Kookaburra2011
Aug. 8, 1943: Japanese torpedo bomber downed off Guadalcanal - NHSA.
5578. It is the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi Aug. 7-9, 1942. There is flak in the air, which is presumably what brought this aircraft down, although the transport fleets at Tulagi were also initially protected by U.S. Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher's aircraft carriers, which were controversially withdrawn before much of the US First Marine Divisions men and stores were landed [a withdrawal the Marines referred to as 'the bug out.'].
The landing forces are now screened by eight cruisers - including three RAN, AUSTRALIA [II], CANBERRA [I] and HOBART [I] and a number of U.S. destroyers. The invasion forces are under attack by Japanese aircraft from Rabaul.
The significance of the date here, of course, is that it is one day before the disastrous night Battle of Savo Island, in which half the Allied screening force of cruisers - caught napping - will be lost. The losses were HMAS CANBERRA [I] USS QUINCY, VINCENNES and ASTORIA.
Photo: courtesy of the Naval Historical Society of Australia.
www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/guadlcnl/guad...
Aug. 8, 1943: Japanese torpedo bomber downed off Guadalcanal - NHSA.
5578. It is the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi Aug. 7-9, 1942. There is flak in the air, which is presumably what brought this aircraft down, although the transport fleets at Tulagi were also initially protected by U.S. Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher's aircraft carriers, which were controversially withdrawn before much of the US First Marine Divisions men and stores were landed [a withdrawal the Marines referred to as 'the bug out.'].
The landing forces are now screened by eight cruisers - including three RAN, AUSTRALIA [II], CANBERRA [I] and HOBART [I] and a number of U.S. destroyers. The invasion forces are under attack by Japanese aircraft from Rabaul.
The significance of the date here, of course, is that it is one day before the disastrous night Battle of Savo Island, in which half the Allied screening force of cruisers - caught napping - will be lost. The losses were HMAS CANBERRA [I] USS QUINCY, VINCENNES and ASTORIA.
Photo: courtesy of the Naval Historical Society of Australia.
www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/guadlcnl/guad...