Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, fought during 25–27 October 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or Third Battle of Solomon Sea, in Japan as the Battle of the South Pacific, was the fourth aircraft carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. It was also the fourth major naval engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the lengthy and strategically important Guadalcanal campaign. As in the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, and the Eastern Solomons, the ships of the two adversaries were rarely in sight or gun range of each other. Instead, almost all attacks by both sides were mounted by carrier- or land-based aircraft.
USS Enterprise (center left) and her screening ships during the battle, 26 October 1942
USS Wasp burns after being torpedoed on 15 September
Grumman F4F Wildcat on Enterprise as she conducts air operations on 24 October
Japanese fighter and dive bomber aircraft on Shōkaku prepare to launch for an attack on U.S. carrier forces
USS Hornet (CV-8), the seventh U.S. Navy vessel of that name, was a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy.
USS Hornet (CV-8) shortly after completion
Hornet cruising off Hampton Roads in October 1941
A B-25 taking off from Hornet
Hornet under attack during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands