During the Guadalcanal Campaign, the armada led by Rear Adm. Richmond K. Turner lands Marines on Guadalcanal and seizes a nearly-complete airfield at Guadalcanal's Lunga Point in the first U.S. land offensive of World War II. To the north, Tulagi Island, and a few miles to the east, Tanambogo and Gavutu Islands, Marines also land and fight bitter battles, concluding a few days after. Nonetheless, the campaigns final outcome is in doubt for nearly four months and is not certain until the Japanese evacuate their surviving troops at Guadalcanal on Feb. 8, 1943.
