other VS-10 SBDs spot Adm Hara’s cruisers.
TF17: Suzuki’s 41st Shotai misses; 1 splashed. 42nd Shotai misses, coming nearly even with Pensacola (see picture); 1 splashed. 49th Shotai (2 a/c) tried for Pensacola, but missed. Also, Lt. jg Yoneda rallies 1st Zuikaku Val Chutai (after F4F attack) and attacks from north. All miss – but 1 kamikazes into Hornet.
0915-
930 hrs
TF17: Additional combat as CAP mixes with retreating bombers and escorts.
Total cost of raid: 11 Val, 10 Kate, 3 Zeros. 8 F4F shot down (4 pilots rescued). Hornet damaged.
TF16: Enterprise runs SE into squall line.
0918 hrs
Kido Butai: Exiting the clouds a few miles south of Shokaku, Widhelm’s strike meets 4 A6M2 (13th Shotai +1) diving from above in front. 2 min later, 2 Zuiho A6M2 arrive; then 5 more Zuikaku Zeros (14th & 18th Shotai). Formation loosens with evasions. Widhelm hit. 5 A6M2 stay low looking for torpedo bombers; 2 stay high over Zuikaku. About the same time, the D4Y1-C ditches due to mechanical problems.
0920 hrs
Vanguard: 2nd Hornet strike spots Adm Hara’s cruisers. Strike splits up: Lt. Synch’s 9 SBDs + 3 F4F turn north for Hara; Powell & VT-6 + 2 F4F flies on.
0925 hrs
Kido Butai: Widhelm’s engine freezes. VB-8’s Grant is shot down short of the target. Some other a/c damaged and driven off.
0926 hrs
Vanguard: Lt Lynch’s SDBs attack Adm Hara, hitting Chikuma with 2x 1000 lbrs amidships.
0927 hrs
Kido Butai: VS-8 attacks Shokaku: 5 from left (west?), 5 from south. Shokaku making 30 kn. Multiple 1000lbrs hit. At least 1 DD attacked (but missed). SDBs start heading home.
0930 hrs
Vanguard: CAG10, having flown past Abe, gives up and comes back. VT-10 misses CA Suzuya.
0930-
0948 hrs
TF16: Enterprise lands 20 SBD, 7 F4F, then closes deck to respot.
0939 hrs
Vanguard: Estes turns back and attacks Chikuma (2 near misses).
0940 hrs
Vanguard: Abe turns NW, away from US carriers.
0945 hrs
Vanguard: 2 Zeros attack VT-6; 1 shot down by escorting F4F
0951 hrs
Vanguard: VT-6 attacks. Parker attacks Tone with torpedos (all miss). Powell attacks Chikuma & hits with 1 500lbr.
0953 hrs
TF16: Seki’s Junyo strike first appears on Enterpise’s radar, 340° , 45 miles out.
1000 hrs
TF16: 8 F4Fs over Enterprise at 10,000 ft (Reaper 4 & 7). 13 F4Fs lower down looking to land. Reaper 4 sent out on 330° to intercept. Lt Seki’s strike (19 Vals w/5 A6M2 escort) in shallow dive from16, 140 ft.
1001 hrs
TF16: Batten ditches damaged TBF, releasing torpedo.
1004 hrs
Torpedo circles and strike DD Porter at 1004 hrs (causing TF to frantically look for submarine!). Reaper 4 told to orbit (radar flaky; FDO had no good idea of where incoming strike was).
1007 hrs
Reaper 4 told to return to carrier. Most of CAP misses intercept, since they started too low. 1 Val shot down before attacking.
1010 hrs
TF17: The unarmed contact Kate buzzes Hornet, causing Northampton & DDs (which had tied up to take off personnel, render firefighting assistence, and give a tow) disconnect in a hurry. Hornet strikers begin to return (straggling in for the next hour), low on fuel, looking to land. Sent off to Enterprise.
Kido Butai: Zuikaku exchanges CAP, putting up 6 fresh A6M2.
1015 hrs
TF16: Junyo Val strike emerges from scattered clouds at 6,000 ft into AAA firestorm (Enterprise now has quad 40mm Bofors). Seki’s Chutai attacks from astern; all miss. Seki and 4 other Vals shot down.
