Photographs from the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

80-G-20989 A Japanese bomb splashes astern of a US carrier as the enemy plane pulls out of its dive above the carrier. In the center is another enemy plane that has made an unsuccessful dive. Battle of Santa Cruz.

80-G-33330 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Attack on USS Enterprise (CV-6). The Enterprise seen from USS South Dakota going into a sharp turn as the attacking Japanese planes, which appear as specks, start one of their waves of attacks.

80-G-33331 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. The USS Juneau (CL-52) kept up an ever consistent barrage on the incoming Japanese planes which were attacking. Her fire keeps up even with the low cloud difficulties. Note: one of the planes is pulling out forward and above the Juneau and another just starting to dive, is in the upper left of the print just right of the USS South Dakato's superstructure.

80-G-33332 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. One of the Japanese planes like most of the other crashes into the sea and burns.

80-G-33333 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. This is the USS Smith (DD-379) who so gallantly kept up continous firing, maintaining her position even after one of the Japanese torpedo planes had crashed on her forecastle, knocking her two forward five inch guns out of commission and exploding her ready ammunition locker. She maneuvered through our wake extinguishing her flames. This scene is when her ammunition exploded. Taken by the South Dakota.

80-G-33334 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. One of Task Force 16's heavy cruisers (either Northhampton (CA-26) or Portland (CA-33)) laying up a heavy barage which makes her look as if she were almost afire in the haze and low hanging clouds.

80-G-33335 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Two Japanese bombers in range of the USS South Dakota's fire. One has just burst into flames, leaving a trail of smoke as the plane disappears in a low rain cloud.

80-G-33337 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Attack on the USS Enterprise (CV-6). Near miss on the port beam of the USS Enterprise. Note: Two planes directly above the miss.

80-G-33338 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Attack on the USS Enterprise (CV-6). The start of a heavy barage being laid up off the stern of the USS Enterprise to exterminate the oncoming Japanese planes.

80-G-33340 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Attack on the USS Enterprise (CV-6). Another near miss on the USS Enterprise. The plane didn't get far though, it crashed just the other side of her.

80-G-33341 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. This is the first of the first attack. The fire is being centered on the oncoming Japanese bombers which are hidden by fire. The plane at the left is an American TBF which has almost run out of gas.

80-G-33342 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. The first few seconds after the the first attack started. The plane at the left is an American TBF which has almost run out of gas and may have caught a stray line of fire which is centered on the Japanese further out but, the crew were unharmed and landed in the water next to a destroyer because the USS Enterprise was busy warding off the bombers.

80-G-33343 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. A steel umbrella of anti-aircraft and machine gun fire attemping to ward off attacking Japanese dive bombers. Note Planes appear as specks.

80-G-33344 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. A steel umbrella of anti-aircraft and machine gun fire attemping to ward off attacking Japanese dive bombers. Note Planes appear as specks.

80-G-33345 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Attack on the USS Enterprise (CV-6). One plane is pulling out and coming towards the USS South Dakota (BB-57). There appears to be a hit and a miss or just a miss on the USS Enterprise.

80-G-33346 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Attack on the USS Enterprise (CV-6). The Japanese planes nearer to the USS South Dakota (BB-57).

80-G-33347 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Attack on the USS Enterprise (CV-6). A near miss off the stern of the USS Enterprise.

80-G-33348 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. One of the Japanese bombers being fired upon by 20 mm. in a heavy fog or mist which has set in.

80-G-33349 The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. This is a barrage from Task Force 16 overhead.

Photographs from the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

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