My Grandfather was on Guadalcanal from October 1942 to June 1943. He flew F4F's and F4U's. He was shot down on June 7, 1943 but survived the war. Great video thank you for putting this together.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
I like pilots that are not shot down. He Sounds like a loser and a sucker. A man who said he is American said that. But I don’t believe he is. USMC 1965 to 1969 Semper Fi
My father was there about 14 months in 1942 and 1943. He was a SeaBee with the 26th CBU. He was a dynamiter and said he destroyed thousands of Lever Brothers palm trees, often using captured dynamite that was very sweaty. Later he used det cord to try to take the trees off at ground level and leave the root ball in the ground. If trees were bulldozed the tree came down with the root ball and left a large hole to fill. In addition to work on the airstrips, he blasted a tunnel on Tulagi for a communications center and did some work on Florida Island, too. A large portion of the battalion was evacuated due to malaria but he stayed the whole time until the battalion returned to the states. His second deployment was to Ulithi. He died in 2010.
What a generation. I’ve a great fascination of Ulithi. So little is ever said about it, but never in human history has so much naval power been packed into one single anchorage. A few months later and the place must have resembled a ghost town in every respect except for the tumbleweed blowing by in the wind.
I retired out of the navy with my last command being Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26. The battalion was decommissioned over 10 years ago. We tried to live up to your dad’s legacy.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I am going to see if I have any of the SeaBee photos in my collection. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
My Dad was on the Canal as a USMC pilot, although after we'd secured the Soloman's. He fought north, and into the Marianna's and finally, Iwo. He flew Wildcats, Avengers, and transitioned into Corsairs - most likely for the invasion of Japan, that didn't occur. He stayed in the reserves and returned for Korea, flying helicopters and observation planes. My war was Vietnam - and I spent the bulk of the war - '68-69 - at DakTo, in the Central Highlands. Thank you for producing this video, and giving me a glimpse of what is very real history for me.....................
My Dad was 1st M 2nd Btn E Company , the Marines on the ground loved their pilots .........Dad was also scheduled to go to Japan (classified info then of course)
@@slackthompson6984 Wow. My brother's father in law, John Kincaid served in that same outfit, E21, First MARDIV, first on Cape Gloucester in '43. Later at Pelileu. For his actions on those coral ridges he received the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross. They were defending a key ridge thru the night of 17-18 September '44. The fighting eventually went hand to hand, but the japs were unable to take that ridge. Finally they directed arty onto the ridge, and the Marines withdrew, but the cost to the enemy was very high. John passed in May, 1999, and his daughter Paula asked me to deliver His eulogy, which of course, I considered a great honor. In that eulogy, I read from the book "Brothers in Battle" that John's platoon lieutenant, R. Bruce Watkins wrote, which he sent to John shortly before John's passing. The whole account is described in that book.😢
My dad made the first landing on Guadalcanal as part of the 1st Marine Div, Amphibious. He was one of the ones guarding Henderson Field. Finally in December, they were removed from the island to recuperate in Australia. He was so sick with malaria he was shipped back to California to finish out his 4 years as a Marines amphibious instructor. He always credited getting malaria so badly as saving his life. Because he was not sent on to any other battle in the Pacific, as many of his fellow Marines were. Many never returned. Dad got to return to Honiara on a cruise in the 1990s. He was given a heroes’ welcome.
Thanks for watching and making a comment. The Greatest Generation!! I am heading back to Guadalcanal in November to see what other things I can find out about the battle. Again thanks for watching and I hope you had a chance to watch some of our other videos.
40 Years I met Merle Leonard, a County Commissioner from Twin Falls, Idaho. He told me he flew fighter planes from Guadalcanal for the Marines. That is all he would say about his service. Clearly his memories were too bad for him to tell anyone about his experiences there. He just shook his head and said no when I asked about it. A gracious man he was.
My Grandfather was stationed on Henderson field as a Sgt cook in the Royal New Zealand Airforce , he was wounded twice in Japanese air raids . He was 40 yrs old and a successful business man when he volunteered .
My 98-year old father in law is a retired pastor. His daughters think he doesn’t want to talk about WW II and his time on the destroyer, USS Hopewell, during the Guadalcanal assault. But when it is just the two of us, that’s all he talks about. He may not be able to remember names of his kids but he remembers much of his Navy service.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. His stories must be incredible. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
@@francisbusa1074 Thanks for the history. Before Covid we went to Boston and toured the USS Constitution and the Fletcher class destroyer nearby. Wish my FIL was able to travel and go see it.
@@jockellis Just so happens that that Fletcher Class destroyer you referred to, USS Cassin Young (DD-793), operated with my dad's ship USS Birmingham (CL-62) during the effort to save USS Princeton (CVL-23) that fateful day, Oct. 24, 1944 off the coast of Samar. That can picked up a lot of Princeton's crew as they abandoned the burning carrier. But a lot of Princeton's ordnance stowed in the aft end of the ship exploded, causing a horrible carnage, especially aboard Birmingham who was coming alongside a second time to fight fires on the carrier.
@@francisbusa1074 I’ll have to ask him about that. He reminds me of a former Pullman car porter interviewed for the book Rising From the Rails. He was interviewed by the author who was taken to the nursing home. The old porter didn’t know who his grandson was but knew everything about his Pullman years.
