The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, fought during 25–27 October 1942, was the fourth aircraft carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. It was also the fourth major naval engagement fo
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 US carrier forces
USS Hornet (CV-8)
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USS Hornet, the seventh U.S. Navy vessel of that name, was a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier. Commissioned a month before the Pearl Harbor attack, the ship spent three months working up in the waters
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
…north of the Santa Cruz Islands. After an exchange of carrier air attacks, Allied surface ships retreated from the battle area with the fleet carrier Hornet sunk, and another fleet carrier, Enterprise, heavily damaged. The participating Japanese carrier forces also retired because of damage to two carriers…
USS Hornet (CV-8) shortly after completion
Hornet cruising off Hampton Roads in October 1941
A B-25 taking off from Hornet
Lt. Colonel James Doolittle and Captain Marc Mitscher on board USS Hornet in April 1942