Monday, 24 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle of the Eastern Solomons occurs as TF 61 (Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), supported by USMC and USAAF planes from Henderson Field, turns back major Japanese attempt to recapture Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Carrier Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by dive bomber (08°38'S, 163°30'E) and destroyer Grayson (DD-435) is damaged by strafing and near-miss, but SBDs and TBFs (VB 3, VS 3, VT 8) from Saratoga (CV-3) sink carrier Ryujo (06°10'S, 160°50'E) and damage seaplane carrier Chitose. SBD (VMSB 232) damages light cruiser Jintsu north of Malaita Island, Solomons.

            Submarine Saury (SS-189) torpedoes Japanese army transport Otowasan Maru west of Luzon, 14°15'N, 120°19'E.

            Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Seikai Maru off entrance to Sendai harbor, on northeast coast of Honshu, 38°12'N, 141°30'E.

            Japanese transport Cuba Maru, stranded south of Sakhalin Island, Kurils, sinks, 48°00'N, 142°30'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—12 Heavy Bombers hit the shipyard of Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime de la Seine at Le Trait. General Spaatz reports RAF attitude towards US daylight precision bombing seems to be changing from one of skepticism to one of tentative approval.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s attack Tobruk harbor.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s hit town of Gasmata and airfields at Rabaul. Japanese amphibious forces leave Buna in barges and New Ireland in transports, heading for Milne Bay. Barges are detected by Australian coast-watcher during the afternoon.

SOUTH PACIFIC—In the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 7 B‑17’s and USN dive and torpedo-bombers from the Enterprise and Saratoga attack a TF covering a transport formation heading for Guadalcanal; Navy airplanes sink the carrier Ryujo. During the night 4 warships shell the airstrip on Guadalcanal.

ELEVENTH AF—404th Bomb Squadron begins to operate from Umnak. Photo reconnaissance sortie is canceled due to overcast.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—XII Fighter Command is assigned to Twelfth AF.

US ARMY

BATTLE OF EASTERN SOLOMONS—American naval TF’s, centering about CV’s Enterprise and Saratoga, intercept Japanese fleet units (3 carriers, 8 BB’s, 4 CA’s, 2 CL’s .and 21 DD’s, plus the 4 transports with reinforcements for Guadalcanal) well E of Guadalcanal. Major air battle ensues (U.S. carrier planes being assisted by a few land-based planes), and Japanese sustain heavy losses before retiring northward. Japanese carrier Ryuju, 1 CL, and 1 DD are sunk, and other vessels are damaged. Japanese lose 90 planes; Americans, 20 planes.

GUADALCANAL—Henderson Field is subjected to almost daily air attacks and Lunga perimeter is bombarded from sea at frequent intervals. Marine fighters intercepting enemy aircraft over Henderson Field shoot down 21 for loss of 3. 11 dive bombers from the Enterprise land on the field and remain for 3 months.

NEW GUINEA—General Horii orders general offensive. Japanese amphibious forces leave for Milne Bay, those from New Ireland in a transports and the force from Buna in 7 large landing barges. Barges are detected by coastwatcher in afternoon.

US MARINE CORPS

Naval Battle of Eastern Solomons.