My dad was there, had the back end of his C47 blown off by a Japanese cannon. He woke up after being blown out of the plane listening to the screams of his fellow passengers dying in the flames. He was never right the whole time I grew up. He also served in Korea, never knew that until I saw it on his gravestone. Stopped a Banzi charge with an M2 HMG and a couple of sappers with his 1911. I still remember his thousand-yard stare. I had to be careful asking him stuff, he froze up so tight.
When I was in Navy I served on USS Carl Vinson CVN 70. On the way to Japan we stopped at Iwo Jima. Well we didn't stop or drop anchor. But we circled the island and dropped wreaths. The thing that captivated me was how small it was. Even Mt.suribachi was smaller than what I imagined. All through it probably felt like Mt Everest to the hero's who scaled it's side. You could even see the little and I mean little beach the Marines landed on. Men of that era where made of steel...
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I have a documentary on my page about Iwo Jima that has been featured at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg Texas. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
After crossing the Pacific in a troop transport, my Dad landed first on Guadalcanal before moving out to Bougainville. I have often wondered what it looks like today. You satisfied my curiosity. Thank You.
After arriving in Guadalcanal in early 1943, my father, 2nd Lt. Richard D. Kent, was a P-39 pilot flying out of Fighter 2 as a member of the 68/70 fighter squadron. On one occasion his squadron was scrambled to intercept a Japanese air raid. He shot down a Zero but did not see where it crashed. When he landed back at Fighter 2, a New Zealand jeep or truck was waiting. The Kiwis asked if he had shot down the Zero. When my father answered yes, they said, "Get in, we want to show you something." They drove to their tent encampment in a coconut plantation. Among or near their tents were the smoking remains of the Zero my father had downed. By some near-miracle, the relatively intact body of the dead Japanese pilot had been thrown clear of the wreckage. My father noted that he was one of the few WWII fighter pilots who got a close-up look at an opposing pilot.
Great presentation mate, at the very end of the second runway at fighter two my father has his operations base for a helicopter repair and maintenance facility. Whenever I’m there I sit on the sea wall, have a cold beer and look out over iron bottom sound and try to imagine what it was like in 1942.
@@skepticalobserver2135 not in the ‘60’s, it’s been operating in Honiara for the last twenty years servicing mainly Hughes 500’s that operate off big tuna boats.
I am a UXO surveyor in Guadalcanal, and i have proven all this documentations true according to my findings of War relics, UXO and other historical evidence. Great documentation, keep it up.
Thanks for watching and making a comment. I am heading back to Tarawa and then on to Guadalcanal in November, I will post more videos after the trip. Again thanks for watching and I hope you had a chance to watch some of our other videos.
About 1983 I was in Surgical training at William Beaumont US Army Medical Center. I met a retired USMC LTC. who flew off carrier USS Long island 20 Aug 1942. Quiet. Unassuming. WOW!!!!
I never knew there was more than one airfield at Guadalcanal. Great video 👍👍 Lorain, Ohio dedicated a major bridge over the Black River after their hometown hero.
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Every ANZAC Day April 25th, in my little Aussie coastal town, nearly all of it comes out to hear the bugle play The Last Post live, at our Memorial Monument on the cliffs. With the dawning sun and the Sea crashing on the rocks below us and an old vet's old dog howling to it, as it echoes round and around, is a sight to see and hear. Personally I think of the threat to our shores in WW2 and the sacrifice so many made so that I and mine could prosper. Thanks for the vid, very muchly. Lest we Forget.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I would like to hear his stories about his time on Guadalcanal. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
My Dad was on Guadalcanal in 1942 , New Zealand third division , he told me how he and his mates helped construct the runway at Henderson Field , metal plates that clipped together somehow , didn't want to get your fingers caught in between apparently !
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Thank you very much for posting this. It's probably the best explanation I've seen for relating what you see on the map today with where things were during the war. My grandfather served as a gunner/radioman in a Dauntless in VMSB-231 during the early days of operation "shoestring". I dearly hope to be able to visit there someday myself as well.
A friend of mine father was A Marine Corps crew chief of SBD's at Henderson Field. He even got to go on a mission as a gunner. Good video.... I'm looking forward to future releases!
There is a great "Sea-Bee"-museum in Los-Angeles--Ive been there and it is well-set up-& very interesting -& the people that run it,-can't wait to show you around !!-the amount of Stores/timber/jeeps/military equipment/-left here, in Australia after the war was incredible/-I was using 2x4=Dressed-Oregan-timber, beautiful stuff in framing houses-up to 1970 !!-not to mention WLA Harlies--for $50.--and in New-Guinea-100s of planes left-some brand new--I wont talk about 'Marcus-Island"-!!
A very solid job on a short history of these airfields. I have subscribed so I will be viewing all of your content. Thank you these types of videos are historic and very interesting to me . I am a former Army soldier ( 1982-84) and Military Especially WW2 Buff
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
I enjoyed this video. My father fought there, was in the first replacements brought there after the initial invasion. With his stories, I do remember that his unit did at some time, protect Henderson Field. Keep up this good work. I look forward to more videos.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Fred, just a small correction. He was a member of the Army Air Force. The Army Air Corps ceased to exist in July 1941. On that day in became a separate branch of the Army with its own Commander, General Henry "Hap" Arnold.