1017 hrs
Arima’s 1st Chutai attacks, from astern. Enterpise hit by 2 250 kg bombs, one takes out front elevator. A near miss aft opens seams, letting in water. 2nd Chutai loses 3 of 5 a/c.
1015 -
1030 hrs
CAP and other F4Fs mix with retreating bombers and escort. By 1030, almost all F4Fs out of ammo – and little gas left. 9 of 31 SBDs on Enterprise destroyed during the attack (on flight deck and hangar deck). FDO calls for F4Fs (that can) to climb over Enterprise. 11 do. 14 at low level looking to land ASAP.
1035 hrs
2nd Zuikaku strike part 1 (Lt. Imajuku; 17 Kates w/ torps, 4 A6M2 escort) reaches Enterprise.
1040 hrs
Enterprise spots large bogey on radar at 330° . TF-16 heading 235°
1044 hrs
Large bogey on radar at 330° , 15 miles. CAP puts F4Fs in front of Kates. Imajuku splits into 2 Chutai of 8 to dive in from each side. Kates in shallow dive.
1045 hrs
TF16: Reaper 7 dives on 2nd Chutai from 13,000 ft at 350 kn (7.5) in high-side attack on last Shotai. 2 F4Fs shot up the whole 3rd Shotai; then they pass at the Zeros. 2 Vals shot down, other aborts attack. 5 fly on.
1st Chutai (41st, 42nd, 43rd Shotai) go in, meeting AAA and a few low down F4Fs. None score; 3 destroyed.
Supporting Force: Junyo and 2 DDs is sent to join Nagumo.
1047 hrs
TF16: 2nd Chutai goes in at wave top level. 1 crashes on DD Smith. 1 downed behind Enterprise. Others launch and escape. No torpedos hit Enterprise. Pensacola’s steering malfunctions and she cannot dodge. She is hit by 3 torpedos – but all are duds.
1050 hrs
Between the Japanese and US carriers, Lt. Shingo’s 5 A6M2 attack Haber’s PBY returning from a search. They do much damage and wound several aboard. They claim the kill, but only leave it low down and smoking.
1052 hrs
Zuikaku Kates draw off out of range. Some F4Fs in line of retreat. On the whole, 8 of 17 Kates shot down for no hits. Most torpedos launched from ~75 ft alt, 1000-2000 yd range.
1058 hrs- 1115 hrs
Enterprise’s radar fails completely and is off for repairs. When turned on, it notes a large number of aircraft about 20 miles off (Vals of the 2nd Zuikaku strike).
1108 hrs
Vanguard Force: Abe detaches Chikuma with 2 DDs to return to Truk.
1115 hrs
TF16: Enterprise opens its flight deck for some of its many customers in the landing pattern. The front elevator is out; The midships elevator freezes for a while.
1120 hrs
Bandits spotted approaching from the north above the clouds.
1121 hrs
Vals appear over Enterprise from out of low clouds. 25th Shotai all destroyed by AAA on approach. 1 250 kg bomb goes off 10 ft from port bow of Enterprise.
1129 hrs
TF-16 opens formation a bit under attack by Vals. 1st Chutai spreads out and attacks from many directions at once. 4 attack South Dakota BB, landing 1x 250 kg bomb on a turret – for no damage. Clouds down to 1,000-1,500 ft. 5 attack USS San Juan (CL-AA), 1 hits aft destroying steering for an hour. Zeros mixed in with US fighters down low to help the Vals escape. Total losses: 8 Vals, 2 F4F.
1132 hrs
Kido Butai: Nagumo radios "Assume no carriers south of crippled one" (which is where Enterprise actually was). He thought there were two other carriers NE and East of Hornet.
1140 hrs-1230 hrs
Kido Butai: Zuikiaku starts landing all returning aircraft. Some sent to find Junyo due to overcrowding. Zuikaku takes in 10 Zeros, 8 Kates, 1 Val. Junyo takes in 2 Zeros, 1 Val 1 Kate. 5 kates, 2 Zeros, 6 Vals ditch. Junyo had closed enough that Zuikaku and 5 DDs were detached to head back to Truk.
