Showing results by author "Henry I. Shaw" in All Categories

In the early summer of 1942, intelligence reports of the construction of a Japanese airfield near Lunga Point on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands triggered a demand for offensive action in the South Pacific. Completion of the Guadalcanal airfield might signal the beginning of a renewed enemy advance to the south and an increased threat to the lifeline of American aid to New Zealand and Australia. On 23 July 1942, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Washington agreed that the line of communications in the South Pacific had to be secured. The Japanese advance had to be stopped. Thus, Operation ...

On 1 September 1939, German armored columns and attack aircraft crossed the Polish border on a broad front and World War II began. At Marine Corps headquarters, it was readily apparent that the planned expansion of the Corps to a Fleet Marine Force (FMF) strength of at least two infantry divisions and two supporting aircraft wings would require a vastly increased supporting establishment. What occurred then in late 1940 and early 1941 was a thorough search by Marines of the east and west coasts of the United States for base sites suitable for training one or more divisions whose main mission ...

In the summer of 1942, urgent intelligence reports revealed the construction of a Japanese airfield near Lunga Point on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The imminent completion of this airfield posed a significant threat, potentially enabling a renewed Japanese offensive that could jeopardize the vital lifeline of American support to Australia and New Zealand. On July 23, 1942, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington recognized the need to secure communication lines in the South Pacific and halt the Japanese advance. This pivotal decision led to Operation Watchtower, the daring campaign to ...

First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal by Henry I. Shaw, Jr. is a historical account written in the late 20th century. The book chronicles the pivotal Marine campaign during World War II, specifically focusing on the critical battle for Guadalcanal in 1942. It delves into military strategies, key figures, and the significance of the airfield constructed by the Japanese, along with the subsequent Allied operations to secure the region.