My uncle was killed when his ship, the USS Meredith, was sunk in 1942 running AV gas and ammo to the Marines on Guadalcanal. Out of a crew of 273 men, 81 survived to be picked up after bobbing at sea for 3 days of sharks and the heat of the sun. RIP Uncle Bobby.
In 1976 while deployed on board ships with the BLT 1/4, we went through the Slot going south. We did an op and port call in Australia. Then north again through the Slot on the Marine Corps birthday. Naval gun and Marine rifle salutes as each ship passed over a spot off the ‘Canal. Each ship also dropped a memorial wreath to those killed there.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
My Uncle Jim landed on the Canal Aug 7, 1942, with the 1st Marine Combat Engineers. Was there until relieved in late December, early January. Besides a little shrapnel and a good bout of malaria, plus being shell shocked he came out no worse for the ware and tare.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I truly appreciate it thanks again. Getting ready to start posting Little Bighorn Battlefield tour videos in the next few weeks.
@@donfrank4429 I am heading to Tarawa in November for the 80th Anniversary. Hoping to visit a few other locations in next year also. What locations and units did they fight with?
My father was in the 63 rd. Construction Battalion (Seabees) they arrive at Guadalcanal in Aug of 43 to fight the mosquitos. They killed more Marines than the Japanese.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
I’ve often wondered about the story of the coast watcher who blew the whistle about the presence of Japanese surveyors at Lunga Point. I seem to remember he was a British government official recruited into the coast watchers, an Australian outfit. At any rate, your camera shot of the revetments on Fighter One pointing to the distant hills to the South made me think of him and his men, looking down at the construction crews clearing the perimeter of RXI.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series
National Geographic has a video about Guadalcanal, the American invasion and all the battles afterwards. It is an older video, with interviews with THEN survivors including the English Coast Watcher gentleman you mentioned. It is a very good video. It is called "the lost fleet of Iron Bottom Sound" with Dr. Robert Ballard as he looks for sunken ships from those battles.
@@patrickmccrann991 Thank you. I am an old US Navy vet, (74-84) and my memory is fading fast. I have not looked at the video in years and could not remember his name. Forgive me.
My uncle Harold was there, loader on a 105 AAA through the entire battle. He wasn't in the Marine Corps, he was in the U.S. army reserve from South Dakota.
@SFR Productions Uncle Harold wouldn't talk about the war. He was in combat almost continuously until the end. It seems to me from what I've gathered that the AAA crews were almost continuously on the front lines for the entire war. He had 1 leave during the war, 2 weeks, he made it to Pearl. I would love to see someone do a documentary about these guys. I have only my cell phone, and do not know how to research this issue. He was in the Solomon Islands, Marianna's, Gilbert, Caroline, maybe som I missed. He finished at Okinawa. It seems to me that these guys were in every engagement following Admiral Nimitz theater of operation. These guys in my opinion had far more combat than anyone else in the military, and should be recognized for their service to our nation. I know by the history of the war that he fought in at least 2 major Banzai charges, Henderson field, and Okinawa. It seems like there just wasn't enough AAA batteries to go around. His name was Harold Phitzer. Again, I lack the resources to document this. Sincerely, Reed
Thanks for watching and making a comment. We get groups of people to travel with us. I needed a few more days and I would have went up to Choiseul Island. It would be great to snorkel around the drydock. Thanks again for watching.
The Mosquito Bowl was played on Gualcanal in 1944 and about 40% of the players in that contest died on Okinawa, the bloodiest of all the island invasions on both sides. First use if napalm/flamethrowers.
The original WW-II steel framed timber decking Henderson Field open air control tower was still standing in the 1980's, I presume it has been removed? It was in poor condition back then. Great research and most enjoyable, thank you.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I wasn't able to walk around the airport that much so I am not sure if the tower is still around. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
I'm not sure if you know but there was a fourth airfield located four miles East of the three you mentioned at Koli Point. It was called Carney Field and the 13th Airforce operated Bombers out of there. I believe they were B24's.
My Dad was a pilot in WW2 training Spitfire & Hurricane pilots. I also have a military history channel on YT. Keep up the good work! Were you airborne infantry?
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. Was in the Army, MP, didn't get to jump school while in but jumped at Benning as a civilian and now get to jump with the Liberty Jump Team. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. The Greatest Generation!! I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Just read "The Mosquito Bowl" novel by Buzz Bissinger. For those interested in the Pacific Theater of WW2, a must read. Gives a very personal perspective as many of the Marine leaders were college football stars and played in the famous Mosqito Bowl just before the invasion of Okinawa.
Why Guadalcanal name? Was named by a captain of the first european sail ship that landed there in year 1568. He named it the same as his birthplace in the small village of Guadalcanal west of Seville in Spain. The village even now only has about 3,000 habitants only. Imagine sailing half the world away on a slow sail ship for months and naming an island for your village in Spain.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I was in the Army same time frame but did not get to jump school. I went to Benning as a civilian and now jump with the Liberty Jump Team. If you want to get your knees in the breeze again look us up, we jump all around the US and in Europe. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series
We have a bunch of 82nd jumping with us. Liberty Jump Team works with the Army for a bunch of jump events, Benning we jump with the Army for National Airborne Day, Bragg we jump with the Army for All American Week and at Campbell for the Week of Eagles. We host veteran trips to Normandy for our WWII vets and events around the US. Great group of people.
