Show Milestones of American Victory In Battle for Guadalcanal By Associated Press 1942 January 2 24 Japanese 24 troops take over Solomon islands August 7 U. 7 TJ S S. S forces launch offensive operations In Guadal- Guadal canal canai area o of ot Solomons U. U S. S marines establish beach beach- heads 1 t I August 8 Guadalcanal 8 Guadalcanal 8 air airfield airfield airfield field occupied later named Henderson Henderson Henderson Hen Hen- derson air field Enemy resistance resistance resistance resist resist- ance overcome at as malines marines marines ma ma- rines lines spread to other dither islands August 9 8 night 9 night All sea bat bat- tle tie Japanese fleet retreats after atter failing falling to intercept landing op op- op- op One Australian and three American cruisers sunk off Sa Savo vo island August 21 21 Reinforcing detachment detachment detachment de de- de- de of Japanese wiped out August 25 U. 25 U. U S. S naval and air forces forces' repel strong enemy reconnaissance fleet September 14 12 U. 14 U. U S. S forces repulse of Japanese attacks by byland byland byland land sea and air September 15 U. 15 U. U S. S aircraft carrier Wasp torpedoed while covering movement of reinforcements reinforcements reinforcements reinforce reinforce- ments and supplies into Guadal Guadal- canal October 12 11 Navy t task ask a s k force intercepts enemy vessels sinking one heavy cruiser and four four- destroyers October IS 13 U. U. U S. S army reinforcements reinforcements reinforcements rein rein- join Guadalcanal de die- fenders October 24 Navy 24 Navy announces that Admiral William F. F Halsey has replaced Admiral Robert L. L Ghormley In Solomon islands command October 26 Japanese 26 Japanese pierce American lines but are thrown back Naval-air Naval battle results In heavy damage to Japanese ships Including two carriers and andone andone andone one battleship American destroyer destroyer destroyer de de- de- de Porter sunk and aircraft carrier Hornet subsequently lost I November 15 12 Japanese j invasion fleet smashed in great eat sea battle battIe Twenty-eight Twenty Nipponese Nipponese Nippo Nippo- nese ships sunk 10 damaged November 30 Japanese 30 Japanese lose nine ships and thousands of soldiers soldiers soldiers' sol sol sol- diers' diers in futile attempt to reinforce reinforce reinforce rein rein- force Guadalcanal December 12 Navy 12 Navy reveals establishment of ot new new Japanese air base at Munda miles mUes from Guadalcanal 1943 January 6 U. 6 U. U S. S forces seize str strategic heights around Henderson Hender Hender- son field to open land offen offensive ive on Guadalcanal 5 January 21 After f five I 1 v e months of savage fighting marines marines marines ma ma- rines on Guadalcanal are replaced replaced replaced re re- re- re placed by army troops under General Alexander M. M Patch January 25 American 25 American troops continue land offensive w wit with I t h capture of Japanese Japanese Japanese Japa Japa- nese headquarters February 2 Navy 2 Navy announces that Japanese activity Indicated I a major effort to retake t the h e Solomon Islands is In progress Fe February 6 American 6 troops capture Titi outflanking Japanese Japanese Japa Japa- nese at Cape Esperance center of enemy operations February 9 Japanese announce announce announce an an- evacuation of their forces from Guadalcanal |