The Battle of Guadalcanal was a major turning point in WWII. In August 1942, US and Australian troops landed on Guadalcanal to seize a key airfield from Japanese forces. They were able to take the Japanese by surprise. Both sides fought fiercely over the next several months to control the strategically important island. Though the environment made fighting difficult, the Allies proved more capable of reinforcing their troops. By January 1943, American numbers had grown too large, forcing the remaining Japanese troops to evacuate and giving the Allies control of Guadalcanal.

1. The Transformation battle
December 7th, 2012

2. Guadalcanal was one of the major
turning points in WWII. While both sides
fought to the death to take over
Guadalcanal, the Allies proved to be
powerful in their strategy to take over the
island.

3. The Allies that landed in
August (US &
Australian troops) were
able to seize the airfield
surprising many of the
Japanese defenders.
To attempt to reclaim to
the airfield Japanese
ship more
troops, unfortunately, th
US Marines landed in Guadalcanal in e Americans are able to
August 1942, and their mission was to
seize an airfield that the Japanese were in
send more troops
the middle building. quicker than the
Japanese.

4. Guadalcanal’s location isn’t
the most easiest
environment. According to
Guadalcanal Journal: A
personal history of the
Battle of Guadalcanal, the
jungle was thick and it took
three days to go six
miles, and the insects were
terrific (meaning in a
“Photographed from a USS Saratoga (CV-3)
sarcastic tone). A few plane in the latter part of August 1942, after U.S.
Japanese surprise attacks aircraft had begun to use the airfield. The view
looks about northwest, with the Lunga River
occurred at night causing running across the upper portion of the image.
many deaths also due to Iron Bottom Sound is just out of view at the top.
Several planes are parked to the left, and
air raids during night and numerous bomb and shell craters are visible.” –
US Navy, National Archives
day.

5. Sinking Japanese ships were one of the ways
the Allies used to win the Battle of
Guadalcanal.
General Douglas McArthur was
the commander of the Allies
forces in the Pacific and has
planned many successful
defense operations against the
Japanese.

6. When the Japanese
wanted attention so they
could try to recover what
remained of
Guadalcanal, they would
make mini sculptures that
people wanted to see
(such as some on the right
). In January of
1943, American troops
outnumbered Japanese This particular picture refers to the
troops and in the end the Japanese trying to get a crowd of
an Ally troops and form a group so
Japanese were forced to Japanese air raids would be able
evacuate due to the Allies’ to kill troops.
armies being too large to
fight.

7. National Archives. Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942. Digital image. Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942-
February 1943. Naval History & Heritage *Command*, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2012.
US Navy National Archives. Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942 - February 1943. Digital image. Guadalcanal
Campaign, August 1942- February 1943. National Archives, 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012.
"Battle of Guadalcanal (World War II)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012. Web. 10 Dec.
2012.
Google+. "Guadalcanal Journal: A Personal History of the Battle For Guadalcanal." Web log post. Guadalcanal Journal.
LIFE, 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
"Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942 - February 1943." Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942 - February 1943.
National Archives, 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
"Guadalcanal." Guadalcanal. CMH Online, 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
Morse, Ralph. "Life." LIFE. LIFE, 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. <http://life.time.com/history/guadalcanal-world-war-ii-rare-
photos/>.
National Archives. Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942. Digital image. Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942-
February 1943. Naval History & Heritage *Command*, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2012.
US Navy National Archives. Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942 - February 1943. Digital image. Guadalcanal
Campaign, August 1942- February 1943. National Archives, 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012.
Bio. True Story. Douglas McArthur. Digital image. Douglas McArthur Biography- Facts, Birthday, Lifestory. Bio- True
Story, 1996-2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.