Good VIDEO SIR : 2points ; CORREC p pronunciation of the island includes an " L " GUADALCANAL ( ,NOT GUADACANAL ) it was named after a small town in Spain ... their WAS A p-39 airacobra photo THAT THE same basic A/C WAS THE p-400 export version .
Thanks for watching and making a comment. I will look him up and my next visit to Guadalcanal I will spend more time filming near the airfield. Thanks again for watching
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series. It was really great to get to walk around the area, you can see many of the locations you see in the historic photos.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. The views from the plane are incredible. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. Modern growth, many areas of fighting are now covered with homes and commercial buildings, sad. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
The airport was erected by the Japanese and was occupied by the Americans by Mr Hendersons suicide plane on the field. Fun fact, the Japanese came back years later to help Solomon Islands improve the airstrip in the 60s, and again in 2021. Meanwhile the US is no where to be found, until they decided to show up again in the wake of China- Solomon Islands bilateral ties.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
There have been numerous visits to the islands over the years by U.S. Navy ships. The choice to go with the Japanese was a financial one. Much cheaper to ship in material and equipment from Japan than the United States.
Major Henderson didn't crash his plane on the field, he crashed it on the IJN Mikuma. She was a Japanese Heavy Cruiser sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Also, the Japanese started the field, but it was far from finished when captured by the 1st Marines.
@@patrickmccrann991 My grandfather was a labour Corp during that time, and he told us many stories of what he witnessed with his own eyes of the Gudalcanal war (Solomon islands)
@@patrickmccrann991 Empty visits with empty promises everytime they sailed past our shores. There is no excuse to justify the US failure to these islands. Japan is the only country that came to our rescue everytime we need help. Our health system, infrastructure, disaster etc..
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. Many actually helped the allies. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
You really have to marvel at the young men who took and held Guadalcanal. While the navy sailed away with most of their heavy artillery, all of their construction equipment, and a significant portion of their rations, the CB's kept building using captured equipment, and the Marines kept fighting, using captured Japanese rations. They were cannibalizing parts from wrecked planes to keep the ones they still had airworthy. It was touch and go, for a while, but those stubborn sonsofbitches hung on by their damn fingertips until things got straightened out.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. It is amazing what they did and now that I have walked it is even more incredible. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I had to look that up and yes i found out that he was on Guadalcanal. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series
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My Grandfather was on Guadalcanal from October 1942 to June 1943. He flew F4F's and F4U's. He was shot down on June 7, 1943 but survived the war. Great video thank you for putting this together.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
I like pilots that are not shot down. He Sounds like a loser and a sucker. A man who said he is American said that. But I don’t believe he is. USMC 1965 to 1969 Semper Fi
My father was there about 14 months in 1942 and 1943. He was a SeaBee with the 26th CBU. He was a dynamiter and said he destroyed thousands of Lever Brothers palm trees, often using captured dynamite that was very sweaty. Later he used det cord to try to take the trees off at ground level and leave the root ball in the ground. If trees were bulldozed the tree came down with the root ball and left a large hole to fill. In addition to work on the airstrips, he blasted a tunnel on Tulagi for a communications center and did some work on Florida Island, too. A large portion of the battalion was evacuated due to malaria but he stayed the whole time until the battalion returned to the states. His second deployment was to Ulithi. He died in 2010.
I thank him for his service to our country. Thank you for describing his service.
What a generation. I’ve a great fascination of Ulithi. So little is ever said about it, but never in human history has so much naval power been packed into one single anchorage. A few months later and the place must have resembled a ghost town in every respect except for the tumbleweed blowing by in the wind.
I retired out of the navy with my last command being Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26. The battalion was decommissioned over 10 years ago. We tried to live up to your dad’s legacy.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I am going to see if I have any of the SeaBee photos in my collection. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
My Grandfather Roy Gettel was a navy chief CB stationed there.
My Dad was on the Canal as a USMC pilot, although after we'd secured the Soloman's. He fought north, and into the Marianna's and finally, Iwo. He flew Wildcats, Avengers, and transitioned into Corsairs - most likely for the invasion of Japan, that didn't occur. He stayed in the reserves and returned for Korea, flying helicopters and observation planes. My war was Vietnam - and I spent the bulk of the war - '68-69 - at DakTo, in the Central Highlands. Thank you for producing this video, and giving me a glimpse of what is very real history for me.....................
My Dad was 1st M 2nd Btn E Company , the Marines on the ground loved their pilots .........Dad was also scheduled to go to Japan (classified info then of course)
@@slackthompson6984
Wow. My brother's father in law, John Kincaid served in that same outfit, E21, First MARDIV, first on Cape Gloucester in '43. Later at Pelileu. For his actions on those coral ridges he received the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross. They were defending a key ridge thru the night of 17-18 September '44. The fighting eventually went hand to hand, but the japs were unable to take that ridge. Finally they directed arty onto the ridge, and the Marines withdrew, but the cost to the enemy was very high.
