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19427 August 1942 – 9 February 1943 · Honiara, Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal campaign

Aerial view of the cratered Henderson Field airstrip on Guadalcanal in August 1942, with the Lunga River beyond
Archival image: US Navy. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

US Marines landed on Guadalcanal in August 1942 to seize an airfield the Japanese were building, which became Henderson Field. Six months of jungle fighting and night naval battles in 'Iron Bottom Sound' followed, until Japan withdrew its last troops in February 1943. It was the first major Allied land offensive against Japan, and Solomon Islander scouts and coastwatchers were vital to it.

Sites

  1. Site 1: Henderson Field (Honiara International Airport)Today's airport on the airfield both sides fought for.Map ↗
  2. Site 2: Edson's (Bloody) RidgeGrassy ridge south of the airfield where Marines held in September 1942.Map ↗
  3. Site 3: US War Memorial, Skyline RidgeMemorial above Honiara with panels describing the campaign.Map ↗

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