| USS Enterprise (CV-6) Damage to the starboard quarter 5-inch (127 millimeter)/38 caliber gun gallery, resulting from a bomb that hit nearby during the August 24, 1942, Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Photographed a few days later, after the ship had returned to port. The Naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons took place on August 24-25, 1942, and was the 3rd carrier battle of the Pacific campaign and the 2nd major engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal campaign. The Japanese air attack group was believed to have consisted originally of about 75 planes — 36 Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, 12 Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo planes, and 27 Mitsubishi A6M 0 “Zeke” fighters. These planes came from Imperial Japanese Navy carriers Zuikaku and Shōkaku. All the enemy’s torpedo planes were turned back or shot down, and about 6 of his dive bombers were destroyed before reaching the release point, so that approximately 30 dive bombers remained for the American ships to contend with. For some reason, possibly because it was nearest in their line of flight, all enemy planes concentrated on the Enterprise group of vessels. The USS Saratoga (CV-3) force, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away on the disengaged side, was not attacked. There was ample warning of the approaching enemy planes. As has already been stated, the Japanese attack group was 1st picked up by radar 88 miles (141 kilometers) away, and was tracked continuously, during the last 22 minutes of its approach. However, probably because of the many planes in the air near the American force, both enemy and friendly, it was not possible to track the Japanese aircraft with fire-control radar. The result was that the fire was not opened until the Japanese planes had begun their dives. Task Force Fox had gradually built up speed in expectation of an air attack, so that by the time it materialized, the American ships were making 27 knots. Both carrier forces were in circular antiaircraft disposition Victor 1. In the case of the Enterprise group, the support distance was 2,000 yards (1,800 meters) for the cruisers, and 1,000 yards (900 meters) for the destroyers. USS North Carolina (BB-55) was on station 2,500 yards off USS Enterprise’s port quarter. The course was 88 degrees when the attack commenced, and thereafter varied widely, due to radical maneuvering. The Enterprise had been in Condition “Afirm” and at general quarters since 1335 Hours. Weather conditions in the vicinity of the American ships were excellent. Ceiling and visibility were unlimited, 1 pilot reporting that he could see the force 80 miles distant. The wind was force 2. The sun bore 285 degrees. The United States Navy’s position was east of the Stewart Islands. USS Enterprise’s radar lost track of the enemy group when it came within its minimum range, but, based on previous tracking, the radar plot reported at 1709 Hours that “the enemy planes are directly overhead now!” Despite this warning and the excellent visibility, the 1st plane was sighted after it had already begun its dive. Effective enemy-plane camouflage and the fact that the 1st dives were made on the Enterprise from the port quarter, out of the sun, probably accounted for the belated visual contact. In the case of the Enterprise, the 1st plane was sighted at 12,000 feet (3,650 meters) by a 20 millimeter Oerlikon battery officer. Although the target was well beyond effective range, he promptly opened fire with 1 gun, thus calling the ships’ attention to the attacker and giving them a point of aim. USS Enterprise was the prime target, although USS North Carolina was also singled out by several dive bombers. Planes dived at the carrier at intervals of about 7 seconds for a period of approximately 4 minutes, interrupted only by 2 short lulls of 20 or 30 seconds duration. All dives were steep — 65 or 70 degrees — and were, to quote Captain Arthur C. Davis (March 14, 1893 – February 10, 1965), Commanding Officer of USS Enterprise, “well executed and absolutely determined.” Bombs were released at from fiften 100 to 2,000 feet (450 to 600 meters), and pull-outs were generally low. The volume of the United States Navy antiaircraft fire was tremendous. The 5-inch (127-millimeter)/38 caliber fire of USS Enterprise and of the screening ships, which could bring their batteries to bear, was such that several planes broke off their attacks, and others were seen to emerge from bursts on fire. 3 planes disintegrated as though directly hit. The 1.1-inch mounts and 20-millimeter Oerlikon guns, used in local control, were also extremely effective. These small-caliber automatic weapons were particularly useful in destroying planes that completed their dives and attempted to retire after pulling out low over the formation. Although all ships’ accounts differed in some respects, the