Solomons
More troops land on Tulagi, reaching a total of 7,500 on that side of Sealark Channel. F and E Companies of the 5th Marines, having cleared the northwestern part of island, join G Company and the 1st Raider Battalion to press their attack. The marines begin moving toward the southeastern end of the island. They attack each machine gun position on the steep sides of the old cricket ground. Because there are no surrenders, the Americans deduce the Japanese tactic is to hold a position until the end unless ordered to retreat. By 1500 Tulagi is brought under control although Japanese snipers continue their activity a few more days until the last of them are killed. Only 3 of the enemy surrender and about 200 are killed and the rest swim the strait to Florida Island to continue fighting. The Marine casualties for this action are 36 killed and 44 wounded.
At 0400 another marine unit lands on Tanambogo and helps secure the causeway. About 1130, the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, and 2 light tanks attack Tanambogo from the beach and causeway and secure most of island by late afternoon. By nightfall all the Japanese are dead. The remaining dugouts on Gavutu are reduced by the parachutists and 2 companies of the 2nd Marines in the afternoon. The Marine casualties for the Gavutu and Tanambogo fighting are 108 dead or missing and 140 wounded. The 500-man Japanese garrison on the 2 islets is wiped out to the last man.
At 0840 Coastwatcher Jack Read at Buka Passage spots 45 Japanese dive bombers that had taken off from Kavieng. The carrier planes are ready and waiting. They attack and destroy many of the enemy bombers. A blazing bomber dives into the deck of the transport George F. Elliott and sets it on fire. Another dive bomber sends a torpedo into the destroyer Jarvis, putting it out of action. About 1000 3 fighters from the Enterprize discover another group of Japanese torpedo bombers flying low over the surface of the water to attack the transports. Several of the Japanese planes are shot down.
Enterprise's Fighting Six loses 6 pilots who are shot down by Zeros. But the Americans are learning. The Zero is superior in rate of climb, maneuverability and fuel capacity but has two major weaknesses - limited fire power and inability to withstand punishment. F4F pilots are warned to stick close together, and when attacked, each two-plane element should set up a scissors movement, constantly turning toward each other. This way they can concentrate their superior fire power on the enemy while knowing their own planes could withstand an enormous amount of punishment.
The first 2-days of air fighting has cost Adm Fletcher 21 of 99 carrier planes. At 1800 Fletcher asks Adm Ghormley for permission to withdraw the carriers. As he does so, the Japanese are moving in force.
Supported by tanks, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, crosses the Ilu at 0930. Progess is slow at first because they are advancing on a wide front. Since they are not opposed by a sizeable force, the battalion is ordered to contract its front, cross the Lunga and seize Kukum village by nightfall. By 1500 the advance guard has traveled almost 6,000 yards, overrunning a small party of Japanese on the outskirts of Kukum. The 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, covers 4,500 yards and captures the airfield by 1600. The enemy garrison, 430 sailors and 1,700 laborers, flee westward without attempting to defend or destroy any installations. A good supply of weapons and stores are taken intact.
The unloading problems continue. Gen Vandegrift doubles the length of the beach making Beach Red's western boudary the Block Four River. During enemy air raids the George F. Elliott is set on fire and burns until it is a total loss and the destroyer Jarvis is damaged. The Jarvis sails for Noumea, but is never heard of again.
The three commanders meet in the evening and discuss the possibility of a night attack by Japanese surface forces, but Turner is not seriously worried. 1 - as far as he knew the air search that day had covered every area; 2 - radar destroyers are out front and with the disposition of the cruisers, he is confident the protective forces could meet any challenge. Turner had requested the previous day that Adm McCain cover the area of The Slot which he had discovered was not included in the aerial search plans. This message was lost and that particular area was not searched.
At 1030 an Australian Hudson bomber from New Guinea spots Mikawa's force. His report, however, is defective. He reports 3 cruisers, 2 destroyers and 2 seaplane tenders. When Turner gets the message, he infers from it the enemy is setting up a seaplane base. The most likely spot is Rekata Bay, which is only 175 miles from landing beaches of Guadalcanal. As darkness comes the navy sends its ships to night dispositions. Turner and Rear-Adm V.A.C. Crutchley divide the landing area into 3 defensive sectors. In the south are the cruisers Australia, Canberra and Chicago and the destoyers Patterson and Bagley. Crutchley takes personal command of this group. Their mission is to patrol south and west of Savo Island to prevent any enemy ships from coming through between the island and Cape Esperance on the northwest end of Guadalcanal. The Northern sector runs from Savo Island to Florida Island, northeast of Guadalcanal. It is to be patrolled by the cruisers Vincennes, Astoria, and Quincy and the destroyers Helm and Wilson. The officer in command is Capt Frederick L. Riefkohl of Vincennes. The Destroyers Blue and Ralph Talbot are given a special mission west of Savo Island to cover the large sea area west of the channel because they have modern radar. The eastern sector runs from Lunga Point, where marines have established their first beachhead, to the approaches to Lengo and Sealark Channels. Rear-Adm Norman Scott commands here the light cruisers San Juan and Hobart(Australian) and the destroyers Monssen and Buchanan. Adm Turner, who is in the transport McCawley, has personal command of the 19 transports and freighters.
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