Battle of Guadalcanal

During WWII the Japanese Empire took many islands in the pacific. During the campaign to take them back the allies took the island of Guadalcanal. This island was chosen due to the small airfield being constructed there. This would become the main airbase of choice during this phase of the campaign. The Marines there operated F4F fighters and SBD dive bombers. The Japanese tried for a year to regain control the the island and this lead to a almost daily combat from august 7th 1942 to February 9th 1943. The pilots employed a particular tactic called Thatch's Weave. It involved 2 Wildcats making a crisscross pattern. If an enemy plane goes after one the wingman can engage and shoot down the threat.
 The Marines  sank or destroyed 17 large enemy vessels as well as shooting down 268 Japanese planes in aerial combat. This was one of the largest air engagements of the Pacific theater and really demonstrated the skill of the U.S. aviators.

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