John passed in May, 1999, and his daughter Paula asked me to deliver His eulogy, which of course, I considered a great honor. In that eulogy, I read from the book "Brothers in Battle" that John's platoon lieutenant, R. Bruce Watkins wrote, which he sent to John shortly before John's passing. The whole account is described in that book.😢
Thank you for all you did.🇺🇸
My dad was a gunner in an SBD dauntless dive bomber flying out of Henderson field on many missions. Tom Meyer Lincoln Nebraska
My dad made the first landing on Guadalcanal as part of the 1st Marine Div, Amphibious. He was one of the ones guarding Henderson Field. Finally in December, they were removed from the island to recuperate in Australia. He was so sick with malaria he was shipped back to California to finish out his 4 years as a Marines amphibious instructor. He always credited getting malaria so badly as saving his life. Because he was not sent on to any other battle in the Pacific, as many of his fellow Marines were. Many never returned. Dad got to return to Honiara on a cruise in the 1990s. He was given a heroes’ welcome.
Thanks for watching and making a comment. The Greatest Generation!! I am heading back to Guadalcanal in November to see what other things I can find out about the battle. Again thanks for watching and I hope you had a chance to watch some of our other videos.
40 Years I met Merle Leonard, a County Commissioner from Twin Falls, Idaho. He told me he flew fighter planes from Guadalcanal for the Marines. That is all he would say about his service. Clearly his memories were too bad for him to tell anyone about his experiences there. He just shook his head and said no when I asked about it. A gracious man he was.
My father grew up in Twin Falls. Born 1914. IIRC TF had one high school back then. I wonder if they knew each other?
@@Idahoguy10157 - I can't answer your question. But I know one thing - Merle Leonard was a true gentleman.
My Grandfather was stationed on Henderson field as a Sgt cook in the Royal New Zealand Airforce , he was wounded twice in Japanese air raids . He was 40 yrs old and a successful business man when he volunteered .
My Grandad was there with the RNZAF too. Instrument repairman on Fighters and Bombers
Thanks for watching and commenting. Incredible at the age of 40 volunteering, the Greatest Generation
My 98-year old father in law is a retired pastor. His daughters think he doesn’t want to talk about WW II and his time on the destroyer, USS Hopewell, during the Guadalcanal assault. But when it is just the two of us, that’s all he talks about. He may not be able to remember names of his kids but he remembers much of his Navy service.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. His stories must be incredible. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
USS Hopewell DD-681, Fletcher Class.around.
9 Battlestars WW II. 4 Battlestars Korea. Action during Vietnam. The old girl had been around.
@@francisbusa1074 Thanks for the history. Before Covid we went to Boston and toured the USS Constitution and the Fletcher class destroyer nearby. Wish my FIL was able to travel and go see it.
@@jockellis Just so happens that that Fletcher Class destroyer you referred to, USS Cassin Young (DD-793), operated with my dad's ship USS Birmingham (CL-62) during the effort to save USS Princeton (CVL-23) that fateful day, Oct. 24, 1944 off the coast of Samar. That can picked up a lot of Princeton's crew as they abandoned the burning carrier.
But a lot of Princeton's ordnance stowed in the aft end of the ship exploded, causing a horrible carnage, especially aboard Birmingham who was coming alongside a second time to fight fires on the carrier.
@@francisbusa1074 I’ll have to ask him about that. He reminds me of a former Pullman car porter interviewed for the book Rising From the Rails. He was interviewed by the author who was taken to the nursing home. The old porter didn’t know who his grandson was but knew everything about his Pullman years.
My dad was there, had the back end of his C47 blown off by a Japanese cannon. He woke up after being blown out of the plane listening to the screams of his fellow passengers dying in the flames. He was never right the whole time I grew up. He also served in Korea, never knew that until I saw it on his gravestone. Stopped a Banzi charge with an M2 HMG and a couple of sappers with his 1911. I still remember his thousand-yard stare. I had to be careful asking him stuff, he froze up so tight.
When I was in Navy I served on USS Carl Vinson CVN 70. On the way to Japan we stopped at Iwo Jima. Well we didn't stop or drop anchor. But we circled the island and dropped wreaths. The thing that captivated me was how small it was. Even Mt.suribachi was smaller than what I imagined. All through it probably felt like Mt Everest to the hero's who scaled it's side. You could even see the little and I mean little beach the Marines landed on. Men of that era where made of steel...
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I have a documentary on my page about Iwo Jima that has been featured at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg Texas. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
@@SFRProductions I will definitely check those out!!
My dad was on the carrier that launched those first Marine squadrons to Henderson. CVE-1 USS Long Island.
After crossing the Pacific in a troop transport, my Dad landed first on Guadalcanal before moving out to Bougainville. I have often wondered what it looks like today. You satisfied my curiosity. Thank You.
My father fought in the Pacific ww2. Thank you for the history lesson.
After arriving in Guadalcanal in early 1943, my father, 2nd Lt. Richard D. Kent, was a P-39 pilot flying out of Fighter 2 as a member of the 68/70 fighter squadron. On one occasion his squadron was scrambled to intercept a Japanese air raid. He shot down a Zero but did not see where it crashed. When he landed back at Fighter 2, a New Zealand jeep or truck was waiting. The Kiwis asked if he had shot down the Zero. When my father answered yes, they said, "Get in, we want to show you something." They drove to their tent encampment in a coconut plantation. Among or near their tents were the smoking remains of the Zero my father had downed. By some near-miracle, the relatively intact body of the dead Japanese pilot had been thrown clear of the wreckage. My father noted that he was one of the few WWII fighter pilots who got a close-up look at an opposing pilot.
Great presentation mate, at the very end of the second runway at fighter two my father has his operations base for a helicopter repair and maintenance facility. Whenever I’m there I sit on the sea wall, have a cold beer and look out over iron bottom sound and try to imagine what it was like in 1942.
