The Pittsburgh Press (October 10, 1942)
U.S. FLIERS HIT 3 JAP WARSHIPS
Navy, Marine planes sink a destroyer
Cruiser, another destroyer damaged in Solomons landing operations
Washington (UP) –
A Japanese destroyer was sunk and a heavy cruiser and destroyer were damaged by American airmen fighting to halt greatly expanded enemy attempts to land reinforcements on Guadalcanal, the Navy announced today.
Seven enemy planes were also destroyed in these and other late actions in the Solomons. The total of enemy aircraft destroyed there since early August is now 245.
The new actions announced by the Navy covered a period from the night of Oct. 5 through the evening of Oct. 8.
Assisting in landing
During the night of Oct. 5-6, American dive bombers and torpedo planes from Guadalcanal attacked six enemy destroyers attempting to assist landing operations at the northwestern end of the island. A destroyer was sunk and another damaged in this engagement.
But the enemy continued to put troop reinforcements ashore on Guadalcanal during the night of Oct. 7-8.
On the night of Oct. 8, Navy and Marine Corps dive bombers and torpedo planes, assisted by fighters, intercepted an enemy naval force northwest of Guadalcanal.
Cruiser set afire
This force, including a cruiser of the 7,100-ton Kako class and five destroyers, was also engaged in covering landing operations. A torpedo hit and some bomb hits were scored on the cruiser. It was still burning the following afternoon.
In that engagement, four enemy seaplanes were shot down and two of our planes were lost.
The Navy also provided additional details concerning raids last Thursday night. Army, Navy and Marine Corps land-based aircraft attacked enemy positions at Buka Island, Gizo Island and Rekata Bay, it said.
Damage at Rekata
At Buka, 375 miles northwest of Guadalcanal, the plane parking area was bombed and several planes damaged. Results at Gizo, 215 miles from the American base, could not be observed. But at Rekata Bay, 185 miles to the northwest, beach installations were bombed, two seaplanes shot down and another seaplane and a small launch were destroyed on the water.
The latest Japanese ship casualties brought to 38 the number of enemy vessels sunk, probably sunk or damaged in the Solomons.
The Kako-class cruisers, one of which was damaged, carry normal complements of 604 men and have a length of 595 feet.