Navy Department Communique No. 153

OCTOBER 15, 1942

South Pacific (all dates below are east longitude).

1. Dispatches from our forces in the South Pacific reveal the following chronological developments leading up to the current battle in the Guadalcanal area.
2. On October 12th:
   • (a) During the morning, Army Flying Fortresses bombed the airfield and shore establishments on the island of Buka. Fires were started and 10 wrecked or damaged bombers and fighters were observed on the ground.
   • (b) Army bombers hit and set fire to one cargo ship at Buin and damaged another. Six enemy fighters were shot down.
   • (c) Navy and Marine Corps aircraft attacked enemy ships south of New Georgia Island (reported in Navy Department Communiqué‚ No. 149).
3. On October 13th:
   • (a) During the afternoon the airfield at Guadalcanal was twice bombed by enemy aircraft. Three enemy planes were shot down and one U. S. fighter was lost.
   • (b) By nightfall U. S. auxiliaries had landed reinforcements for our troops at Guadalcanal. Although these ships were attacked by enemy bombers, no damage was suffered and our ships unloaded and withdrew.
   • (c) During the night of October 13-14, the airfield and shore installations at Guadalcanal were heavily bombarded by an enemy surface force believed to have contained battleships, cruisers and destroyers (reported in Navy Department Communiqué‚ No. 152). Shore batteries scored three hits on enemy destroyers during the bombardment.
4. On October 14th:
   • (a) During the afternoon Guadalcanal airfield was attacked by two separate groups of enemy bombers, each with fighter escort. Our fighters were unable to intercept the first flight, which contained about 25 bombers. During the second attack they shot down 9 of the 15 bombers in the group and destroyed 4 fighters. One U. S. fighter was lost.
5. On October 15th:
   • (a) During the early morning (reported in Navy Department Communiqué‚ No. 152) enemy transports, covered by destroyers, cruisers, and a battleship, were sighted off Savo Island. This force proceeded to land troops on the north coast of Guadalcanal Island to the westward of our airfield. An aircraft striking group attacked the enemy ships and reports indicate that three direct hits were made on one transport and that two other transports were left burning. The Japanese battleship was damaged and one enemy fighter was shot down.
6. Other enemy forces including heavy units have been sighted in the vicinity of Guadalcanal.
7. U. S. Army troops are participating in the defense of Guadalcanal.