I gather a helicopter repair facility in 60s?
@@skepticalobserver2135 not in the ‘60’s, it’s been operating in Honiara for the last twenty years servicing mainly Hughes 500’s that operate off big tuna boats.
@@craigjones2878 Oh, OK. I thought you meant he was servicing helicopters for the military. My bad.
I am a UXO surveyor in Guadalcanal, and i have proven all this documentations true according to my findings of War relics, UXO and other historical evidence. Great documentation, keep it up.
Thanks for watching and making a comment. I am heading back to Tarawa and then on to Guadalcanal in November, I will post more videos after the trip. Again thanks for watching and I hope you had a chance to watch some of our other videos.
About 1983 I was in Surgical training at William Beaumont US Army Medical Center. I met a retired USMC LTC. who flew off carrier USS Long island 20 Aug 1942. Quiet. Unassuming. WOW!!!!
I never knew there was more than one airfield at Guadalcanal. Great video 👍👍
Lorain, Ohio dedicated a major bridge over the Black River after their hometown hero.
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The Henderson bridge over the Black River!
Remarkable video, as a Marine, I find the video to be informative. Seeing the Canal today after all those years is wonderful.
The learning of the three fields made this video time well spent.
Thank you
Thank you for sharing, good history!🤗
Every ANZAC Day April 25th, in my little Aussie coastal town, nearly all of it comes out to hear the bugle play The Last Post live, at our Memorial Monument on the cliffs. With the dawning sun and the Sea crashing on the rocks below us and an old vet's old dog howling to it, as it echoes round and around, is a sight to see and hear. Personally I think of the threat to our shores in WW2 and the sacrifice so many made so that I and mine could prosper. Thanks for the vid, very muchly. Lest we Forget.
My dad was with the 13th Army Air Force in WWII and spent much time on Guadalcanal. Thanks for making this video.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I would like to hear his stories about his time on Guadalcanal. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
My Dad was on Guadalcanal in 1942 , New Zealand third division , he told me how he and his mates helped construct the runway at Henderson Field , metal plates that clipped together somehow , didn't want to get your fingers caught in between apparently !
Liked the pic at the end with all 3 fields. Not seen that before. Nice vid. Thanks
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Great video. Enjoyed the original film footage of WWII and photos.
Thank you very much for posting this. It's probably the best explanation I've seen for relating what you see on the map today with where things were during the war. My grandfather served as a gunner/radioman in a Dauntless in VMSB-231 during the early days of operation "shoestring". I dearly hope to be able to visit there someday myself as well.
A friend of mine father was A Marine Corps crew chief of SBD's at Henderson Field. He even got to go on a mission as a gunner.
Good video.... I'm looking forward to future releases!
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I really want to go to an airshow and take a ride in an SBD!!
There is a great "Sea-Bee"-museum in Los-Angeles--Ive been there and it is well-set up-& very interesting -& the people that run it,-can't wait to show you around !!-the amount of Stores/timber/jeeps/military equipment/-left here, in Australia after the war was incredible/-I was using 2x4=Dressed-Oregan-timber, beautiful stuff in framing houses-up to 1970 !!-not to mention WLA Harlies--for $50.--and in New-Guinea-100s of planes left-some brand new--I wont talk about 'Marcus-Island"-!!
Good overview. I loved the incorporation of historical clips, photos and maps.
A very solid job on a short history of these airfields. I have subscribed so I will be viewing all of your content. Thank you these types of videos are historic and very interesting to me . I am a former Army soldier ( 1982-84) and Military Especially WW2 Buff
Thanks
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
I enjoyed this video. My father fought there, was in the first replacements brought there after the initial invasion. With his stories, I do remember that his unit did at some time, protect Henderson Field. Keep up this good work. I look forward to more videos.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I am near New Braunfels. Thanks again for watching and I hope you enjoy the other videos.
A well balanced story you've archived! 😊
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Learn something new every day. Thanks.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Thank you for the history lesson
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I love history as well and as a veteran myself TYSM for this awesome video.
My Father was in the Army Air Corps stationed at Henderson field. He was on the ground crews that prepared the p-38's for the Yamamoto mission.
Fred, just a small correction. He was a member of the Army Air Force. The Army Air Corps ceased to exist in July 1941. On that day in became a separate branch of the Army with its own Commander, General Henry "Hap" Arnold.
Wow, and that was some mission too!
My grand father was also a mechanic with the 339th. The Sunsetters. Wouldn’t talk much but every once in a while would fondly remember his friends
Very cool Scott! Amazing story
That PBY Catalina was a terrific aircraft.
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Thank you for sharing this video. It was very interesting.
That was interesting. Thank you very much.
Thanks for sharing
Very interesting and I enjoyed the original film footage from World War ll
My uncle was killed when his ship, the USS Meredith, was sunk in 1942 running AV gas and ammo to the Marines on Guadalcanal. Out of a crew of 273 men, 81 survived to be picked up after bobbing at sea for 3 days of sharks and the heat of the sun. RIP Uncle Bobby.
So that all men could be free.🙏🏻
In 1976 while deployed on board ships with the BLT 1/4, we went through the Slot going south. We did an op and port call in Australia. Then north again through the Slot on the Marine Corps birthday. Naval gun and Marine rifle salutes as each ship passed over a spot off the ‘Canal. Each ship also dropped a memorial wreath to those killed there.
