Under the Southern Cross

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A vivid narrative history of the Solomons campaign during World War II, this account highlights a crucial turning point in the U.S. Navy's efforts against Japan in the Pacific. Following the Battle of Midway in June 1942, which halted Japanese expansion, the Battle of Guadalcanal and the subsequent campaign effectively crippled the Imperial Japanese Navy. From August 7, 1942, to February 24, 1944, when Japan withdrew its remaining units from Rabaul, the U.S. Navy faced its most challenging campaign, enduring significant personnel losses that led to years of withheld casualty figures. Unlike the Central Pacific Campaign, fought by the 'new Navy,' the Solomons campaign showcased the U.S. Navy at its lowest point, relying on ships that survived the Pearl Harbor attack and older pre-war vessels rushed to the Pacific. After the Battle of Santa Cruz in late October, only the USS Enterprise remained as the sole pre-war carrier in the South Pacific, highlighting the precariousness of American naval strength. The outcome of the campaign remained uncertain until the surge in American industrial production began to take effect. This account examines the campaign from land, sea, and air, providing a fresh perspective on the military offensive that set the stage for Allied success in the Pacific War.