Navy Department Communique No. 187

NOVEMBER 9, 1942

South Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

1. On November 7th:
   • (a) U. S. troops continued to advance from the area near the Metapona River to the eastward along the northern coast of Guadalcanal Island.
   • (b) There was no fighting in the area west of our positions on Guadalcanal.
2. On November 8th:
   • (a) U. S. planes attacked ground installations and destroyed six landing boats on the beaches to the westward of our positions on Guadalcanal.
   • (b) U. S. aircraft destroyed three float-type biplanes at Rekata Bay.
   • (c) A U. S. destroyer bombarded enemy areas cast of Koli Point on the north coast of Guadalcanal.
   • (d) Early on the night of November 8-9, U. S. motor torpedo boats attacked two enemy destroyers in Indispensable Strait and scored a torpedo hit on one of the destroyers.
     The U. S. destroyer announced in Navy Department Communiqué No. 149 as having been sunk during the night action of October 11-12 was the U. S. S. Duncan. The next of kin of the 5 officers and 58 enlisted men who were killed or are missing have been notified.