Very interesting and informative. Well done.
Enjoyed the video and subscribed! I am a huge history student
Great video! Thanks for posting!
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Great video
Thanks.
.
Well done, I enjoy your videos.
Love these videos. Well done and thank you
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I am glad you are enjoying some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Thank you! I never knew about Fighter 1 & 2; I only knew of Henderson Field. I'm a bit of a history buff myself, but I never knew that before.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
My father was there as his 1st pacific duty station with VMTB-232. He told me many stories about being there.
My Uncle Jim landed on the Canal Aug 7, 1942, with the 1st Marine Combat Engineers. Was there until relieved in late December, early January. Besides a little shrapnel and a good bout of malaria, plus being shell shocked he came out no worse for the ware and tare.
Thanks for watching, I am heading back to Guadalcanal this November to see what else I can find and film.
Excellent
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This was excellent...fantastic job!
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Great story! thanks for sharing :)
you have some of the best info I have seen
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I truly appreciate it thanks again. Getting ready to start posting Little Bighorn Battlefield tour videos in the next few weeks.
my dad and uncle fought in the pacific WWII
@@donfrank4429 I am heading to Tarawa in November for the 80th Anniversary. Hoping to visit a few other locations in next year also. What locations and units did they fight with?
Well done!
My father was in the 63 rd. Construction Battalion (Seabees) they arrive at Guadalcanal in Aug of 43 to fight the mosquitos. They killed more Marines than the Japanese.
Very good !
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Great vid. Five *****
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I’ve often wondered about the story of the coast watcher who blew the whistle about the presence of Japanese surveyors at Lunga Point. I seem to remember he was a British government official recruited into the coast watchers, an Australian outfit.
At any rate, your camera shot of the revetments on Fighter One pointing to the distant hills to the South made me think of him and his men, looking down at the construction crews clearing the perimeter of RXI.
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National Geographic has a video about Guadalcanal, the American invasion and all the battles afterwards. It is an older video, with interviews with THEN survivors including the English Coast Watcher gentleman you mentioned. It is a very good video. It is called "the lost fleet of Iron Bottom Sound" with Dr. Robert Ballard as he looks for sunken ships from those battles.
@@williamlilleston1595 Thanks. I just found it on RUclips!
His name was Martin Clemons.
@@patrickmccrann991 Thank you. I am an old US Navy vet, (74-84) and my memory is fading fast. I have not looked at the video in years and could not remember his name. Forgive me.
Pop was Navy, armed troop transport called "Newkent". Thanks to all who served, serve now, and historians!🇺🇸
My uncle Harold was there, loader on a 105 AAA through the entire battle.
He wasn't in the Marine Corps, he was in the U.S. army reserve from South Dakota.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I am sure his stories are incredible, the Greatest Generation!
@SFR Productions Uncle Harold wouldn't talk about the war.
He was in combat almost continuously until the end.
It seems to me from what I've gathered that the AAA crews were almost continuously on the front lines for the entire war.
He had 1 leave during the war, 2 weeks, he made it to Pearl.
I would love to see someone do a documentary about these guys. I have only my cell phone, and do not know how to research this issue.
He was in the Solomon Islands, Marianna's, Gilbert, Caroline, maybe som I missed.
He finished at Okinawa.
It seems to me that these guys were in every engagement following Admiral Nimitz theater of operation.
These guys in my opinion had far more combat than anyone else in the military, and should be recognized for their service to our nation.
I know by the history of the war that he fought in at least 2 major Banzai charges, Henderson field, and Okinawa.
It seems like there just wasn't enough AAA batteries to go around.
His name was Harold Phitzer.
Again, I lack the resources to document this.
Sincerely, Reed
I aspire to do just what you did. Visit the sites where brave men fought to save the planet. Your videos are informative and interesting!
Thanks for watching and making a comment. We get groups of people to travel with us. I needed a few more days and I would have went up to Choiseul Island. It would be great to snorkel around the drydock. Thanks again for watching.
The Mosquito Bowl was played on Gualcanal in 1944 and about 40% of the players in that contest died on Okinawa, the bloodiest of all the island invasions on both sides. First use if napalm/flamethrowers.
Nice!
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The original WW-II steel framed timber decking Henderson Field open air control tower was still standing in the 1980's, I presume it has been removed? It was in poor condition back then. Great research and most enjoyable, thank you.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I wasn't able to walk around the airport that much so I am not sure if the tower is still around. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
I'm not sure if you know but there was a fourth airfield located four miles East of the three you mentioned at Koli Point. It was called Carney Field and the 13th Airforce operated Bombers out of there. I believe they were B24's.
I just went out there to tour the area, took my drone to get some footage. I will be posting more videos soon. Thanks for watching.
My father saw action in Battle of Cape Esperance as a GM on the USS Farenholt, Destron 12.
I just toured up there at Cape Esperance and will be putting together some more videos in the future. thanks for watching.
My Dad was a pilot in WW2 training Spitfire & Hurricane pilots. I also have a military history channel on YT. Keep up the good work! Were you airborne infantry?
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. Was in the Army, MP, didn't get to jump school while in but jumped at Benning as a civilian and now get to jump with the Liberty Jump Team. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
The United States Marines and Navy Corpsmen that fought in the Pacific are amongst the greatest men that ever walked the face of this earth.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. The Greatest Generation!! I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
Are there photos of the men who cooked for the Navy pilots when the P 38 lighting planes
were used. Thank you.