following excerpts from USS Grayson (DD-435)’s report are illuminating: “The first plane crossed from starboard to port, coming up on Grayson’s starboard quarter at an altitude of about three hundred feet (ninety meters), strafing as he passed. This fire slashed the canvas top to the Number Three gun and wounded several of the gun crew and the adjacent twenty millimeter Oerlikon crew. Grayson’s after twenty-millimeter Oerlikon guns trained on the plane and poured in well-directed, concentrated fire. It was almost impossible to miss. The plane staggered, then crashed close aboard on the port beam.” “The next three planes to get clear of Enterprise came along the starboard side of Grayson. The first of these was brought down by the North Carolina, whose volume of fire was so great that the ship appeared in flames amidships. The second, passing at what appeared to be slow speed, provided a close target for Grayson’s twenty millimeter Oerlikon battery. This plane was hit repeatedly and crashed about 100 yards on Grayson’s port bow. The third plane, and the last to pass near the Grayson, was fired on only by one twenty millimeter Oerlikon gun, for the others in the starboard battery were reloading or firing at distant targets. This plane flew into the terrific low-altitude barrage being laid by the North Carolina and USS Atlanta (CL-51) and was not seen thereafter.” At least 10 planes crashed near the Enterprise, and others flew away smoking heavily. Some of those that crashed had never pulled out of their dives. 2 burning planes narrowly missed striking the carrier’s flight deck. USS Enterprise sustained 3 direct hits and several close misses. Near the end of the 3rd minute of the attack, a near-hit barely cleared the flight deck on the port quarter, striking the water under the fantail. The resulting explosion beneath the flight deck overhang raised the deck about a foot, bulging the steel plates and shattering the wooden deck. A gunner in a 20 millimeter Oerlikon sponson projecting abaft the fantail was hurled up in the air and 15 feet across the flight deck, landing in another gun sponson on the port quarter. He was not seriously hurt. Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz’s (February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) remark on this incident was that it was “one for Ripley.” A few seconds later, while many gunners were recovering from the shock and deluge of seawater thrown over the stern by this near-hit, a large bomb struck the forward starboard corner of the Number 3 elevator on the flight deck, penetrating to the 3rd deck before detonating. The explosion wrecked compartments for as many as 16 frames on the 2nd and 3rd decks, bulged and ruptured decks, started numerous fires, cut fragment holes in the side plating, and killed about 35 men. All power failed on the after 5-inch (127-millimeter) guns as a result of the 1st bomb hit, and thereafter they had to be trained, elevated, and loaded by hand. This reduced the rate of fire by more than half. Shortly after the 1st hit, a 2nd large bomb struck about 20 feet away, exploding in the Number 3 gun gallery. The blast set off ready powder, put both 5-inch guns out of commission, and killed about 38 men at the guns, all the crews. The only members of the gun crews who escaped had just left their stations to assist in fighting fires started by the 1st bomb. The 3rd hit followed closely upon the other 2. This bomb, apparently smaller than the others and of a low-order detonation, struck the flight deck at frame 137 starboard just abaft the island structure. It exploded before completely penetrating the flight deck. Damage, other than the crippling of the Number 2 elevator, was not great. Near-hits which caused appreciable damage exploded under the port fantail, raising the port after corner of the flight deck about a foot, tearing loose all degaussing cables for a length of 30 feet (9 meters), springing the 3rd and 4th decks, and causing minor deflection of the side plating; near frame 80, port side, resulting in numerous fragment holes above the water line, rupturing gasoline mains, 1 fire-main riser and 1 damage-control riser, damaging arresting wires Number 3 and the 1st barrier, and resulting subsequently in the grounding out of the starboard steering motor. Fires started by the hits near the Number 3 elevator were stubborn, mainly because of the large quantities of inflammable materials in the aviation issue storeroom and the chief petty officers’ quarters, which were affected. Meanwhile, USS North Carolina was under attack. As the action began, the Enterprise had increased speed to 30 knots, and the battleship, unable to maintain station, gradually dropped astern. At the end of the engagement, she was some 4,000 yards (3,650 meters) from the carrier. An estimated 16 Japanese dive bombers, 12 level bombers, and 8 glide bombers or torpedo planes attacked the North Carolina. The 1st planes observed were diving on the Enterprise. These the battleship engaged with 1 group of 3 of her twin 5-inch (127 millimeter)/38-caliber mounts. 