This first volume chronicles aerial warfare in the opening phase of
the war in the Solomons Islands theater, being the critical period of
August-September 1942.
This first volume of Solomons Air War chronicles aerial warfare in the
opening phase of the war in the Solomons Islands theater, being the
critical period of August-September 1942.
After occupying the Solomon Islands capital of Tulagi with ease in May
1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy commenced building an airfield on the
adjacent island of Guadalcanal. The indispensable airfield was over 600
miles distant from their main base of Rabaul and promised to extend the
reach of their aircraft into the Allied occupied island chains of Fiji,
the New Hebrides and New Caledonia. Much was at stake and the airfield
would be held at all costs.
Then, in early August 1942 a bold American invasion of both Tulagi and
Guadalcanal caught the IJN completely off guard. Nevertheless, Japanese
air power responded swiftly and in some cases desperately. So began the
knife-edge struggle for Guadalcanal.
An ever-increasing variety and number of IJN units was poured into the
struggle, met initially with USN carrier-based Wildcats backed up by SBD
Dauntless dive-bombers and the new TBF torpedo bomber. These were soon
joined by USAAF fighters operating from the newly operational Henderson
Field.
From late August, Japanese carriers entered the fight, adding more
complexity to the intense and frenzied air battles. For the first time
belligerents are closely matched and the rationale of the IJN's
sometimes erratic response is explained. The full extent of both
Japanese and US involvement is outlined to a level of detail never
before presented.