Not enough to mention how those airfields got built and who built them We Build -We Fight along side our brother Marines!
What portion of the fields did the PBY’s use? My dad was stationed there beginning in 1943 with VP 54.
I lived on Henderson airfield during the rebellion in 2003 I was a combat engineer
I didn't realize Guadalcanal was so large. or as built up as it is today.
Just read "The Mosquito Bowl" novel by Buzz Bissinger. For those interested in the Pacific Theater of WW2, a must read. Gives a very personal perspective as many of the Marine leaders were college football stars and played in the famous Mosqito Bowl just before the invasion of Okinawa.
I will check out that book. Thank you
Why Guadalcanal name? Was named by a captain of the first european sail ship that landed there in year 1568. He named it the same as his birthplace in the small village of Guadalcanal west of Seville in Spain. The village even now only has about 3,000 habitants only. Imagine sailing half the world away on a slow sail ship for months and naming an island for your village in Spain.
Thank you for the great video. Which airborne unit were you with? I was B Co, 1/504 PIR. 82nd from 84 to 88.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I was in the Army same time frame but did not get to jump school. I went to Benning as a civilian and now jump with the Liberty Jump Team. If you want to get your knees in the breeze again look us up, we jump all around the US and in Europe. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series
Aco 307th Engr Bn 82nd 79-88
@@williamvalentino4805 Look up Liberty Jump Team, we have a lot of 82nd guys jumping with us.
We have a bunch of 82nd jumping with us. Liberty Jump Team works with the Army for a bunch of jump events, Benning we jump with the Army for National Airborne Day, Bragg we jump with the Army for All American Week and at Campbell for the Week of Eagles. We host veteran trips to Normandy for our WWII vets and events around the US. Great group of people.
@@SFRProductions I'll look it up for sure. Thank you
Good VIDEO SIR : 2points ; CORREC p pronunciation of the island includes an " L " GUADALCANAL ( ,NOT GUADACANAL ) it was named after a small town in Spain ... their WAS A p-39 airacobra photo THAT THE same basic A/C WAS THE p-400 export version .
Dick Bong flew from fighter two I think!
A Hoshizaki icemaker?
April 18th 80 & 82 Years Ago.
Guadalcanal MOH winner Joe Foss was a friend of mine. Look him up. You could do a 30 min video on Joe Foss. Read his book "A Proud American".
Thanks for watching and making a comment. I will look him up and my next visit to Guadalcanal I will spend more time filming near the airfield. Thanks again for watching
My farther was an antiaircraft machine gunner on Fighter 1.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series. It was really great to get to walk around the area, you can see many of the locations you see in the historic photos.
Landed a few times
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. The views from the plane are incredible. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
So they basically paved & built over the air strip.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. Modern growth, many areas of fighting are now covered with homes and commercial buildings, sad. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
John Basilone? MoH. Otherwise great job.
A good start , but from late 42 through 43 and into 44, there was a greater presence of non US Army , Marine and Naval air .
The airport was erected by the Japanese and was occupied by the Americans by Mr Hendersons suicide plane on the field. Fun fact, the Japanese came back years later to help Solomon Islands improve the airstrip in the 60s, and again in 2021. Meanwhile the US is no where to be found, until they decided to show up again in the wake of China- Solomon Islands bilateral ties.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
There have been numerous visits to the islands over the years by U.S. Navy ships. The choice to go with the Japanese was a financial one. Much cheaper to ship in material and equipment from Japan than the United States.
Major Henderson didn't crash his plane on the field, he crashed it on the IJN Mikuma. She was a Japanese Heavy Cruiser sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Also, the Japanese started the field, but it was far from finished when captured by the 1st Marines.
@@patrickmccrann991 My grandfather was a labour Corp during that time, and he told us many stories of what he witnessed with his own eyes of the Gudalcanal war (Solomon islands)
@@patrickmccrann991 Empty visits with empty promises everytime they sailed past our shores. There is no excuse to justify the US failure to these islands. Japan is the only country that came to our rescue everytime we need help. Our health system, infrastructure, disaster etc..
So what was happening with the native Islanders while all this was going on?
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. Many actually helped the allies. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
iron bottom sound.
You really have to marvel at the young men who took and held Guadalcanal. While the navy sailed away with most of their heavy artillery, all of their construction equipment, and a significant portion of their rations, the CB's kept building using captured equipment, and the Marines kept fighting, using captured Japanese rations. They were cannibalizing parts from wrecked planes to keep the ones they still had airworthy.
It was touch and go, for a while, but those stubborn sonsofbitches hung on by their damn fingertips until things got straightened out.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. It is amazing what they did and now that I have walked it is even more incredible. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series.
If my memmory serves me right, Lindbergh flew Lightnings off of this field.
Thanks for watching the video and making a comment. I had to look that up and yes i found out that he was on Guadalcanal. I hope that you have had the chance to watch some of the other videos in the History Adventures series
I'm sorry but I completely disagree with Henderson Field being renamed. They should have left that name in place.
The field was not renamed. It is still HENDERSON FIELD. I should know I was at the rededication ceremony back in the 1990's,
Iwo Jima has been closed off to Americans except for once a year. We never should have given that island back to Japan.