6 Jul 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
9 Jul 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
6 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
11 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories Photo(s) dated 11 Aug 1942
American surveying Lunga Point Airfield, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Aug 1942
12 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
16 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
18 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
19 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
20 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • 770 Japanese troops under Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki reached within a few miles of Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands by 0430 hours. During the day, Henderson Field received 31 US Marine fighter aircraft (19 Wildcat fighters and 12 Dauntless dive bombers) from USS Long Island, allowing air supply and evacuation of wounded to begin between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal; the small air fleet at Henderson Field was dubbed "Cactus Air Force". In the evening, Ichiki gave the order to move foward, running into the US Marines defensive perimeter at Tenaru River by surprise around midnight. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Guadalcanal Campaign | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
22 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
23 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
24 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps Major John L. Smith's VMF-223 Squadron based on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands accompanied by five USAAF P-39 fighters intercepted twenty-seven Japanese aircraft, shooting down ten bombers and fighters. Captain Marion E. Carl, who was to become the first USMC ace of the war, scored three of the kills. His Commanding Officer Major Smith would become the third Wildcat pilot to be awarded the Medal of Honour. Three Wildcat fighters were lost in the engagement. On the same day, 11 US Navy dive bombers arrived at Henderson Field as reinforcements. ww2dbase [Guadalcanal Campaign | Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | AC]
25 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Before dawn, Japanese destroyers Kagero, Isokaze, Kawakaze, Mutsuki, and Yayoi bombarded Henderson Field, Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, causing little damage. At 0600 hours, six SBD dive bombers from Henderson Field attacked a Japanese convoy 64 miles northeast of Santa Isabel Island, sinking troop transport Kinryu Maru and damaging cruiser Jintsu (24 were killed). Four US Army B-17 bombers arrived shortly after, sinking Japanese destroyer Mutsuki (41 were killed, 11 were injured) as Mutsuki rescued survivors from the Kinryu Maru sinking. ww2dbase [Solomon Islands Campaign | Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
27 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
30 Aug 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
1 Sep 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
11 Sep 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • During the day, USS Saratoga delivered aircraft to Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. Japanese destroyers landed troops at Guadalcanal; in the past two weeks, 6,000 men were successfully delivered to the island. Meanwhile, Japanese aircraft attacked Henderson Field. ww2dbase [Guadalcanal Campaign | Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
12 Sep 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • During the day, USS Wasp delivered aircraft to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. After dark, the three-day Battle of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal began as 6,200 Japanese troops attacked positions held by 12,500 Americans; faulty Japanese intelligence reported that the American strength was only about 2,000. The Japanese attack was supported in the air by aircraft and from the sea by cruiser Sentai and three destroyers. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Guadalcanal Campaign | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | TH, CPC]
13 Sep 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Failing to break lines held by the US Marines near Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands overnight, the Japanese attack was called off at 0550 hours. The Japanese attack resumed after sundown, penetrating the American lines before being driven back by artillery fire coming from nearby Hill 123; 500 Japanese were killed in the night's attack while the US suffered 80 killed. ww2dbase [Guadalcanal Campaign | Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
14 Sep 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
13 Oct 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
16 Oct 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Japanese cruisers bombarded Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. During the day, US Marine Aircraft Group 14 under Lieutenant Colonel Albert Cooley relieved Marine Aircraft Group 23 as the unit in charge of maintaining Henderson Field. ww2dbase [Guadalcanal Campaign | Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
17 Oct 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
18 Oct 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
25 Oct 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Before dawn, the Japanese launched an offensive on the southern flank of the American defensive line at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, aiming to capture Henderson Field; US Marines repeatedly drove back the waves of attacks. ww2dbase [Guadalcanal Campaign | Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
30 Oct 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
31 Oct 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
8 Nov 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
12 Nov 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps squadron VMSB-143, equipped with TBF torpedo bombers, was assigned to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
13 Nov 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
15 Nov 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
24 Dec 1942

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps squadron VMTB-132, equipped with SBD dive bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
1 Feb 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
2 Feb 1943

Photo(s) dated 2 Feb 1943
Wildcat fighter at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, 2 Feb 1943
4 Feb 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Army Air Forces 70th Bombardment Squadron of 38th Bombardment Group, equipped with B-26 medium bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
10 Mar 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Navy squadrons VF-26, VF-27, and VF-28, all equipped with F4F fighters, were assigned to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
25 Mar 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
4 Apr 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
11 Apr 1943

Photo(s) dated 11 Apr 1943
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 11 Apr 1943
25 Apr 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Navy squadrons VF-26, VF-27, and VF-28, all equipped with F4F fighters, were transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
11 May 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Army Air Forces 390th Bombardment Squadron of 42nd Bombardment Group, equipped with B-25 medium bombers, was assigned to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
11 Jun 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Navy squadron VS-54, equipped with SBD dive bombers and OS2U floatplanes, was assigned to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
13 Jun 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps squadron VMSB-144, equipped with SBD-3 dive bombers, was assigned to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
23 Jun 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
26 Jun 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Navy squadrons VF-26, VF-27, and VF-28, all equipped with F4F fighters, were assigned to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. US Marine Corps squadron VMSB-144, equipped with SBD-3 dive bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
28 Jul 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps squadron VMF-122, equipped with F4U fighters, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
2 Aug 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps squadron VMSB-132, equipped with SBD dive bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
3 Aug 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Navy squadron VS-54, equipped with SBD dive bombers and OS2U floatplanes, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
5 Aug 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Navy squadrons VF-26, VF-27, and VF-28, all equipped with F4F fighters, were transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
21 Oct 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Army Air Forces 75th Bombardment Squadron of 42nd Bombardment Group, equipped with B-25 medium bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
22 Oct 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Army Air Forces 70th Bombardment Squadron of 38th Bombardment Group, equipped with B-25 medium bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
29 Oct 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps squadron VMTB-233, equipped with SBD dive bombers and TBF torpedo bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]
25 Nov 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps squadron VMSB-236, equipped with SBD dive bombers, was transferred out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Henderson Field | Lunga Point, Guadalcanal | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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