November 9, 1942 - Monday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner: 

By the 9th, the crew of the O'Brien had probably reached the west coast and were each en route to their homes for the month of liberty they had received before reporting to their next assignment.  

Some time after the torpedoing of the O'Brien, the Navy had sent word to the sailors' families that the ship had been lost with all hands. This was not corrected for several days; but finally, to the great relief of the families, all were confirmed alive.  John was no doubt happy to return home, it having been almost 3 years since he had left for the Navy; and happy also to confirm that as with Mark Twain, reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated.

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Enterprise, still incompletely repaired at Noumea, left on the night of the 9th for the Guadalcanal area.  Its protective air cover could no longer be spared over the island.  At Pearl Harbor, the repaired Saratoga was preparing to sail next day. 

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Operation TORCH

For some time there had been difficulty getting armaments and supplies to the South Pacific.  On the 8th it became clear why; as the first large scale allied invasion was conducted in North Africa with landings at Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers.  The Allies being as yet unprepared to invade into western Europe, had decided to open this front in Africa as an alternative.

U. S. Navy Task Forces:

• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) was still at Noumea for temporary repairs to Enterprise, until late on the 9th.
  
• Saratoga prepared to sail from Pearl Harbor on on the 10th, repairs having been completed.
• Combined Task Force 61 was at Noumea until sailing for the Guadalcanal area.
  
• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) -> TF 61  
• 
  

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 273-275.
  
•  The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign,  John B. Lundstrom, pp 460-472.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 224-226.
• Neptune's Inferno, The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, James D. Hornfischer, pp. 237-245.

 

NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 13TH

November 5, 1942 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner: 

By this time, the crew of O'Brien are nearing the US west coast, on schedule to arrive some time around November 7th.

Transports arrived at Guadalcanal bringing needed artillery to the Marines, primarily 155 mm howitzers that allow attacks on Japanese positions in the western part of the island.  Navy cruisers and destroyers also shell this area.  The Japanese navy is still able to land more troops and supplies.

U. S. Navy Task Forces:

• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) was still at Noumea for temporary repairs to Enterprise.
  
• Saratoga remained at Pearl Harbor for repairs (sailed November 10th).
• Combined Task Force 61 was at Noumea.
  
• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) -> TF 61  
• 
  

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 271-273.
  
•  The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign,  John B. Lundstrom, pp 460-466.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 224-226.
• Neptune's Inferno, The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, James D. Hornfischer, pp. 237-245.

 

NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 9TH

November 1, 1942 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner: 

By this time, the crew of O'Brien is en route to the US west coast; they arrived there in early November.  These destroyer sailors would get a month of leave before reporting to new ships in mid-December.

This is a short quiet period around Guadalcanal.  Navy transports are started for Guadalcanal with supplies, key among which are 155 mm artillery that will allow the Marines to better engage Japanese positions. 

U. S. Navy Task Forces:

• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) is in the Coral Sea.  Temporary repairs of battle damage are being done to Enterprise.
  
• Saratoga remained at Pearl Harbor for repairs (sailed November 10th).
• Combined Task Force 61 remained on patrol in the Coral Sea near Guadalcanal.
  
• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) -> TF 61  
• 
  

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 270-271.
  
•  The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign,  John B. Lundstrom, pp 460-466.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 224-226.
• Neptune's Inferno, The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, James D. Hornfischer, pp. 237-244.

 

NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 5TH

October 28, 1942 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner: 

By this time, the crew of O'Brien would probably have begun their journey to the US west coast; they arrived there in early November.  These destroyer sailors would get a month of leave before reporting to new ships in mid-December.

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

As the opposing ground forces fought on Guadalcanal, Admiral Halsey sent both his carrier task forces to confront a large Japanese force approaching from the northwest.  The resulting battle consisted of several aerial attacks from the 5 Japanese carriers (2 fleet carriers, 3 light carriers), and from Hornet and Enterprise.  Hornet suffered bomb and torpedo hits and was abandoned, finally sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedoes.  No Japanese carriers were sunk, but one fleet carrier was severely damaged.  In addition, the Japanese lost many aircrews that they would have trouble replacing.

Enterprise was also damaged and had to retire to Noumea for repairs.   This left no US carriers in the Guadalcanal area until Enterprise was repaired. Saratoga would not sail until November 10th from Pearl Harbor.  However, the damage to the Japanese fleet prevented them from following up immediately.

 The Marines on Guadalcanal had again managed to stave off several Japanese attacks while inflicting major losses on the enemy.  Henderson Field was held, and the Marines looked for reinforcement.

 

U. S. Navy Task Forces:

• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) has reunited with Hornet near Guadalcanal in time for the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.  The task force had to retire to Noumea for repairs to Enterprise.
  
• Saratoga remained at Pearl Harbor for repairs (sailed November 10th).
• Task Force 17 (Hornet) -> TF 61 was disbanded after Hornet was sunk.
  
• Combined Task Force 61 remained on patrol in the Coral Sea near Guadalcanal.
  
• Task Force 17 (Hornet) -> TF 61  
• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) -> TF 61  
• 
  

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 267-270.
  
•  The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign,  John B. Lundstrom, pp 325-459.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 181-224.
• Neptune's Inferno, The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, James D. Hornfischer, pp. 223-236.

 

NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 1ST

 

October 24, 1942 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

 Status - John Skinner: 

The crew of O'Brien was rescued on the 19th as the ship sank, and became passengers on the two other accompanying ships.  These ships did not take them all the way to the west coast; they would have to find transportation on other ships bound for San Francisco.  We could speculate that they were delivered to nearby Pago Pago to await transportation.  It appears they reached the United States on or around November 7th.

Admiral Ghormley had been replaced as area commander by the much more aggressive Admiral Halsey.  As the Marines on Guadalcanal fought off attacks from the Japanese troops on the 23rd and 24th, Halsey began to plan for new Navy action in the upcoming days.

U. S. Navy Task Forces:

• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) sailed from Pearl Harbor on October 16th for the South Pacific, crossing the equator on the 19th.
• Saratoga remained at Pearl Harbor for repairs (sailed November 10th).
  
• Combined Task Force 61 remained on patrol in the Coral Sea near Guadalcanal.
  
• Task Force 17 (Hornet) -> TF 61 
  

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 266-267.
  
•  The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign,  John B. Lundstrom, pp 334-343.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 181-193.
• Neptune's Inferno, The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, James D. Hornfischer, pp. 214-222.

 

NEXT POST: OCTOBER 28TH