Battle of Eastern Solomons
Guadalcanal: Naval Battles: Battle of Eastern Solomons
In the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, on August 24, 1942, Task Force 61, commanded by Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, USN, engaged the Japanese First Carrier Division, Third Fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo. Planes from Japanese carrier Ryujo bombed U.S. positions on Lunga Point but SBDs (VB 3) and TBFs (VT 8) from carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3) sank Ryujo. Additionally, USS Enterprise (CV-6) was damaged by carrier bombers from Japanese carrier Shokaku. As a result of this battle, the Japanese recalled the expedition to recapture Guadalcanal.
Image: 80-G-17489: Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 24, 1942. Japanese bomb hitting the deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6). Official U.S. Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