2 minutes later, she was under dive-bombing attack herself. Without shifting her protective barrage from over the Enterprise, the North Carolina opened fire with 3 other 5-inch mounts on the planes attacking her. So heavy was the 5-inch and automatic weapon fire that some aircraft turned away. Of those that persisted, only 3 managed to reach a point where they could place their bombs dangerously close. 2 bombs fell within 15 yards (13 meters) and the other within about 25 yards (23 meters), knocking gunners down, shaking the ship, and deluging her decks with water, but causing no further damage. Most diving attacks were from about 20 degrees to the right of the sun. During the dive-bombing, low-flying planes appeared on the port quarter and later in numerous directions at altitudes ranging from 50 to 5,000 feet (45,000 to 4,500 meters). Some of these maneuvered in and out at 6,000 to 10,000 yards (5,500 to 9,100 meters). Others approached more directly, as if for a torpedo attack. Still others glided in from 6,000 feet, leveling off at 50 to a 100 feet (45 to 90 meters). At the height of the action, the North Carolina had almost all her anti-aircraft guns going — 25-inch, 4 quadruple 1.1-inch mounts, 60-millimeter Oerlikons, and 2056-caliber Browning machine guns. There were about 10 dive bombers in the 1st wave to attack USS North Carolina. While these and the torpedo or glide bombers were drawing most of her fire, a 2nd group of 6 dive bombers came in from the port quarter, opposed only by the after 20 millimeter Oerlikon guns, which got 2 of them. 4 bombs fell within a 150 yards (a 140 meters) of the ship. About the same time, 8 horizontal bombers passed over unobserved at 15,000 feet (4,570 meters) and dropped a salvo of heavy bombs between USS North Carolina and USS Enterprise. This salvo ended the attack, although for several more minutes, planes flying low over the formation were fired on. Several of these planes proved to be friendly. Assigning credit to ships for shooting down enemy aircraft proved difficult. USS Enterprise claimed 15, USS North Carolina 7, USS Portland (CA-33) 1, USS Atlanta none (this despite the excellent 5-inch barrage she maintained over the carrier), USS Balch (DD-363) 2, USS Benham (DD-397) none, USS Monssen (DD-436) 1, USS Ellet (DD-398) none, and USS Grayson 1. Undoubtedly, overlapping existed in these claims, because all ships, except the North Carolina, which became separated, made it clear that more often than not, planes at which they fired also were under fire of other ships of the formation. On the other hand, no “probables” or “possibles” were included in these claims. Captain Davis and other high-ranking officers present concluded that approximately 70 enemy planes were destroyed at the scene of the action. The fighters received credit for 43 planes from the Japanese attack group and 3 “snoopers.” A Douglas SBD Dauntless on an inner air patrol was credited with 1 dive bomber. Another dive bomber was credited to a Saratoga TBF leaving the carrier on an attack mission. A Japanese dive bomber and a torpedo plane were destroyed near the Ryujo by planes of the American attack group, and these aircraft accounted for 5 additional dive bombers which they encountered while returning to the task force. On a mathematical basis, then, American antiaircraft fire would have to have brought down 15 planes to bring the estimated total destroyed during the fleet action to 70. However, these estimates proved optimistic. Both sides thought that they had inflicted more damage than was the case. The United States Navy claimed to have shot down 70 Japanese aircraft, even though there were only 37 aircraft in all. Actual Japanese losses — from all causes — in the engagement were 25 aircraft, with most of the crews of the lost aircraft not being recovered or rescued. The Japanese, for their part, mistakenly believed that they had heavily damaged 2 United States Navy carriers, instead of just 1. The United States Navy lost 6 aircraft and 5 pilots in the engagement. The damaged Enterprise traveled to Pearl Harbor for extensive repairs, which were completed on October 15, 1942. She returned to the South Pacific on October 24, just in time for the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and her rematch with Shōkaku and Zuikaku. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1895.jpg |
| Image Size | 975.26 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 3000 x 2369 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 30, 1942 |
| Location | Pearl Harbor |
| City | Oahu |
| State or Province | Hawaii |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-411 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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