TF161: Enterprise starts taking in aircraft – 73 in the pattern; 15-20 F4Fs already on flight deck. 5 F4Fs ditched. By 1230, Enterpise lands 23 F4F, 24 SBDs in 43 minutes, completely filling the flight deck. Begins to strike aircraft.
1300 hrs
Truk: Yamamoto urges puruit.
Kido Butai: Junyo and Zuikaku prepare strikes.
Kondo and Abe advance their surface units.
1305 hrs
TF16: Enterprise puts up 25 F4F as CAP.
1306 hrs
Kido Butai: Junyo strike lead by Lt. Irikiin: 8 Zeros, 7 Kates.
A 3rd Zuikaku strike lead by Lt Tanaka: 5 Zeros, 2 Vals, 7 Kates w/ 800 kg bombs.
1318 hrs
TF16: Enterprise landing 10 TBFs. 8 ditched.
13320 hrs – 1400 hrs:
Kido Butai Zuikaku lands 5 Zeros, 7 Vals from Shokaku (Lt Arima’s force), 7 Zuikaku Kates (Lt Yusuhara), and a search Kate fom Shokaku.
Junyo lands Lt Shiga and 8 Zeros, Lt Kato’s 6 Vals and a Zuikaku Zero. 2 Zeros, 4 Vals, 1 Kate ditch.
1330 hrs
TF17: TF-17 starts towing Hornet at 3 knots, soon raised to 6 knots.
1345 hrs
TF17: Northampton spots Irikiin’s group on radar. They seem to delay their attack (they were searching for one of the healthier CVs supposed to be in the area).
1400 hrs
2nd attack group spotted on radar (Lt Tanaka).
1440 hrs
USS Russell DD casts off from Hornet with the last of the excess personnel.
1507 hrs
TF16: 13 SBDs flown off Enterprise to Espiritu Sancto to relieve congestion.
1513 hrs
TF17: Lt. Irikiin closes on Hornet, attacking from starboard against furious AAA. Irikiin hits near where 1st torpedo hit. Irikiin and a second Kate destroyed. 2 Zeros separate during the attack and are never seen again. 3 other Zeros later ditch, making 5 of 8 gone without fighting a US fighter.
1535 hrs
Kindo Butai: Junyo 3rd wave departs: 6 Zeros (Lt Shiga), 4 Vals (Lt Kato).
1541 hrs
TF17: 3rd Zuikaku strike splits and attacks Hornet. 2 Vals attack Hornet, for one near miss.
1543 hrs
Capt Mason orders abandon ship.
1555 hrs
Lt Tanaka attacks Hornet in Kates. 1 800-kg bomb hit does surprising little damage. Rest miss astern.
1627 hrs
All hands off Hornet.
1650 hrs
3rd Junyo strike arrives.
1710 hrs
Kato’s Vals attack. 1 250 kg bomb penetrates fwd hangar, causing a fire for 15 minutes – then it dies down.
1740 hrs
USS Mustin DD ordered to sink Hornet. Mustin and Anderson between them use 16 torps, getting 10 hits, but do not apparent damage. Remaining ships of TF-17 depart.
1904 hrs
Support Force: Kondo orders the support force to advance and mop up the carriers, arriving at 2100 hrs. Japanese carriers head north to regroup. After identifying Hornet from hull number, they determine it has no value as salvage and fire more torpedos to eventually sink her.
27-Oct-42
US Navy Day
0100 hrs- 130 hrs
3 radar-equipped PBYs find 1 CV, 1 BB, 1 CA & a few DD (the Junyo group). They wound 1 DD with a 500lbr near miss. At 0130, launched a torpedo at Junyo (missed). Battle effectively over.
Japanese lost too many aircraft and aircrew to continue against what they expected were 2 carriers in operable condition. The Enterprise, as the only sizable fleet asset left, needed to be preserved.
After Santa Cruz, there are no more evenly matched carrier battles. The Japanese never again have the technologic parity nor numeric superiority, nor anywhere near the leavening of veteran aviators.