bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Japan > South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War, updated by RAC 16 Aug '19.  Webpage not complete.
This webpage outlines the major naval actions connected with the 1942-44 allied land campaigns in the Solomon Islands. The earlier battles were mostly fought in or near Guadalcanal. Both sides suffered large and approximately equal losses, although in inital battles the Imperial Japanese Navy prevailed.

Most earlier battles were precipitated by Imperial Japanese Navy attempts to either bombard the Guadalcanal beachhead or to land reinforcements on Guadalcanal.
Early 9 August 1942 - the nighttime Battle of Savo Island
Aside from Pearl Harbor, The Battle of Savo Island is thought to be the most lop-sided defeat in US Navy history. The US Navy had no training in nighttime combat. In this brief battle, the United States lost three cruisers (Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes), the Australian Navy lost the cruiser Canberra. Japanese ships suffered only light damage. The US Navy lost over 1,000 men. 
US Guadalcanal Landings and the Sea Battle of Savo Island
US Guadalcanal Landings and the Sea Battle of Savo Island
26-26 October 1942 - the carrier Battle of Santa Cruz Islands
The aircraft carrier Hornet was lost from repeated Japanese torpedo plane attacks; one destroyer (USS Porter) was lost.
The Battle of Santa Cruz Islands
The Battle of Santa Cruz Islands
Early 13 November 1942 -the nightime First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

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The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Sources for the WW II - The Solomons Sea War webpage
  • The US Guadalcanal Landings and the Sea Battle of Savo Island map is courtesy of The Map Archive.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa WW II Deaths - The Solomons Sea War (updated 16 Aug ’19)
World Wars > WW II > Pott. Co. Deaths has parental and spousal information.
See also the Solomon Islands webpage.
  • Beckendorf, Orville L., US Navy; destroyer USS Laffey; d. 13/14 Nov ’42, Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
  • Bradley, Donald J., US Navy, USS McCawley, d. 30 Jun '43, off Rendova Island, Solomons.
  • Denton, Claude B., US Navy, USS Cony, d. 27 Oct '43, off Treasury Islands, Solomons.
  • Knapp, Rex J., US Navy; cruiser USS Minneapolis; d. 30 Nov ’42, Battle of Tassafaronga off Guadalcanal, ship torpedoed but survived
  • Lueth, Walter, Avoca, IA, US Navy; cruiser USS Juneau; d. 13 Nov '42 with the five Sullivan brothers, Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. 
  • Sales, Orville W., US Navy; destroyer USS Gwin; d. 13 Jul ’43, battle of Kolombangara, Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands, ship torpedoed by destroyer & scuttled.
  • Wagner, Egbert V., USMC Aviation, Marine Air Gp. 11, d. 26 Jan '43, off Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. 
  • Wunder, Edmund E., US Navy; destroyer USS Laffey; d. 13 Nov '42, Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.