THE APPROACH

COMSOPAC ordered Task Force KING to skirt the northern shores of the Santa Cruz Islands, move southwestward to a point east of San Cristobal Island, the southernmost of the Solomon chain, and be prepared to intercept the Japanese as they approached Guadalcanal. The Hornet was instructed to operate about 5 miles to the southeast of the Enterprise force, on a bearing approximately normal to the wind line. Course was set to leave Fataka Island and Strathmore Shoal to port. The Task Force was steaming at 23 knots.

At 0400 on 25 October, in latitude 10° 50' S., longitude 171° 50' E. (east of the Santa Cruz Islands), course was altered to the northwest. The Enterprise assumed duty carrier status and conducted all inner air patrols, combat air patrols, and searches. The Hornet maintained a striking group on the alert.

The morning search to a distance of 200 miles in sector 290°-080° T. (see chart, p. 28) was accomplished with negative results. However, about 1120 a shore-based patrol plane contacted an enemy force of two battleships, four heavy cruisers, and seven destroyers. And at 1250 the

seaplane tender Curtiss relayed a report from another patrol plane that two Japanese carriers and supporting vessels had been sighted in latitude 08° 51' S., longitude 164° 30' E. (about 360 miles from Task Force KING), course 145, speed 25. The location of the battleship-cruiser group was not clear (actually it was operating 60-80 miles south of the carriers). In order to gain more complete information on the enemy's whereabouts and to strike the carriers if they continued their approach, Admiral Kinkaid decided to launch search and attack groups from the Enterprise, keeping the Hornet aircraft in reserve pending further reports.

At 1430 the Enterprise sent out 12 scouts in pairs for a mile search of sector 280°-010° T. About an hour later she launched an attack group of 11 fighters, 12 scouts and 6 torpedo planes, with her Group Commander, to follow up the search. These aircraft were ordered to proceed out on the median line of the search to 150 miles, and to return if no enemy ships were encountered.

Scarcely was the second group air-borne when another report was received indicating that the enemy carriers were now proceeding on a northerly course, so that no contact would be made. Not wishing to break radio silence, Admiral Kinkaid did not recall the planes. The scouts returned as scheduled and were successfully landed. The striking group, "through excess zeal of its leader," proceeded out 200 miles and then searched 80 miles to the northeast in hopes of a contact. None was established, and when the planes returned to the Enterprise after dark they were low on fuel. Six aircraft were lost through water landings and deck crashes. The carrier had lost 5 other planes earlier in the day as a result of damage received in routine operations. She was thus deprived of a total of 11 aircraft at a most inopportune time.

Instead of proceeding to the south of Guadalcanal, as originally intended, Task Force KING changed course to permit engaging the enemy north of Santa Cruz Island if he should cease his retirement. During the night Task Force KING cruised so that "by daylight of the 26th it had reached the position shown on the chart page 28."