Evening star., 1942-09-15
Attack on SoIomons Was Great Relief to Men
On Carrier, Bored, Complaining, Ready to Go

I've got my belly full of beans
and am all ready for battle. Are
you ready?"
I tell him. "Hell yes. I've been
ready for long time"
He says, That's the way 1t goes
in this sea war. Long time no &C
tion then in a few seconds you get
enough for lifetime"
Wait \ Lifetime.
For Jack Singer, the other news
man aboard, and myself, it seems
like we've been waiting a lifetime.
We haven't had much to do and
though everybody aboard has been
friendly, it's been a long, hot trip.
We've accustomed ourselves to
sleeping in the morning, despite
planes taking off from the deck
above our heads, and having a
siesta even when all the ships guns
are roaring. We have a private
worry, having heard there are re-
porters on the transports with the
marines who are to land on the
Soiomons tomorrow.
We are carrying on a friendly
feud with a couple of young OFF,
GERS, one of whom thinks the sub
ject of naval strategy Is sacred and
shouldn't be discussed by civilians
I tend to become profane whenever
any one argues that we have all
the time in the world to fight the
Pacific war.
On deck our fighter planes are
lined up, ready to take of the
first thing in the morning. I look
at the names painted on the sides
of the planes. They are mostly
pilots nicknames-"Weasel," Mole, I"
"Stinky," Sunshine, Chick"
Gunner" Skipper, Pug" Mac,
'tPoopdeck," etc. The plane cap
tains have painted their girls names
on the cowling behind the propellers
SO each plane has two names.
Behind the fighters are the dive
bombers, each loaded I wanted to
ride dive bomber in the first at
| tack tomorrow, but the officers de-
cided to send Singer and myself In
torpedo planes instead.
There are two reasons for this
First, the rear seat man in dive
bomber is gunner and radio oper-
ator, and although my shooting has
been okay in practice, I lack the ex-
perience for repairing a radio or
jammed guns in the air Second
the regular rear seat men want to
20 themselves. In torpedo planes
there Is an extra seat for an OBJ
server.
Pilots Cut Cards.
The fighter plane pilots are cutting
cards for the privilege of making
the first attack. Losers are consolec
by the likelihood of seeing actor
later tomorrow.
Usually at this time of day officer.
and enlisted men are playing soft.
ball and touch football on the ex.
pansive flight deck, but there's M
time for it this evening. Everybod.
Is too busy or preoccupied.
There are only few pilots in th'
officers ward room when I 60 In fol
dinners sandwich and a cup o
chocolate. The pilots are all turn
ing in early.
For days they have been studyin
attack plans and poring over map
and learning their detailed assign
. ments. Fighters know where t.
strafe. Dive bombers have pinpoin
targets. There Is no need for fina
, fight talk.
Briefly, the setup is this:
We are to attack and occupy sew
eral islands in the southeastern par
! of the Solomons, where Japan ha
been building strong offensiv
base. Our objectives are the shore
, of Guadalcanal and the sma
islands of Tulagi Cavutu, Tanam
: bogo and Mocambo, which are clus
tered off the shore of Florid
Island, 20 miles north of Guadal
. canal.
l Attacks Objective.
Our first objective is to knock ou
the nemys air power. After tbs
/ our warships will shell the beache
l and marines will land under cove
of aerial bombing and strafing {
} defending forces.
For final breath of air go int
the gun gallery off the flight decl
e Except for those on watch, tn
Y marine gun crews are sleeping o
e the deck with their life jackets fc
S pillows. The sky is clearing and
1 number OF stars, including tn
Southern Cross, are visible
Underneath the marines CUR
e some good advice for gunners to us
e against attacking planes is stencile
|: in white paint. The top line says:
d Lead with your bullets, not wit
o your chins."
e Underneath is a verse:
q Shoot him in the rudder
And you only make him shudde
n Shoot him in the prop
l. And you make the flop"