Marine Corps Early Warning Detachment, Guadalcanal (1942-43)
The Marine Corps Early Warning Detachment, Guadalcanal (1942–43) was a ground based early-warning radar detachment that provided long range detection and rudimentary fighter direction against Japanese air raids during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Initially deployed as part of the headquarters of Marine Aircraft Group 23, this detachment established an SCR-270 long range radar that allowed the Cactus Air Force to husband its critically short fighter assets during the early stages of the battle when control of the island was still very much in doubt. The detachment arrived on Guadalcanal on 28 August 1942, began operating in mid-September, and did not depart until early March 1943. Combat lessons learned from this detachment had a great deal of influence on the Marine Corps' development of its own organic, large scale air warning program which began in early 1943.
SCR-270B utilized by the Guadalcanal Early Warning Detachment in late 1942.
Henderson Field in late August 1942.
Japanese siren utilized by the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during the Battle of Guadalcanal. This siren is on display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
LtCol Bayler controlling fighter aircraft during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
The SCR-270 was one of the first operational early-warning radars. It was the U.S. Army's primary long-distance radar throughout World War II and was deployed around the world. It is also known as the Pearl Harbor Radar, since it was an SCR-270 set that detected the incoming raid about 45 minutes before the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor commenced.
SCR-270: Similar to the model that detected the attacking Pearl Harbor planes (the actual Opana antenna was nine dipoles high by four wide, instead of the eight-by-four configuration shown here). The scale for reading the direction the antenna is pointing to can be seen at the base.
Non portable version: the SCR-271 at Camp Evans
Plot made early on December 7, 1941, by SCR-270 operators at Opana
SCR-270 display showing Japanese planes approaching Oahu on December 7, 1941