| The United States Navy destroyer USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) escorting the Guadalcanal-Tulagi invasion convoy, circa August 7-8, 1942. The heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (D84) is dimly visible in the far right distance, beyond the 3 destroyers maneuvering there. USS Ralph Talbot, as part of Task Force 62, entered the area between Guadalcanal and Tulagi that would soon be known as Ironbottom Sound on the early morning of August 7, 1942. Task Force 62 commenced firing on the Solomon Islands at 0615 Hours, but not Ralph Talbot. It was her job to screen the “X-Ray” transports unloading on Guadalcanal from submarine attack. While on antisubmarine patrol, Ralph Talbot sighted 24 Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” twin-engine level bombers attacking the convoy at 1325 Hours from 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). 10 Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers attacked the convoy at 1502 Hours. 1 bomb struck USS Mugford (DD-389) at 1522 Hours; Ralph Talbot claimed 1 attacker destroyed and 2 probables. 3 men on Ralph Talbot were wounded. 4 men from USS Mugford who were blown overboard when she was bombed were rescued. 1 was seriously wounded. Fireman 3rd Class Richard O. Gray (October 21, 1923 – August 8, 1942) of Oakland, California, died aboard Ralph Talbot at 0019 Hours from his wounds from the bombing of USS Mugford the day before. He was buried at sea at 0700 Hours. 40 G4Ms carrying torpedoes made low-level attacks while 8 more made level bombing attacks from 10,000 feet at 1215 Hours. As they retired, Ralph Talbot claimed 2 more. At 0150 Hours on August 9, Ralph Talbot received warning over the Talk Between Ships (TBS) radio that 3 Imperial Japanese Navy ships were inside of Savo Island. Ralph Talbot went to General Quarters and observed gunfire in the transport X-Ray area. At 0217 Hours, Ralph Talbot was illuminated by another United States Navy warship, which opened fire. 2 of Ralph Talbot’s men were killed. At 0222 Hours, Ralph Talbot exchanged gunfire with a Japanese cruiser. Ralph Talbot claimed to have hit the cruiser with torpedoes and gunfire; but the Japanese hit the American destroyer 4 times, killing 10 more men. 2 others were missing and never found. 23 were wounded. Ralph Talbot hugged the shore of Savo Island to fight fires and effect repairs. She would survive the war and be scrapped in 1948. Photographed by United States Marine Corporal Lawrence M. Ashman (December 21, 1927 – November 17, 1985). Enlisting on February 14, 1942, at age 15, Ashman was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1969.jpg |
| Image Size | 729.07 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 5726 x 4563 |
| Photographer | Lawrence M.Ashman |
| Photographer Title | United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 8, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Guadalcanal |
| Country | Solomons |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | USMC 61603 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database