Guadalcanal 1942-43

"The battle of Guadalcanal, the turning point of the Pacific War, centered around control of Henderson Field. The unfinished airstrip was captured the day after the US Marines landed, and was operational less than two weeks later. It was a rudimentary airfield, and the "Cactus Air Force" based there was short of aircraft, pilots, and supplies. But so long as the airfield remained in American hands, the Japanese could not send the heavy convoys they needed to recapture the island. The Americans had to keep Henderson Field operational in the face of constant attack from Japanese bombers and their Zero escorts, and even against battleship bombardment. The Cactus Air Force, primarily flying the rugged Wildcat fighter and the incomparable Dauntless divebomber, weathered every Japanese assault and emerged victorious. Illustrated with spectacular original artwork and archive photos, this new history explains how a single airfield became the fulcrum of the key battle of the Pacific War." -- Back cover